THE first of two tough encounters in 48 hours for Welling left them unrewarded despite a competent performance.

The game was just six minutes old when disaster struck. A cross-field ball came off the referee, eventually finding Smith, who sent a telling, low cross to the far post. Duncan Horton could only steer the ball into his own net as he slid in under pressure.

Welling skipper Mike Rutherford and Mark Cooper both tested Woking keeper Abbey before hard-working Mark Hynes found Ritchie Hanlon, who made no mistake from a difficult angle. A minute later Hanlon missed a golden chance to put Wings in front. His bullet header from Hynes' cross rebounded off the crossbar back into his own path but he put his second effort over the bar.

It was then Woking on the attack, Glen Knight saving from Hay before Terry Skiverton headed a wind-carried cross off the goal-line.

The home side piled on the pressure after the break, Hay seeing his shot from Betsy's cross blocked. The striker made up for it on 55 minutes, stabbing home after Paul Copley had foiled his initial effort.

Another Hay shot hit the post before he and Skiverton were both shown the red card, apparently for a scuffle on the ground.

Chances were few for the visitors, although Lew Watts drew a save to his left from Abbey.

But on 83 minutes Woking sealed the points. Betsy was found unmarked on the right and he let fly from the edge of the box to put the game beyond doubt.

Welling were due to visit Stevenage on Monday after the News Shopper went to press, before this Saturday's home game against Leek Town.

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