Welling celebrate their first goal at Woking on Saturday. Picture: David Holmes/Woking FC

by Matthew Panting

On-loan Gillingham striker Andy Pugh signed off from his loan spell at Blue Square South Welling on Saturday with a brilliant hat-trick.

It helped the Wings to destroy fellow play-off hopefuls Woking in stunning fashion and took his tally during his three months at Park View Road to eight goals in 15 games.

A tight first-half saw Welling lead courtesy of Pugh's 39th minute opener, when he reacted quickest to meet Loui Fazackerley's right-wing cross.

Only the woodwork had earlier denied Fazackerley the opener after a neat move on the edge of the Woking penalty area.

Either side could have easily been in front at half-time but the second half was a different story as Welling hit top gear, with Pugh and winger Sam Hurrell proving unplayable.

Pugh made it 2-0 in the 54th minute. Fazackerley led a counter attack from the edge of the Welling penalty area and sent Pugh clear of last man Jamie Hand. He managed to hold off the Woking midfielder before sidefooting home with keeper Ross Worner beaten.

Welling keeper Charlie Mitten made a great save to tip over Nathaniel Pinney's 20-yard drive before Welling scored their third goal just before the hour mark.

Hurrell beat the offside trap down the left and his cross was met by Tommy Whitnell. The striker's clever flick saw the ball loop in via the far post despite Worner's efforts to keep it out.

Welling made it four goals in 14 minutes when Whitnell was tripped in the box and Pugh took the spot-kick to complete his hat-trick.

Pugh then scuffed his shot wide late on but Welling scored a deserved fifth goal in the 89th minute when Pugh and Michael Bakare exchanged passes and, after Pugh was denied on the line, substitute Tony Finn walked the ball home.

Bromley were forced to settle for a point away from home in the Blue Square South, as they were held to a 1-1 draw at play-off chasing Braintree Town.

The Lillywhites had home skipper Mark Jones to thank for giving them the lead on 21 minutes as he embarrasingly lobbed his own goalkeeper from 12 yards.

Jerome Sobers was fortunate to escape a sending off when he brought down George Purcell inside the area on the half hour mark. Sobers was booked, but Purcell's spot kick was well saved by Gareth Williams.

Just four minutes later, Matt Game did level things up for the hosts, as he ghosted into the area unmarked to finish right-footed.

Bromley could have come away with all three points in the second half. Phil Ruggles hit the outside of the post and then Steve Ferguson failed to hit the target after weaving past three Braintree defenders.

Cray Wanderers recorded their fifth win in six matches with a 2-1 win against second-placed Kingstonian in the Ryman Premier Division.

After a goalless first half, Leigh Bremner put Wanderers ahead on 50 minutes. But, just four minutes later Colin Luckett spurned the chance to double the lead when his penalty kick hit the bar.

The visitors took advantage of that lifeline and found themselves level on 78 minutes. The division's leading scorer Bobby Traynor turned up to find an equaliser.

But, Cray's persistence paid off with three minutes remaining. Marcus Cassius proved the match winner as he finished off a patient move, involving some intelligent play from Tommy Tyne, who put him through to rifle home past the goalkeeper.