Welling forward Jake Reid opens his account for the club against Chelmsford, above, and celebrates below right Pictures: Keith Gillard

By Matthew Panting

Welling took another step towards the Blue Square Bet South title with a home win over 10-man Chelmsford on Good Friday.

The visitors had to play virtually the whole match a player short after their captain Kenny Clark was sent-off in the third minute.

Referee Steve Daly was left with little option but to show Clark the red card after he dived in two-footed on Theo Fairweather-Johnson.

Welling made Chelmsford pay almost immediately. Justin Miller was put under pressure by Ross Lafayette and the Wings forward came away with the ball in a two on one break. He fed strike partner Craig Reid, who never looked like missing as he slotted home his first goal since joining on loan from AFC Telford.

The lead should have been doubled on 14 minutes as Lee Clarke’s scuffed effort fell to Fairweather-Johnson but he dragged his shot wide of the far post.

Welling lost left-back Jack Obersteller to a facial injury in the first 20 minutes which meant Jake Gallagher had to drop back for the remainder of the match.

The visitors were fortunate not to be reduced to nine men on the half-hour as Joe Wright escaped with a caution for an awful challenge on Welling player/boss Jamie Day.

Although Fairweather-Johnson’s header hit the top of the bar, he longer the half went on, the more comfortable the visitors looked. Although they failed to seriously test keeper Sam Mott it certainly gave them hope in the second half.

Already a goal to the good, Welling refused to commit men forward after the break. Chelmsford kept the ball better, passed well and looked the more likely to score. That they didn’t equalise was down to Mott, whose fantastic one-handed save from substitute Anthony Cook just before the hour mark was another key moment in the game.

Anthony Acheampong then produced an excellent block inside his own penalty area before Welling gave themselves the comfort of a second goal midway through the half. Clarke pulled the ball back for Lafayette, who declined to shoot and opted instead to chip an excellent cross into the area for Reid to head past the stranded Stuart Searle.

Substitute Kiernan Hughes-Mason looked lively following his introduction and he wrapped up the points 15 minutes from time, pouncing on a loose defensive header before rounding Searle and slotting into an empty net.

Kiernan Hughes-Mason celebrates scoring the third goal Picture: Keith Gillard

It could have got worse for Chelmsford late on but substitute Kurtis Guthrie – still searching for his first Welling goal – somehow shot wide having created an excellent opening himself while Clarke’s flick from Fraser Franks’ cross was ruled out for offside in stoppage time.

A bumper crowd of 1,065 saw the Wings move 12 points clear at the top, although Salisbury and Dover will both hope to close the gap when they play on Saturday afternoon.