Margate 1 Welling United 2

JAMIE DAY scored direct from a corner as Welling claimed three vital points against Margate at Homelands on Tuesday.

Day added to Shaun Hale's first half opener by curling a left-wing corner over the head of Margate keeper Peter Trego midway through the second half.

Neither side created many chances in the first 45 minutes but Welling went in ahead when Hale headed home Day's corner two minutes into stoppage time.

Margate responded late on but Rocky Baptiste twice wasted glorious openings after rounding keeper Charlie Mitten. In between, Baptiste drilled home a right-foot shot to set up a tense 10 minutes for the visitors.

The victory boosted Liam Daish's chances of claiming the Welling job on a permanent basis, taking his tally to seven points from three games since the departure of Paul Parker.

The two sides meet again this Saturday at Park View Road in the return fixture (3pm).