By Matthew Panting

Dartford remain just three points outside the Blue Square Bet South relegation zone after a second derby defeat in five days.

After Tuesday's 2-1 reverse at Ebbsfleet, Darts went down by the same scoreline at Welling in front of 1,512 at Park View Road.

But there were no hard luck referee tales to tell as Dartford, despite a bright start, were a distant second to a Welling side who would sit joint-top had it not been for their five-point deduction.

After just four mintues, on-loan York forward George Purcell, playing on the left of a five-man midfield, created space on the edge of the box and his left-foot shot was tipped on to the bar by home keeper Gareth Stewart. It was a tremendous save by the Wings keeper but referee Lee Venamore gave a goal kick - the first of many bemusing decisions on the day.

Lee Burns headed wide for the visitors before Welling got into their stride. The pace and movement of Luis Cumbers and Andy Pugh - back for the suspended Loick Pires - caused Dartford plenty of problems and both strikers had shots that went across the face of the goal inside the opening half-hour.

A brilliant Billy Burgess tackle then denied Pugh a tap-in and Darts keeper Andrew Young was out to save bravely at the feet of Cumbers.

The pressure continued to grow before half-time and it was no surprise when Jack Obersteller's free-kick was headed in by Clarke in the 42nd minute, with Young caught flapping in no man's land.

Welling player-boss Jamie Day was denied a goal against the club he played for at the start of last season when Young turned aside his free-kick in the 53rd minute. But the resulting corner saw Welling add their second goal when the ball fell for Cumbers to turn in from close range.

The hosts lost Andy Sambrook (flu) 10 minutes into the second half, causing a further reshuffle with illness already ruling out centre-back Graeme Andrews.

Darts skipper Elliot Bradbrook headed over Ryan Hayes' free-kick when he should have done better before another Hayes delivery evaded everyone and went just wide of the far post.

The Wings were cruising to victory but referee Venamore surprisingly awarded a penalty - that even Darts boss Tony Burman admitted looked generous - when substitute Adam Burchell went down after Day's challenge. Carl Rook, pictured, tucked away the spot-kick to set up a nervy final seven minutes.

Dartford had one chance to equalise but Tom Champion prodded wide from inside the box in stoppage time.

Darts hosts Chelmsford on Monday while Welling make the trip to Lewes.