By Matthew Panting

Welling's Blue Square Bet South title credentials passed a serious examination at Billericay on Saturday.

The Wings had to contend with a direct home side on a sodden pitch that was only passed fit an hour before kick-off after heavy morning rain.

Ironically the game finished in sunshine and the Wings were also smiling after goals in either half from Fraser Franks (pictured) and leading scorer Ross Lafayette extended their lead at the top of the table to six points over Salisbury with a game in hand.

Billericay's front pair of Jay May and Alex Osborn linked up well throughout and belied their team's position in the relegation zone. Indeed, had it not been for an excellent one-handed save by keeper Sam Mott, Osborn would have given the hosts an 11th-minute lead.

Welling responded and player/boss Jamie Day saw his 25-yard free-kick turned behind by keeper Sam Beasant before the visitors took a 16th-minute lead.

Jack Obersteller's right-wing corner was met perfectly by Franks at the near post and his header found the back of the net.

Jake Gallagher then exchanged passes with Lee Clarke before firing wide while, at the other end, the evergreen Glen Poole sent an excellent volley inches over the top corner.

Both sides had chances after the break, May shooting wide for the hosts before Jake Reid was denied his first Welling goal. After beating Beasant to a through ball, Reid tried to score from an acute angle but the towering Chris Wild produced a goal-saving block to deny the Wings striker.

Lafayette missed a chance to wrap the points up with 10 minutes left, heading Obersteller's near-post cross wide of the upright but he did find the target four minutes later, firing home from inside the penalty area with the aid of a deflection after Reid's effort was somehow kept out by the home side.

Billericay continued to pile balls into the Welling area, however, and they set up a nervy finale when substitute Nathan Ashton scored with three minutes lett. Clarke's chip was then tipped over as Welling looked to respond but they eventually saw out nearly four minutes of stoppage time to collect the three points.

Welling have nine games remaining, including trips to Bath on Tuesday and Truro on Saturday.