Thurrock left Park View Road with three points after contriving to make what should have been a regulation victory into a game they were lucky to win. Thurrock were weakened significantly with Lee Hodges, Steve Heffer, Martyn Lawrence and John Purdie all missing after picking up knocks in the League Cup game against Margate. Glenn Poole did come back into the side after missing the last two games through being cup-tied and David Lee returned for his third spell at Thurrock having been released by Fleet’s FA Cup conquerors Oldham Athletic. It was Lee who opened the scoring after only a minute of the game gone. Marc Goodfellow’s cross was met at the same time by Tresor Kandol and Welling keeper Charlie Mitten and the ball fell kindly to Lee who slotted home from close range. Thurrock were utterly dominant and Welling seemed to have problems getting out of their own half. With ten minutes on the clock Lee nearly added a second. Ryan Kirby’s cross field ball found Thompson, whose cross fell to Lee who smashed goalwards only for Mitten’s outstretched hand to divert the ball behind for a corner. Poole took an excellent corner and Cliff Akurang rose highest, but he smashed his header against the bar. Minutes later the woodwork was hit again. Dave Collis’ pass found Poole in the area and with a clever dip of the shoulders he found space to smash a shot low and hard, which rebounded off the post with Mitten stranded. A minute later it was Kandol’s turn to be unlucky, he turned his defender well and tried to lift his shot over the keeper but Mitten blocked well.

Welling then started to come back into the game, Thurrock’s midfield seemed to be outnumbered and Welling were enjoying more possession. They seemed unable to create many chances and Billy McMahon’s only moment of real action came when he had to smother a through ball with a centre forward baring down. Thurrock were unlucky not to double their lead on the stroke of half time when a goalmouth scramble led to both Kandol and Akurang coming close before the ball went behind for a corner.

Welling came out for the second half a different side. Ian Wiles missed a gilt edged chance from 2 yards out when he lumped the ball over the bar when it looked easier to score than miss. The day was not going to get any better for him. The inevitable equaliser came on the hour. A free kick was awarded to Welling twenty yards from goal. The ball was rolled sideways to Jamie Day who drilled a low shot past McMahon. Thurrock played their get out of jail free card with 20 minutes left. Jimmy McFarlane looked to be the last man when he pulled down a player twenty five yards out but referee Mr Beldin decided to give a yellow card rather than the red that the Welling fans were calling for. Thurrock got their fortuitous winner with fifteen minutes left. Collis’ long ball seemed to be going nowhere until Wiles headed over his own keeper into the back of the net from 25 yards. Welling pressed hard for an equaliser, but it was Thurrock who looked more likely to score on the break with Lee and Simon Martin both wasting chances to wrap up the game.

 Man of the Match: David Lee

 Thurrock: McMahon, Collis, Goodfellow, McFarlane©, Goddard, Thompson, Kirby, David Lee, Poole (Fletcher 90), Akurang (Kris Lee 89), Kandol (Martin 80)