WELLING United’s unbeaten run since Boxing Day went down the plughole at home to another in form team in Bath City.

The Romans outplayed their hosts from the first minute to the last and were excellent value for their two-nil victory.

Busy Charlie Mitten was into the action early saving from Sido Jombati’s flicked effort.

Bath City’s Mark Badman earned a yellow card for a very late challenge on Sam Hurrell and a less lenient referee than Mr Venamore might have dismissed him for two further fouls both of which earned reprimands.

In between his indiscretions Badman tested Mitten but the Welling goalkeeper was equal to his twenty yard effort.

Kaid Mohamed gave the Welling defence plenty to think about and after one shot flew high and wide, his next effort was on target and was saved low down by Mitten.

Darren Edwards then played in Adam Connolly and Mitten was forced to make another fine save.

Mohamed got through yet again and Mitten made another double save to keep the scores level.

Little was offered at the other end and only a Lee Clarke shot that failed to trouble Ryan Robinson stemmed the tide for a few moments.

It was no surprise when Mohamed finally broke the deadlock in the 41st minute.

Cutting inside from the right wing, he went past Adam Sambrook and gave Mitten no chance with the shot that went just inside the far post.

Hurrell went on a thrilling cross field run for Welling that produced an awkward clearance by Jombati but the visitors should have gone further ahead on the stroke of half time when Sekani Simpson headed wide from a Bath corner although unchallenged.

Jamie Day made two changes at half time bringing on Sam Cutler and Dean Cracknell for Carl Jenkinson and Sam Hurrell but it had little impact as Welling barely got out of their own half for the first ten minutes of the second period.

Jombati produced the first save from Mitten before the Welling custodian made a brilliant save from Sambrook’s ill directed diving header.

Tony Finn was the only Welling player who looked likely to unlock the Bath defence and a corner he won and took almost resulted in an unlikely Welling equaliser.

Clarke’s presence caused Robinson to miss the ball completely and Tommy Whitnell thumped the ball against the crossbar at full stretch.

Bath then hit the goal framework themselves when Edwards headed against the post from close range when he should probably have buried the chance.

As the game went into the final ten minutes Cracknell and Day both found their way into Mr Venamore’s book before Bath showed the uglier side to their game.

Although barely touched by Jack Parkinson, Robinson collapsed in a heap apparently in an attempt to get the Welling captain in trouble before substitute Scott Bartlett tumbled theatrically in the penalty area at the other end of the pitch.

As the clock ran down Finn came close to levelling the scores when his free kick from the left hand side was tipped onto the bar and over by Robinson. Incredibly the referee awarded a goal kick so Welling’s only effort on target could not be registered.

Former Welling United player Hector Mackie came on as a 90th minute substitute and it was he who produced the chance that made the game safe.

Sambrook dithered once too often and was dispossessed by Mackie who raced clear, drew out Mittten, and squared for fellow substitute Dave Gilroy to tap in.

Day and his management team may feel they need to step up their search for a striker to replace Andy Pugh as the balance of the team appeared to be affected by the re-shuffle that had become necessary.

Welling United: Mitten, Jenkinson (Cutler 46), Sambrook, Day, Andrews, Parkinson, Finn, Clarke (Hobbs 83), Whitnell, Fazakerley, Hurrell (Cracknell 46). Subs not used: Bakare, Saunders.