Welling striker Andy Pugh celebrates his goal with Joe Healy

by Matthew Panting

Welling drew on the opening day of the Blue Square Bet South season for the second year in a row on Saturday.

The Wings looked on course for three points when Andy Pugh netted from close range on the hour but a cute finish by Scott Taylor pegged them back.

Although Welling had plenty of early possession, they lacked any threat in front of goal and had only two weak Luis Cumbers and Jamie Day efforts to show by half-time.

By contrast, Staines looked lively on the break but Taylor snatched at an early opening and Andre Scarlett fired wide as keeper John Whitehouse was equally untested.

Welling improved after the break and took the lead on 60 minutes. Skipper Jack Parkinson saw his long-range shot beaten away by keeper Louis Wells and Pugh pounced on the rebound to open his account.

Welling were denied a penalty two minutes later when Pugh's cross appeared to be handled as Cumbers challenged for a header.

Whitehouse tipped over Danny Gordon's close-range header while Parkinson headed over at the other end.

With 10 minutes to go, hesistancy in the home defence was punished by Taylor, whose precise lob from the edge of the box was a moment of class not keeping with the game.

Staines' Gareth Risbridger somehow escaped a red card for landing a punch on Jack Parkinson, who himself could have easily walked for a second caution moments later as tempers were raised late on.

Bromley opened their campaign with a 2-1 win at Hampton & Richmond thanks to a stoppage time winner from Mike Jones.

The Lillywhites had taken the lead just before half time through Orlando Smith. He looked to have been putting a cross into the danger area for Hakeem Araba to finish, but instead the ball found itself in the back of the net.

After the referee's assistant initially raised his flag for offside, the goal stood as Araba was ruled not to be intefering with play.

Charlie Moone levelled the scores on 73 minutes, but Jones managed to grab all three points for the visitors when he headed in a deep cross from Ryan Adams in time added on.