Welling United 1 Weston-super-Mare 0

SUBSTITUTE Andrew Sam scored an 82nd minute winner to give Welling the perfect start to their Nationwide Conference South season at Park View Road on Saturday.

The Wings were grateful to Sam, whose international clearance came through just 24 hours earlier, as the 23-year-old striker headed in a perfect Matt Bodkin right-wing cross.

It was no more than Welling deserved after a spirited second half display which made up for a lacklustre opening 45 minutes.

Neither side showed much invention before the break but it needed a vital Jamie Day clearance to deny Weston an opener on the half hour mark.

The turning point came with the 65th minute double introduction of Ronayne Benjamin and Sam, who added more pace to the Wings attack.

On 74 minutes Bodkin headed a Che Stadhart cross wide before Day volleyed just over and skipper Chris Moore had a header ruled out for offside.

Without suspended Danny Kedwell it looked as though the Wings would settle for a point until Sam headed in to grab the glory.