They were still missing the injured Louis Ramsey, however, goalkeeper Mackenzie Foley was fit to return and Nathan Cooper was back following his suspension/injury. Ryan Maxwell also gave new signing, Kevin Rivera, a full debut.

Foley was the first goalkeeper called into action when reacting well to palm away Tolu Ladapo’s flick, then holding it before anyone could close in.

After that, Welling had the better of the first half without really testing Nathan Harvey in the Chatham goal. Fumnaya Shomotun shot wide of the near post, Ryan Blackman was off target with a low free kick, and Jamie Reynolds’ tremendous thirty yard strike whizzed inches past the upright.

However, their best chance in the first period fell to Rivera. Sloppy defending, combined with an excellent first touch sent him clear. Sadly, his second touch was too heavy and Harvey was able to get there first to pounce on it.

After the break, Welling continued to threaten and Rivera headed wide then Blackman shot high over. At the other end, Ladapo attempted a curler that was headed away by Lekan Majoyegbe with Foley struggling to get across.

Just after the hour mark, the hosts went ahead. Former Wing Brad Stevenson took a short corner to Adam Leathers and got it back. He then shot towards the near post and it didn’t look too dangerous until it hit Blackman’s leg and looped up over Foley and into the net.

Four minutes later, Welling went two down when they didn’t clear a free kick and Kola Salami pounced to net.

There was almost an immediate response when Majoyegbe’s volley crashed back out off the bar after Chris Harris had cushioned a header from Blackman’s free kick into his path.

Moments later, the Wings did get back into the game. There looked to be little danger when Demaray Anyadike picked up possession midway inside the Chatham half but he eased forward before unleashing a thirty yard drive that clipped the underside of the bar on its way into the net.

Another deflected goal restored Chatham’s two goal lead when a shot by Jack Lyons struck a Welling player to send it past a helpless Foley.

Eight minutes remained when the Wings again pulled themselves back into the game when a free kick by Sam Smith caused havoc in the Chatham penalty area and Zak O’Keefe took advantage to score his second goal of the season. Smith then delivered another free kick that was fractionally too high and Majoyegbe’s header flew over the bar as he was unable to head it down.

In time added on two Chatham players were cautioned for time wasting to add to the five yellow cards that they had already been shown for fouls before Welling had one last chance. A further free kick was struck sweetly by Smith but it didn’t have the curl required to take it inside the post.

Although defeated, and missing the chance to go top, the Wings remain in second place in the table with their next two fixtures at home.