Salisbury City: Puddy, Udoji, J Clarke, Matthews, Hart (c), Lewis, Sinclair, Frear, McPhee, Fitchett (Ademeno 76), White

Subs not used: Scott, D Clarke, Baggridge, Clark

Att: 482

CONFERENCE SOUTH table-toppers Salisbury City were left short-changed at Park View Road, crashing to their third defeat of the season, writes Joel Holt.

Despite the travelling side dominating the early proceedings, they squandered a batch of good chances.

And they paid the ultimate price in the 84th minute as top-scorer Ross Lafayette broke City’s hearts after squeezing home a dramatic winner.

The Whites were without injured skipper Chris Giles, who was replaced by Ugo Udoji in defence.

Meanwhile Mark Scott and Matt Clark made way for Will Puddy and leading scorer Jamie White in the starting XI.

Salisbury rallied out of the blocks from the off. Dan Fitchett cut across the face of goal only for Welling player-manager Jamie Day to scramble clear.

Moments later, Exeter City loanee Elliott Frear rattled the upright with a sweet left-footed effort, before White shuffled a chance wide from six-yards out.

Despite the hosts’ attacking pair Lafayette and Kurtis Guthrie carving together a few chances, they didn’t cause Puddy too much bother.

The visitors took command and showed a certain swagger about their play and a glorious chance to break the deadlock fell to White. Frear ghosted past the welling back-line and teed up White, who directed his shot straight into the gloves of Sam Mott.

Unfortunately for Salisbury, they didn’t reinstate their dominance in the second-half, which allowed Welling to gain more possession.

But Newboy Charles Ademeno nearly dug out a breakaway winner. He sneaked through on goal, but when he came to pull the trigger, he wastefully blazed into the skies.

And the leaders were left holding their heads in their hands four minutes later. Wobbly defending allowed Kiernan Hughes-Mason to spot Lafayette unmarked in the area, to bundle the ball into the bottom corner.

The Whites head to Ryman Isthmian South Division leaders Maidstone United on Saturday November 24 in the FA Trophy first round (3pm).