Defeat at home to Truro City consigned Welling United to their fourth consecutive Vanarama National League South loss.
Three of those have been against teams in the top four but it means that they are now looking back over their shoulders as they are only four points clear of the bottom four.
Their cause has not been helped by their disciplinary record as they suffered their fifth red card of the season. As a result, captain Dave Winfield will have to serve a ban which will be extended to two games as his first yellow card was his fifth of the season, including three in the last three matches.
In contrast, Truro have gone eight games unbeaten and although not the most flamboyant team in the division, their style gets results and they now only trail top club Weston-super-Mare on goal difference.
Winfield had the first goalscoring effort of the match with a header that went wide from Gene Kennedy’s corner. Tyler Harvey had Truro’s first attempt when a Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain long throw was knocked on to him and his close range header went past the near post.
Midway through the first half, Welling went ahead. Winfield did well to keep an attack from a corner alive and it came to Zain Walker whose shot took a wicked deflection off Will Dean to fly into the net.
Daniel Jinadu, Welling’s debutant goalkeeper, made a good save from Billy Palfrey but was powerless to stop Truro from levelling just after the half hour mark. Another Oxlade Chamberlain long throw was headed out but quickly returned into the penalty area where Jaze Kabia hooked, first time, inside the far post.
Then, six minutes later, the team from Cornwall scored again to go ahead. This time, Kabia was the creator when he picked out Tom Harrison with a cross and the big centre-back headed home.
On the stroke of half time, Winfield was shown his first yellow card for a late challenge on Kabia. Six minutes after the break, he was again late on Kabia for a second yellow and a red ticket.
Neither side created too much until just after the hour mark when Jinadu found himself stranded out of his goal. Kabia went for a first time shot from forty five yards but could only watch on in horror as the bounce took it over.
Despite Welling manager Rod Stringer making a triple change, the ten men Wings struggled to find a way through the steadfast Truro defence. In fact Harrison might have made it safe for the visitors but headed over.
Sam Sanders fizzed a shot wide from another long throw before Welling tested Truro goalkeeper Dan Lavercombe when Chiori Johnson fired a shot at goal from twenty yards.
That was as close as they came and they now have a break from league action when they entertain Havant and Waterlooville in the F.A. Trophy.
Welling United: Jinadu, Johnson, Martin (Donkor 35), Burchell, Winfield, Lankshear, Kennedy, Grant (Cornish 63), Taylor-Crossdale, Long (Chukwu 63), Walker (Statham 63). Sub not used: Kelly.
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