HOPES of Welling United extending their lead at the top of the Conference South were halted by defeat at second placed Salisbury City.

Once they had conceded a disappointing goal, the Wings rarely threatened and conceded a second before notching a late consolation goal.

Jamie Day and Giannoulis Fakinos were both absent due to suspension whilst Jack Obersteller was absent with an injury once again. However, good news for Welling supporters was to see the return of Joe Healy on the bench following a long term injury.

Welling started brightly and Jake Reid, against a former club, hit an early shot that was saved comfortably by Will Puddy in the Salisbury goal.

Reid then crossed for Lafayette to chest down to Kiernan Hughes-Mason but his first time effort went wide.

After that, Welling found themselves pinned back and went behind when a low shot by Jamie White deceived Sam Mott, Welling’s goalkeeper, and found its way into the back of the net.

Scott Kinch went wide for Welling but chances were at a premium as a succession of fussy decisions by referee Mark Pottage interrupted the flow of the game.

Hughes-Mason was cautioned, and in a game that was never dirty, the referee followed up by cautioning Emmanuel Udoji for Salisbury and Welling’s Fraser Franks and Barney Williams.

At the break, the hosts replaced Udoji with Ryan Brett.

Neither side created anything of note for the first fifteen minutes of the second half before Welling tried to change things up front by bringing on Kurtis Guthrie for Reid but the Wings struggled to create anything.

Ben Martin found his way into the book before Salisbury came close to doubling their lead when White was first to a free kick but hooked over.

Joe Healy made a welcome return for Welling with 22 minutes remaining in place of Kinch but saw his side go further behind immediately.

Once again White was first to a long free kick and this time he made no mistake with a clinical finish from close range.

Jake Gallagher was booked before Mott was also shown the yellow card as he raced out wide but failed to get to the ball and clattered into Daniel Fitchett.

Welling were given a lifeline when Guthrie broke through and was taken out inside the penalty area by Puddy.

Healy had a long wait for Chris McPhee to don the goalkeeper’s shirt before slamming home the spot-kick off the inside of the post with six minutes remaining.

News Shopper: Substitute Joe Healy converts the spot-kick

Brett was cautioned as Salisbury did well to ensure that McPhee was not required to make a single save in the time he was in goal and Fitchett shot wide for Salisbury on the break.

Lee Clarke was the seventh Welling player to be booked late in a game which was never dirty and McPhee made a couple of excellent claims from crosses to ensure that Salisbury saw the game out and reduced the deficit at the top to eight points.

Welling United: Mott, Franks, Williams, Kinch (Healy 68), Martin, Acheampong, Gallagher, Clarke, Reid (Guthrie 60), Lafayette, Hughes-Mason (Fairweather-Johnson 74). Unused substitutes: Turner, Craddock.