Woeful Welling were made to pay for a dreadful display at home to Southport in the National League.

The Wings lacked any hunger against a team in the bottom four and missed out on the chance to move 10 points clear of the drop zone.

Instead that gap is down to just five points as goalshy Southport, the division's lowest scorers, claimed the points thanks to Mike Phenix's 72nd-minute winner.

Southport started brightly and it set the tone for the 90 minutes. An early corner saw an excellent point-blank save from Welling keeper Michael McEntegart before Louis Almond's fourth-minute free-kick was deflected off the wall and bounced inches wide of the upright.

It took Welling 23 minutes to have a shot at goal, as Harry Lee drove forward and fired wide but they failed to test Southport keeper Max Crocombe in the first half - their only other chance when Sam Corne's attempt was blocked from Lee's header down.

Referee Chris Powell came off with a calf injury on the stroke of half-time and was replaced in the middle by Paul Yates.

Welling forced Crocombe into his only action of the afternoon five minutes into the second half when he tipped away Xavier Vidal's 20-yard free-kick after a crude foul on George Porter.

Southport had a goal disallowed for offside with 18 minutes left when Andy Bishop followed up after Almond's initial shot was parried.

But Welling did not hold out for long as Phenix drove home through the legs of Ben Jefford with 15 minutes left to put Southport ahead.

Reece Harris' deep cross was headed wide by substitute Michael Bakare with seven minutes left but that was the only notable attack Welling could muster as they struggled to have any possession in Southport's half.

Welling: McEntegart, Jefford (Osborne 90mins), Chambers, Porter, Lee (Adeyinka 87mins), Wellard (Bakare 72mins), Lokko, Corne, Harris, Williams, Vidal. Subs not used: King, Taylor.

Attendance: 603.