Welling United 0 Dartford 6 – Managerless Wings get a battering

Six-shooters Dartford gunned down Welling United with a merciless performance.

Following their exit from the FA Cup seven days earlier, Welling manager Steve Lovell and assistant Tristan Lewis resigned from their roles and chairman Mark Goldberg took caretaker charge with assistance from Hugo Langton.

Their planned brief tenure could hardly have got off to a worse start. Danny Leonard got clear down the right wing and crossed low into the area. Welling struggled to clear and Noor Husin fired home.

Ade Azeez had a near post shot saved by Tom Smith before Dan Roberts headed wide from another Leonard cross.

Leonard was then in action at the other end when clearing off the line from Dipo Akinyemi but that was only a brief respite for Welling’s defence and they were soon being stretched but Azeez shot wide after cutting in.

However, he did not have long to wait to notch. Welling gave the ball away in the Dartford half and a swift break sent Roberts away to cross low for Azeez to turn it home.

Roberts shot wide and Luke Allen fired over before Dartford made it three. Smith made a great save from Allen but Leonard was first to react and he fired home leaving Smith helpless.

Akinyemi had a header saved by Dan Wilks before Smith kept out Roberts’ near-post effort comfortably.

Any hopes that Dartford would sit back and relax after the interval were soon proved not to be the case when they went four up five minutes in. Roberts ball into the box was hit first time by Allen leaving Smith helpless as it flew home then three minutes later. Allen scored again after Smith could only push a Roberts low cross into his path.

Steve King made a double change to his Dartford team with the game done and dusted but Dartford continued to cause problems and Connor Essam should have scored but headed Allen’s free-kick over.

Jernade Meade shot wide before the Darts went six up with just under 20 minutes remaining. Allen’s free-kick flew low across the six-yard box and Azeez turned it home at the far post.

There was no further damage as both teams had half chances in the remaining time but nothing clear cut.

Welling now have two games on the road at Oxford City and Chippenham Town and Goldberg will hope to have a new manager in place at least in time for the trip to Wiltshire.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN