A 12 minute, second half hat-trick from Dernell Wynter was enough to keep the Welwyn Garden City play-off train well on track. 

Lynton Goss had given the Citizens a half-time lead at home to Kempston Rovers before Wynter took over, getting his third on the hour.

But a Samuel Ezenwaka double kept Kempston interested, making it 2-1 and then 4-2 but his second was the last of the game.

The three points lifts Welwyn up to seventh and with plenty of games in hand on the sides above still.

Manager Marc Weatherstone made two changes from the side that beat Kidlington 2-0 on Saturday.

In came Alex Harris and Manny Yeboah, the latter a 25-year-old midfielder signed on dual registration from Weatherstone's old club, Wingate & Finchley.

Jack Vasey dropped to the bench while Gucci Soulya-Osekanongo was unavailable.

The pitch has been an issue all season, the ridiculously wet winter not a friend to it at all, and it is in dire need of getting a roller on it, something the club are well aware of.

That hasn't been possible with the wetness of the ground and it has left a bobbly surface.

That could have been part of the slow start by the home side who were unable to find their rhythm in the opening 20 minutes.

Kempston had more of the play but never tested Charlie Crowley in the Welwyn goal and once the Citizens starting to get on the ball, they took a firm grip of the first half.

They scored at the perfect time too. A delightful through ball by on-loan St Albans City midfielder Charlie McDonald sending Goss away and giving a player of his calibre a chance he was never going to pass up.

From there there were other chances for Welwyn to score.

Yeboah's firm drive was blocked inadvertently by a body and then Brad Wadkins scooped over from a Cyrus Babaie nod down.

Goss headed over and Babaie was denied a shot on goal by an ill-timed bobble that forced him away from the target.

The left-sided forward produced a superb bit of control to bring down a long James Kaloczi ball forward and after he cut inside, he found Dernell Wynter.

He should have passed to the unmarked Yeboah but went himself and shot wide.

As always when a team has such much possession, the need for more goals rises rapidly the longer they take to come.

Three minutes into the second half and Wynter made sure any nerves were kept under control.

It came from a long throw on the right that was flicked on to him in the box.

The defending from there was atrocious but the finish was a good one, Wynter taking a few touches before turning and firing to the left of George Whitehall in the Kempston goal.

Yeboah then went very close with a drive just past the post but suddenly, out of the blue, Rovers had one back, Ezenwaka going through unmarked to fire confidently beyond Crowley.

However, any fears were immediately quashed as Welwyn scored twice in the next three minutes.

Wynter got them both to complete his hat-trick, the first getting to a ball on the edge of the box before the keeper and rolling the ball into the empty net, and the second lashed from the other side of the area, giving Whitehall no chance.

But they gave Kempston a lifeline with a trip on Ezenwaka and a penalty, the fouled man sending Crowley the wrong way with 22 minutes remaining.

The keeper also had to punch a couple of crosses away and then grab a shot from distance as Kempston threw caution to the wind with three at the back.

They had chances but Welwyn defending well enough to see out the game.

They could have added a fifth on the break but Bailey Stevenson's cross was just too far in front of Goss.

Match details

Welwyn Garden City: Crowley, Harris (Kirwan 85), Bryant, MacDonald, Kaloczi, Steele, Wynter, Yeboah, Goss (Steel 85), Wadkins (Stevenson 67), Babaie.

Sub (not used): Vasey.

Goals: Goss 24, Wynter 48, 58, 60

Booked: Wadkins 22, McDonald 45

 

Kempston Rovers: Whitehall, Wood, Gough, Ladipo, Guathier, Black, Daffern (Ward 75), Amu, Adepoju (Diaklesse 75), Farruch (Cardines 24), Ezenwaka. 

Subs (not used): Naylor, Blennerhassett.

Goals: Ezenwaka 57, (pen) 68

Booked: 

 

HT: Welwyn Garden City 1 Kempston Rovers 0

Added time: 8

Referee: Joanne Horwood (Kings Langley)

Attendance: 101