Victory over Gloucester City took Welling United to the summit of the Vanarama National League South.

Despite injuries and suspensions Steve King’s team deserved their victory over an improving Gloucester side.

Montel Agyemang and Matt Paterson both made debuts for the Wings as they were forced into making changes from the team that were knocked out of the F.A. Cup one week earlier.

There were just three minutes on the clock when Welling went ahead. Adam Coombes clever flick sent Nassim L’Ghoul clear down the wing. His cross found Paterson who knocked down unselfishly for Brendan Kiernan to hook home.

Chris Knowles was just wide for Gloucester after he fed onto Matt Liddiard’s knock-down and then he had another chance when arriving late from a deep cross but was unable to head on target as he tried to get past a team-mate.

Adam Przybek made his first save of the afternoon from Kiernan who had brought a long ball down well but couldn’t get enough power behind his shot to bother the goalkeeper too muck.

In their next foray Gloucester did have the ball in the Welling net but it was a clear foul as Dan Wilks was bundled into his own net.

Coombes headed just over from Craig Braham-Barrett’s well hung up centre before the loanee striker came close again. L’Ghoul fired in a low cross that Coombes hit first time but Przybek made an outstanding save.

Agyemang found Kiernan but his shot was saved easily by Przybek.

Andre Wright twisted and turned but Jordan Gibbons made an excellent block then Coombes suffered the same fate at the other end.

Liddiard headed over from a Fabien Robert cross before Kiernan shot wide from twenty-five yards out with Przybek struggling.

Coombes belted a free kick well over just before the interval.

Just as they did in the first half, Welling started the second period with a goal. Coombes cut in from the right and was brought down right on the edge of the area, L’Ghoul took the free kick and fired it just inside the far post.

Wilks was then called into action when making a brilliant one handed save when Robert headed down Wright’s cross.

He made another save soon after when Sam Avery’s header was blocked back to him but his follow up shot was too straight to really trouble the Welling goalkeeper.

Looking to pull one back left Gloucester susceptible to the break and that’s how Welling scored their third. Kiernan burst away before his reverse pass found Paterson and he marked his first Welling game with a crisp finish.

Three almost became four when Jack Deaman headed L’Ghoul’s free kick inches over his own bar.

Joe Parker pulled one back with thirteen minutes remaining with a good finish from Harry Williams’ through ball then Williams had a shot deflected into the side netting.

However, that was as good as it got for Gloucester and Welling saw the game out in relative comfort.

Welling United: Wilks; Gibbons, Braham-Barrett, Mendy, Audel, Hill, Kiernan (Marsh-Brown 74), Agyemang, Paterson, Coombes (Goldberg 74), L’Ghoul. Subs not used: Mills, Banya, Ambroisine.