In a game where chances were few and far between for both sides, Welling left the Woodspring Stadium with all three points after capitalising in front of goal with two first-half strikes.
Weston started the sharpest of the two sides, moving the ball quickly and showing determination to win the ball back if they lost it. The first chance of note fell to captain Dayle Grubb, who cut inside but his shot from outside the area flew narrowly over.
Moments later, the Wings took the lead against the run of play. Joe Healy slid in on Grubb from behind, with the referee deeming it a fair challenge despite the appeals and protestations from the Weston supporters. Healy found Phipps, who took one touch and slotted into the corner to break the deadlock.
Grubb cut inside and played a smart one-two with Tristan Plummer, with his deflected shot tipped wide by the fingertips of Kieton Perntreou.
Welling snatched a second when Jeffrey Monakana used his pace down the right side, beating Danny Greenslade and crossing for Healy at the back post who slammed the ball into the roof of the net.
Weston almost pulled one back when Greenslade’s cross was nodded against the post by Jake Reid, and despite his efforts Gethyn Hill was unable to reach the rebound. Grubb’s shot from outside the box was beaten away by Perntreou and Plummer’s shot was safely pulled in to the keeper’s arms.
After the restart, Welling got a half-chance when Healy raced onto a ball down the right, cut onto his left but Luke Purnell beat away his effort, Healy then nodded a resulting cross wide.
Healy dinked the ball over to Monakana, who controlled the shot but his effort was palmed away by Purnell. As the second half wore on, Weston continued to pile on the pressure with multiple crosses and long balls being pumped into the box yet the Seagulls were unable break down a resistant Wings backline.
FT: Weston 0 – 2 Welling (Phipps 24, Healy 34)
Weston XI: Purnell, Pope, Greenslade, Cane, Smith, Reid (Rapai 63), Plummer (Welch 67), Diallo, Lee, Grubb(C), Hill. Unused substitutes: Laird, Kington, Collins.
MOTM: Danny Greenslade – Crossing from the left troubled the Welling defence at times, and his surging runs forward on the overlap put pressure on the opposition’s defence.