Substitutions proved vital as Welling United twice came from behind to claim a vital point at Billericay Town in the fight for National League South survival.

All three of the players brought on by Peter Taylor made a difference as Welling finished the game the stronger team against a Billericay side that had enjoyed the better of the first half. 

In the initial stages, Welling’s defence was tested with a succession of corners and long throws.

The pressure told when Welling gave the ball away in a dangerous place and Kristian Campbell fouled his man with a desperate tackle earning him a yellow card. Toby Stevenson whipped in a free kick and Femi Akinwande reacted to poking it home from close range.

Things might have got worse for Welling when Maxwell Statham sliced a Greg Halford cross-shot towards the top corner, but Jack Sims made a stunning reaction save to turn it over the bar.

At the other end, Zaki Oualah had to be out sharply to thwart Ade Shokunbi before Welling silenced the home fans with an equaliser. A corner was cleared as far as Olu Durojaiye, and he fired low through a crowd of players and into the bottom corner.

Another ball given away in midfield led to the Blues going back ahead. Dylan Gavin broke away, but Statham made a great block. It came out to Akinwande wide in the penalty area and a rash challenge resulted in a penalty being awarded to the hosts. Halford, who has twenty-eight Premier League appearances to his name, showed all his experience by sending Sims the wrong way from the spot.

D’sean Theobalds was just wide with a long range effort for Welling just before the half-time break but they could not complain too much about being behind at the interval.

Henry Ochieng blasted over early in the second half, but the pendulum swung when Welling were forced to make changes with both Aaron Barnes and Elliot Johnson having to go off. Kreshnic Krasniqi was thwarted by a great block by Bradley Pearce soon after coming on, then Brad Stevenson sent a free kick just over.

Campbell delivered a brilliant cross for Welling that was begging for a last touch then, at the other end, Josh Wright fired well over after Welling failed to clear a corner.

Another Welling substitute, Ben Allen, then showed his composure and unselfishness to create the second equaliser. Stevenson sent him clear down the right and as Oualah burst out to meet him, he squared for Dipo Akinyemi to tuck into the open net from the edge of the penalty area. 

Former Wing, Anthony Jeffrey, shot just wide for the hosts before Akinyemi came close again with a curler that went inches over.

Deep into injury time, Welling almost stole the points when Campbell struck a sweet shot that was turned over brilliantly by Oualah.

Although both teams wanted the win, maybe the draw suited Welling more as Billericay still need to win two more games than the Wings to overhaul them.

Billericay Town: Oualah, Hinds, Stevenson, Ekpiteta (Jeffrey 73), Chambers, Halford, Ochieng, Krasniqi (Ekumah 90), Akinwande, Gavin, Wright.

Subs not used: Munns, Muir, Pinto.

Goalscorers: Akinwande (17), Halford pen (35)

Yellow cards: Hinds, Stevenson

Welling United: Sims, Statham, Campbell, Durojaiye, Johnson (Pearce 65), Penney, Barnes (Stevenson 62), Shokunbi (Allen 68), Akinyemi, Derry, Theobalds.

Subs not used: Saunders-Henry, Jackson.

Goalscorers: Durojaiye (25), Akinyemi (77)

Yellow cards: Campbell, Barnes, Penney

Referee: Isaac Searle

Assistants: James Hurst and Adam Steele

Attendance: 1,053

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.