by Matthew Panting

Welling United made light work of being without injured front pair Loick Pires and Andy Pugh by putting five goals past Truro City to go second in Blue Square Bet South on Saturday.

Both players were sidelined with knee injuries - the latter's five-figure move to Cambridge United being put on hold as a result - meaning Welling handed Luis Cumbers (pictured) a role upfront and he responded by scoring twice in a dominant second half display.

The Wings had led 1-0 at half-time courtesy of Lee Clarke's 41st-minute penalty, as the experienced midfielder made no mistake from the spot, despite missing from the same end against Dartford on Boxing Day.

Truro keeper Tom Brooks was fortunate to only collect a yellow card having given away the spot-kick after referee Anthony Coggins adjudged that he fouled Cumbers, who eventually put the ball in the net anyway.

Earlier in the half Cumbers and Joe Healy both saw efforts cleared off the line, while Healy saw a low drive beaten away.

Welling made it 2-0 on 50 minutes when Jack Obersteller's free-kick was not cleared and Dean Cracknell turned in the loose ball for his first goal since rejoining trhe club from Thurrock.

Cumbers then scored twice within a minute, taking advantage of a kind deflection to go clean through before slotting home and then chesting-in from a yard out after good work by Obersteller.

Cracknell claimed his second with 16 minutes left when Cumbers ran from inside his own half and delivered a perfect inch-perfect cross.

With keeper Nick Pope recalled by Charlton, Welling handed a debut to former Cambridge United and Spurs stopper Simon Brown, but his hopes of a clean sheet were dashed 12 minutes from the end when substitute Loui Fazackerley gave away a spot-kick which Scott Walker converted.

Do you think Cumbers can fill the void if Andy Pugh moves to Cambridge United? Have your say below.