Wealdstone held on with 10-men to secure a 1-0 win over Welling United on Saturday.

Michee Efete’s first-half goal proved to be the difference between the two sides, despite Michael Phillip’s red card providing a nervy finish for the hosts.

Dean Brennan made four changes to the side that lost at Billericay Town last week, with Moses Emmanuel coming in alongside Efete, Connor Smith and Danny Green in place of Ross Lafayette, William Edjenguele, Adam Coombes and Jacob Mendy.

A slow start to the game meant the first shot on target from either side did not arrive until the 27th minute.

However, it proved to be the one that provided the opening goal, as Emmanuel touched Green’s pass down for Efete to slot underneath Welling goalkeeper Dan Wilks.

Gavin McCallum almost provided the perfect response for the visitors, but his shot was kept out by Stones stopper Harry Isted.

Wealdstone continued to be the better side in the second half but will be stunned as to how they did not add further goals to their tally after a dominant period. Dennon Lewis had their best chance, coming agonisingly close to curling into the bottom corner.

With chances being missed, the momentum started to swing in Welling’s favour, and it got worse for the Stones when Phillips was shown a second yellow card for dissent following a previous booking for handball.

However, the visitors were unable to find an equaliser despite their numerical advantage, with Isted’s only real save being a routine one from Connor Dymond’s drive.

The win extends Wealdstone’s lead at the top of the National League South to seven points ahead of Bath City, while their next game sees them travel to Staines Town in the quarter-final of the Middlesex Senior Cup tonight.