WORCESTER City’s long search for an away victory continued as they lost 1-0 to Welling United for the second time in a month.

It is now nearly 10 months since Richard Dryden’s side tasted success on their travels — at Fisher Athletic on February 21.

City were better than when the Wings claimed three points at St George’s Lane on November 7, but were still unable to find a goal.

Lee Clarke’s 53rd-minute penalty proved decisive at a saturated Park View Road, which became increasingly slippery as the rain lashed down.

The visitors more than matched their opponents in the first-half but Welling took control once they had taken the lead and got stronger as the game progressed.

Dryden threw Alfie Carter up front in a desperate bid to snatch a point late on and stretch his team’s unbeaten run to five matches and it almost worked as he forced Charlie Mitten into a good save.

Until that stage, City had toiled with Marco Adaggio and new signing Danny Carey-Bertram playing either side of Marc McGregor, in for the suspended Rob Elvins, in a flexible 4-3-3 system.

Interestingly, Worcester are setting a trend for being a more successful side when Elvins starts as his absence coincided with the end of their four-match sequence without defeat.

Elvins played in each of those fixtures having been suspended for the previous three matches, all of which City lost.

Carey-Bertram, on loan for a month from Worcester’s FA Cup conquerors AFC Telford United, was involved in many of his new side’s first-half attacks and he might have marked his debut with a goal.

The former Hereford United forward got on the end of Adaggio’s accurate pass before forcing keeper Mitten to save his fizzing strike. He then set Adaggio free down the left and burst into the area to accept the return cross, heading inches over.

Adaggio was also lively in the first-half but needlessly threw himself to the turf after only four minutes in an attempt to win a penalty and was booked.

Mark Clyde was used in a central midfield role, another string to the Northern Irishman’s bow, and he twice went close after getting himself into good positions in the box.

Wayne Daniel was once again a rock at the heart of the defence and, along with skipper Tom Kemp, was continually on hand to clear the danger from Jamie Day’s side.

Keeper Jake Meredith did not face his first serious test until the half-hour mark, getting a crucial hand to Andy Pugh’s stinging drive after the Wings had broken upfield at pace.

Adaggio squandered City’s best chance of the half two minutes later as he turned his marker 12 yards out but sliced a volley high over the bar.

The match turned on the penalty, awarded after Carter had sent Loui Fazakerley sprawling, and Clarke coolly sent Meredith the wrong way with the spot-kick.

It spurred Welling on and they might have added a second on several occasions.

Graeme Andrews’ header was cleared off the near post in the 73rd minute through a combination of Matt Birley and Meredith, who four minutes later fumbled Fazakerley’s skidding strike.

Needing to force the issue, Dryden let Carter off the leash and brought on Kevin Spencer at left-back.

It was a gamble that nearly paid dividends as, following a quick break, Carter turned and fired in a volley from 12 yards which Mitten dropped and had to gather at the second attempt.

Carey-Bertram ran out of steam and was replaced by Louis Bridges as the visitors became increasingly desperate.

Meredith managed to hold a free-kick from home captain Jack Parkinson as the clock ticked down and, despite a succession of late City corners, Welling held out.