RYMAN Division 1 South Chatham Town provided the final opposition in Welling United’s pre-season build up and the Wings recorded their fifth consecutive victory.

Although the hosts put in a lively performance, Jamie Day’s team cruised to a well deserved 3-0 victory.

Tommy Whitnell came close early on but fired over before Loick Pires was victim of a crude challenge by a Chatham defender.

Andy Pugh shot wide when played in be a delightful Graeme Andrews pass and Lee Clarke headed the wrong side of the post from Jack Oberstellar’s teasing cross.

It came as no surprise when Welling went ahead in the 27th minute.

Clarke combined well with Pires and the former Orient man’s centre was met by Andy Pugh’s diving header into the top corner of the net.

Oberstellar came close, Dean Cracknell had a shot saved from long distance and a Pugh header from a Loui Fazakerley centre was also kept out by the busy Chatham goalkeeper.

Charlie Mitten’s first real taste of the action came with a good stop just before half time.

Just after the hour mark Welling doubled their lead when Pugh out-stripped the hosts’ defence and slipped the ball back for Whitnell to tuck away.

That was Whitnell’s last touch of the game as he was replaced immediately by Luis Cumbers and four minutes later the Wings added a third.

Cumbers was too fast and strong for the Chatham defence and he set up Pugh who despatched clinically.

Joe Healy and Fazakerley almost set up a fourth but Pires shot wide.

Pires was shown a yellow card for excessive argument about a questionable offside decision however soon after a Chatham player escaped censure for a foul mouthed rant at the referee.

The last chance of the game again fell to Pires, a real handful for the home team’s defence, but again he just failed to find the target.

Welling United: Mitten, Coyle (Omogbehin 67), Oberstellar (Johnson 67), Cracknell (Day 45), Andrews, Parkinson (Sambrook 45), Fazakerley (Billings 68), Clarke (Healy 51), Whitnell (Cumbers 61), Pugh, Pires.