IN SOME ways, this defeat to a physical Welling United side gives Peter Nicholas a clearer idea of what magic he needs to weave to get Newport County up into the Nationwide Conference.

Nicholas will almost, in his own mind, have written off this season as far as promotion from the Dr Martens Premier is concerned, although he might not admit it publicly, but these type of games is where he'll learn of his players' capabilities and what he needs to work on to ensure his men are not left wanting.

Saying that, Nicholas will take away many positives from a game that, on paper, they should have won - but due to lack of creativity in the final third and failure to snub out the opposition's threat, they lost.

Welling, though, dictated the game. They came with one intention and that was to spoil the Christmas party at Newport Stadium by giving away free-kick after free-kick, 20 in total, and the Londoners were allowed to have everything their own way.

Nicholas had only been beaten once in seven games before kick-off - where he fielded a weakened team in the Dr Martens Cup at Sutton Coldfield - but this defeat will give him food for thought.

He prides himself on attention to detail and, with his right-hand-man Glyn Jones, Nicholas will be desperate to nip these problems in the bud quickly.

Their neat passing moves weren't on show, set-piece play wasn't going according to plan and when refereeing decision were going against them, his troops needed to dig deep and fly in the face of adversity. Was this just a bad day at the office or early signs of issues? A question that Nicholas needs to answer fast.

The former Welsh international will want his team to stamp their authority on the game right from the first whistle, especially at home, and be a lot more patient in their build up play.

Nicholas will want his team to keep the ball for long periods and let the visitors do the chasing so his men can eventually break stubborn opposition down - and Welling were certainly obstinate.

And in these games that he'll be looking for his creator generals, step forward Mike Fowler and skipper Matt Rose, to unlock the door. With Garry Shephard a little exposed up-front on his own at times, Nicholas might try and delve into the transfer market for another striker to partner him, with Neil Davis' consistent injury niggles.

However, what will please Nicholas is the progression of the younger members of his squad. Central pivot Nathan Davies and central-defender Andrew Thomas, both aged just 20, are leading by example and certainly County captains of the not to distant future.

Alongside them is fellow academy product Raith Plant, also 20, who is gradually finding his feet up-front. He's now getting a sustained run of games now you just feel he needs a goal or two to set him on his way - and he was only inches away on Saturday as his 20-yard Christmas cracker shattered the woodwork.

Also if he remained a little more composed and his final ball was a touch better, then County might have come away with something.

Nevertheless, Nicholas knows the eagerness and willingness to learn of his young squad, where Shephard and keeper Pat Mountain, both 26, are veterans, is a positive factor in County's march up the pyramid.

And with ten of the match-day 16 under 22, and plenty more waiting in the wings, Nicholas wont be overly worried just yet as he looks to off-load Steve Cowe, out on loan to Forest Green Rovers, so he can bring his own style of players in.

County fans will be worried about the lack of goal-scoring chances created. Davies brought the best out of Glen Knight in the Welling goal before having the rebound saved on the line by United defender Billy Burgess in the opening quarter-of-an-hour.

But, apart from a half-chance for Thomas, County's only other two good efforts came in the last four minutes when Plant struck the bar and Shephard's low shot was tipped round the post by Knight.

Whereas in between while, John Farley had slotted home a controversial penalty - the third penalty awarded against County in three games - in the first ten minutes of the second period after referee Tony Jackson had adjudged that Jason Perry had handled Kevin Seabury's corner.

Then as County pushed on, Welling exploited the space left at the back and United skipper Seabury found space in the six-yard-box to volley home Paul Jones' deep left-wing cross with ten minutes remaining.

Newport County (4-5-1) P Mountain; J Perry (B Clark, 80), A Thomas, J Eckhardt, S Walker; R Plant, N Davies, M Rose (c), M Fowler (C Rogers, 62), R Ashington; G Shephard. Subs Not Used: J Dupres, A Stevenson, T Hart Booked: M Fowler 59 (foul)

Welling United (3-5-2) G Knight; R Edwards, M Hone, J Farley; B Burgess, A Riviere, K Seabury (c), L Watts, R Aboagye; P Jones, P Booth. Subs Not Used: L Anderson, S Sodje, J Virgo, T O'Shea, A Hogg.