If Welling United felt hard done by for coming away with just a point from Bath City on Saturday, they were thankful that their excellent defending earned them one at Braintree Town three days later.
When they went in at half time on level terms, they had given as good as they got, but brave defending, excellent goalkeeping, and finally a bit of good fortune, ensured that they had something to show for their endeavours.
In the first forty five minutes, they played some fine football and they had the better of the early exchanges, coming close when jack Jebb shot wide.
Luke Allen found the angle too tight for him in Braintree’s first attack but Jebb continued to cause the hosts problems. First he hooked over as Braintree struggled to clear, then Jack Parkinson almost headed Welling in front when meeting Jebb’s corner at the near post.
Jebb then put in a free kick that Parkinson flicked on but Harry Phipps could not reach to finish it off.
Against the run of play at the time, Braintree went ahead. The dangerous Roman Michael-Percil sent Phil Roberts away and he finished with a powerful near post drive.
Shaken Welling were pleased that Michael-Percil and Roberts both fired off target before Welling regained their composure and started putting passes together again.
Having scuffed an effort wide, Jeffrey Monakana equalised with a stupendous curler that left Nathan McDonald grasping at fresh air.
Allen fired over from a disputed free kick before the Iron came close twice before the break. First Allen missed when it fell kindly to him at the end of a scramble and then Dillon Barnes made a tremendous save from Karl Oliyide.
Continuing where they had left off at the end of the first half, Braintree went all out to regain the lead. Roberts and Michael-Percil were both off target before Osa Obamwonyi headed wide when given room in the Welling penalty area.
Barnes saved from Allen and then from Christian Frimpong as Braintree piled on the pressure.
Oliyide was off target before Barnes made a good save from Jon Muleba and an easy one from Allen.
Another brave Barnes save was cleaned up by Jamie Coyle before substitute Dernell Wynter twice failed to hit the target.
Braintree might have paid a higher price for failing to score when Phipps had a header cleared off the line after Christian Nanetti’s shot had been deflected past the post.
A quick break gave Tyler Campbell a chance but he was also unable to beat the brilliant Barnes who made another great save.
Things got even tougher for Welling when Joe Healy was sent off for two yellow card offences in as many minutes.
Frimpong finally beat Barnes but was left thumping the ground as his shot flew back off the post.
After two tough away games in four days, Welling will need to rest themselves well before returning to Park View Road on Saturday.
Braintree Town: McDonald, Muleba, Wyatt, Frimpong, Obamwonyi, Shulton. Allen. Crook (Gabriel 79), Roberts, Oliyide (Wynter 67), Michael-Percil (Campbell 56).
Subs not used: Mugabo, Bettache.
Welling United: Barnes, Dymond, Jefford, Phipps, Coyle, Parkinson, Pattisson (Durojaiye 56), Healy, Monakana, Jebb (Macklin 67), Nanetti.
Subs not used: Gayle, Francis, Johnson.
Braintree Town:
Goalscorers: Roberts 26
Yellow Cards: Gabriel
Red cards: None
Welling United:
Goalscorers: Monakana 35
Yellow cards: Barnes, Healy, Phipps, Nanetti
Red cards: Healy
Referee: Matty Bounassisi
Assistants: Joshua Crofts and Brian O’Sullivan
Attendance: 504
Welling star player: Dillon Barnes
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.