City are still searching for the points that will secure a play-off place after Martin Carthy’s late strike earned Welling a narrow victory at Milton Road.

Three away games since their last league outing on home soil had yielded four precious points for the Lilywhites but at a cost of serious injuries to Lee Chaffey, Brady Stone and Josh Simpson respectively. Gary Roberts was boosted by the return of Glen Fuff, missing since mid-January and he took the place of Stone at the centre of defence. Simpson’s injury, coupled with Carl Williams’ suspension enabled Matt Robinson and Michael Gash to step up from the bench.

Michael Gash gets between two opponents

The Wings were dragged back into the relegation battle last weekend, goals from Onome Sodje and Paul Booth not enough to prevent St Albans running out 3-2 winners at Park View Road. As a result Adrian Pennock made two changes with Moussa Sidebe and Jamie Day replacing Ashley Roberts and Sodje respectively.

In contrast to their home form Welling have a superb away record and came into this Easter Saturday encounter with nine league victories to their credit.

The hosts got off to a bright start and with only two minutes on the clock Craig Pope and Michael Gash combined from a right wing throw to allow the City right back to deliver a probing cross which James Smith did well to intercept ahead of Dave Sadler at the expense of a corner. Richard Scott picked out Matt Langston from the resultant flag kick and the skipper sent a powerful header inches over the bar.

Unfortunately that was as good as it got for long periods of the half. City, disrupted by injury lacked the cohesion to put the visitors under sustained pressure. Welling for their part broke up play in the midfield area and gradually stifled the Lilywhites.

With a lack of quality about both teams a mistake or a set-piece seemed the most likely route to goal and on the half hour mark Welling should have capitalised on a rare error from Langston to open the scoring.

Looking to get some forward momentum going from a free kick the captain lofted a square ball to Craig Pope however he failed to clear Paul Booth who gathered and raced towards an unprotected Duncan Roberts. It seemed easier to score but the striker (who has been a long time target of Gary Roberts) curled his effort wide of the post in a moment he’ll want to forget.

Dave Sadler showing aerial strength

Next it was the Wings’ central defender Smith whose error let in City when his poorly directed header fell at the feet of Gash but the teenage striker found his progress checked by Chris Moore and his shot from distance was comfortably gathered by Charlie Mitten.

This seemed to enliven City and moments later Lee Summerscales’ free kick from wide on the left was cushioned by Langston into Gash but Ian Wiles reacted smartly to clear.

With 43 minutes on the clock Welling registered their first serious effort on goal when former Grays midfielder Martin Carthy met Jamie Day’s free kick and forced Roberts to tip his looping header over the bar.

There was still time for Sidibe to pick up the first card of a physical encounter following a harsh challenge on Rob Miller before Mr Howes brought a largely forgettable half to an end.

There seemed little suggestion that the pattern of the game was likely to change after the interval. Without the tireless running of Josh Simpson and the outlet provided by Carl Williams the City midfield were unable to provide the support for the strikers to test a Welling rearguard which had conceded 60 league goals in 35 outings.

It was the visitors who came closest to breaking the deadlock and again it was an error that created the opening. In attempting to play the ball back to Roberts Matt Langston under-hit his pass and Booth pounced. The City ‘keeper raced forward to make a superb block to deny the former Gravesend striker before recovering to complete a fine double save to keep out Carthy’s follow-up.

The Lilywhites registered a decent effort of their own when Sadler headed a Duncan Roberts free kick on for Gash who unleashed a fierce drive from the edge of the area which was too hot for Mitten to hold, Matt Robinson raced on to the rebound but the ‘keeper recovered sufficiently to hack clear.

Day then curled in a left wing corner which caused chaos at City’s near post, the ball rebounding off the woodwork before Craig Pope cleared.

Jon Stevenson under challenge

City’s right back found himself in the thick of the action in the visitors’ box as he drove the Lilywhites forward. First his shot from distance won a corner on the right which Smith cleared at the expense of a place kick from the opposite flank. Making a blindside run the former Barnet defender who has never scored for the Milton Road club, connected superbly with Richard Scott’s centre a crashed a header off the crossbar. On a day when a number of City players were unable to find their best form Craig Pope maintained his usual high standards and was deserving of a landmark goal.

In an attempt to break the deadlock Gary Roberts introduced Jon Stevenson for the hard working Gash. Adrian Pennock responded by replacing Paul Booth with Onome Sodje.

Within two minutes of the change the Wings netted the late winner. Ian Wiles played in an angled centre from deep on the left which found Lee Spiller in an alarming amount of space in the City box, the former Dover midfielder headed back across the face of the area to Carthy who had the simple task of slotting past Roberts from close range.

In the immediate aftermath Adrian Pennock withdrew Sidibe, bringing on Tommy Tyne as the visitors looked to consolidate by switching to a 4-5-1 formation.

With time as good as up City almost grabbed a dramatic leveller. Richard Scott’s free kick from the right was cleared as far as Dale Binns who had time to steady himself before unleashing a fierce drive from distance which forced Mitten, moving smartly to his left, into an excellent one handed block, his defenders completing the job by clearing to safety before Mr Howes brought proceedings to a close.

Whilst City should still be able to secure a play-off place the impact of so many serious injuries on Gary Roberts’ small squad are now starting to bite hard and it can only be hoped that at least some long term casualties will be fit enough to make a meaningful contribution to what the Lilywhites hope will be an extended season.