Welling United 3 Basingstoke 2

CHE STADHART silenced his critics with a brace as Welling picked up maximum points against Basingstoke in Nationwide Conference South on Saturday.

After a dour first half all five goals came after the break with Stadhart and leading scorer Danny Kedwell on target for the Wings.

Welling took the lead on 52 minutes when Lee Gledhill's long free-kick was headed home from inside the penalty area by Kedwell.

The lead was doubled two minutes later when Matt Bodkin ran from well inside his own half and drilled a right-footed cross for Stadhart to turn home.

The visitors were handed a lifeline on the hour when Jamie Day's misplaced pass saw Basingstoke break and Pablo Pedretti fired low past Jamie Turner.

Welling restored the two-goal advantage on 73 minutes when the industrious Kedwell stole the ball off the Basingstoke defence and advanced into the penalty area before crossing for Stadhart to finish.

The three points seemed to be in the bag until an uncharacteristic error by Turner allowed Basingstoke skipper and ex-Gravesend player Ben Surey to score from close range and set up a nervy final six minutes.