Manager Danny Bloor has challenged Welling hat-trick hero Antony Papadopoulos to deliver the goods in front of goal more consistently.

Attacking midfielder Papadopoulos helped ensure the Wings earned an FA Cup Second Qualifying Round 3-2 away win against rivals Dartford on Saturday.

The 20-year-old signed for National League South Welling in July 2022 after he had started at Leyton Orient.

Papadopoulos twice helped Bloor’s team come from behind in front of a crowd of more than 1,000 at Princes Park and came up with the all-important fifth goal in the second half.

“It just shows you what he’s capable of,” said Bloor, who replaced Warren Feeney at Park View Road this June.

“He’s 20 and he’s the only player that has remained at Welling United from last season.

“You can see today what he should be doing on a more regular basis. Many congratulations to him.

Report: Dartford 2-3 Welling United

“Commiserations to Dartford, they’re a good, strong, side. Dowse [Darts manager Alan Dowson] is a good pal of mine and I certainly wish them well, moving forwards.”

Welling’s three goals were their first competitive ones of the month as they beat Dartford for the first time since Boxing Day 2018 - in a 2-0 home win.

Bloor reflected: “I thought it was a pulsating cup tie, particularly if you were a neutral.

“But I think we got our just rewards in the end. Some of our play was really, really good.

“I felt we were worthy winners - Dowse might say that he thought they were unlucky - but it doesn’t matter what I think and what Dowse thinks, does it? The result is Dartford 2-3 Welling United.”

Bloor gave a debut to 24-year-old frontman Tristan Abrahams, who has signed for the Wings on a deal until January, having played for Gillingham earlier this year.

Dedicating the triumph to their club’s fans, Bloor, who’s set to return to former side Eastbourne Borough next weekend as Welling return to league action, added: “We’re an evolving side.

“A massive thank you to the-powers-that-be at the club for getting Tristan Abrahams in. He made a massive difference to us up front.

“Other than score, he did absolutely everything. That’s the type of forward that we need.

“That’s no disrespect to David Kamara and Alex MacAllister. They need to learn from an experienced player like Tristan.

“It’s a big day. I want to give this win to the fans of Welling United. They couldn’t have supported me any more from the day I took over as manager.

“The results haven’t gone as well as we would have liked. But it’s a marathon, the season, not a sprint.

“You could see the scenes with the fans afterwards so that’s for them.”

The Wings, set to learn their FA Cup Third Qualifying Round opponents tomorrow (Monday), will now aim to improve their early-season league form.

They have collected just seven points from nine league games.