Another good Welling United performance was unrewarded as they suffered defeat at Dartford.

In recent games they have played some excellent football against teams far higher in the league but have not got the points that they may have merited.

They came out of the blocks quickly at Princes Park and went ahead in just the third minute. Kory Roberts dithered on the ball and was dispossessed by Kristian Campbell who squared for Dipo Akinyemi to finish.

Luke Allen fired wide for Dartford before Campbell met an Aaron Barnes cross from the right but could not direct his header at the goal.

Jack Jebb shot over from well out before another Roberts error almost gifted Welling a second. His short back pass let Mason Saunders-Henry in but Dan Wilks rushed out, the two players collided, and the referee awarded a generous free kick to Dartford. Wilks took it himself and launched it forward with the aid of the strong wind. Welling’s defenders failed to deal with it and Marcus Dinanga nipped in to lob it over the exposed Jack Sims in Welling’s goal.

However, four minutes later Welling were back ahead when Kai Innocent hacked Barnes down in the penalty area and a spot kick was awarded. Akinyemi stepped up and sent Wilks the wrong way.

Campbell had a dangerous shot blocked before Dartford again drew level. Innocent got forward down the left and played it across goal for Danny Leonard to tap home.

Again, Welling surged forward and a cross-shot from Saunders-Henry was just out of the reach of Akinyemi to complete a first half hat-trick. Olu Durojaiye then came close to scoring his first of the season but Wilks made a brilliant low full length diving save.

Ade Shokunbi headed over from Campbell’s corner as the Wings finished the half in the ascendancy.

After the break, and with the wind behind them, Welling found the Dartford defence more resolute and they struggled to break them down. It was beyond the hour mark when they had their first meaningful shot, a Campbell free kick that went inches past the post, with Wilkes watching.

Kieran Murtagh then had a good chance for the Darts when picked out by Jebb’s free kick but his header went wide, then Jebb shot over from distance.

As the game approached its final fifteen minutes, the Darts went ahead. A clearance fell nicely for Allen and his first time shot, from twenty five yards out, gave Sims no chance as it arrowed into the bottom corner.

Peter Taylor replaced right back Maxwell Statham with striker Tom Derry, but the search for an equaliser left the Wings stretched at the back. Dinanga headed wide from Ade Azeez’s cross but fired a superb curler into the top corner, soon after, to ensure Dartford claimed the local derby bragging rights.

Welling United: Sims, Statham (Derry 82), Ezennolim, Durojaiye, Davis, Penney, Barnes, Shokunbi, Akinyemi, Campbell (Muscatt 73), Saunders-Henry (Stevenson 62). Subs not used:, Parish, Jackson.