Welwyn Garden City are up and running in the Southern League after a victory away to Kidlington.

The 2-0 success in Division One Central came courtesy of first-half goals from Dernell Wynter and Ryan Doherty and while that was perhaps a flattering advantage at the time, a very efficient second-half performance more than made up for it.

They began the trip to Oxfordshire positively enough.

Wynter tested home keeper Jack Hopwood in the opening minutes and then becoming the victim of a heavy challenge from home full-back Sam Jenkins, who became the first yellow card of the game.

James Kaloczi, having his best game in midfield since joining, almost gave the visitors the lead on 23 minutes, when he struck a 20-yard drive that needed Hopwood to make a fine save.

At the other end, Charlie Crowley’s decision to palm rather than catch a Kidlington free-kick spelt danger and an almighty goalmouth scramble followed.

Connor Ferguson and George Cowmeadow both had shots charged down and there was a penalty claim waved away in the mayhem.

It gave the home side confidence though and in a good spell, winger Piers Walton somehow hit the WGC crossbar from a couple of yards out before Ferguson got in between Doherty and Yasin Boodhoo, bringing a fine save out of Crowley.

It was while Kidlington were in the ascendancy that WGC poached the lead three minutes from the break.

It was a very direct goal and owed a great deal to an outrageous dummy from Brad Wadkins, who very cleverly let an accurate, long kick from Crowley run past him into the path of Wynter.

He raced through to slot home his fourth of the season into the bottom corner.

And it became two in the five minutes of stoppage time.

Zak Guerfi delivered an excellent corner that Kidlington defender Mark Flanagan just managed to get off the line, but only to Doherty who squeezed the ball in.

There was no let-up in the action at the start of the second-half, Boodhoo cleverly losing his marker from a first minute corner, only to flick his header just the wrong side of the post.

Kidlington responded immediately, Ferguson cashed in on a Doherty slip and Crowley again had to make a sharp stop to preserve the 2-0 advantage.

Adam Pollock, in for the unavailable skipper James Mulley in midfield, became WGC’s first booking for pulling back a home player and was replaced soon afterwards by Lucas Jordan, in the Citizens’ first change.

Jordan quickly made an impression with a run through the home defence, forcing Hopwood into a save with his feet to prevent Kidlington falling further behind.

More good work from the teenager saw Henry Jones drive a low chance just past the post as WGC finished the game the stronger.

And Jordan was the supplier again with a short pass into Guerfi’s path, his fearsome rising drive crashing against the home crossbar with 15 minutes left.

Manager Marc Weatherstone introduced new signing, midfielder Freddie Brown for the final eight minutes. Brown is an ex-Royston Town player who joined the club on Friday.

The only downside on the WGC performance was that they picked up four further bookings late in the game.

Kaloczi for a hefty challenge, Zac Brown for retaliation after being thrown to the ground by Kidlington’s Ferguson, who escaped a caution for his part in the incident, keeper Crowley for a remark made to the referee and Guerfi for time-wasting.

Welwyn are at home to Waltham Abbey tomorrow (bank holiday Monday) in a 3pm kick-off.

WGC: Crowley, Brown, Boodhoo, Doherty, Harris, Guerfi, Kaloczi, Pollock (Jordan 57), Stevenson (Jones 65), Wadkins (Brown), Wynter.

Subs (not used): Kessel, Green.