In an eventful game, Welling United recovered from a two goal deficit to collect an important point at Braintree Town.

Both teams knew how important a win could be in their fight to avoid relegation but it was probably the visitors were the happier team at the end.

Gio Chrichlow had the first shot for the hosts but although it was well struck it was straight at Jack Sims and he caught it on the full. At the other end Tommy Davis found Chi Ezennolim with a long cross ball and he surged forward but his low shot was saved by Billy Johnson. 

Correy Davidson got on the end of a long punt but his lobbed attempt was from too tight an angle to cause any problem then Braintree were called into some desperate defending as Dipo Akinyemi played in a low ball looking to find Aaron Barnes.

Akinyemi continued to cause problems and his flick on found Ade Shokunbi but when it fell to Danny Parish he was unable to get a shot away then a deep cross from Akinyemi was headed back brilliantly by Parish but there was nobody in the six yard box to finish.

Against the run of play, the hosts went ahead with a degree of good fortune. Jay Porter crossed and Sims punched it straight into the head of Matthew Johnson and it rebounded back into the net.

Mason Saunders-Henry drew a good save out of Billy Johnson and he made another one just before half time when pushing Akinyemi’s shot round the post.

With just one second half minute gone Braintree made it two. Welling failed to clear a Matthew Johnson long throw and it fell to Luke Holness who hooked it home. Holness might have killed the match off soon after when he burst clear but shot wide of the near post.

Ezennolim fired wide of the near post and Parish had a low shot saved before Welling pulled one back. A corner was nodded back across goal and Akinyemi headed home from close range.

Matthew Johnson headed over from a Stefan Ilic corner before Barnes sent a curler just wide at the other end.

There were just over fifteen minutes remaining when Welling levelled. Maxwell Statham delivered a brilliant cross and Barnes met it with a powerful header that gave Johnson no chance.

Kyran Clements headed over for Braintree but it was the Wings who finished the stronger. Akinyemi hit a fierce drive from the right that Johnson was grateful to turn around the post then Parish stayed up when clipped in the area and pulled it back but a spectacular overhead effort by Akinyemi flew inches wide.

Substitute Bradley Stevenson was thwarted by a tackle by Porter after Billy Johnson had rushed out recklessly and the Welling man shot just wide moments later.

Stevenson and Akinyemi were both well off target then deep into injury time a Stevenson free kick rippled the roof of the net. 

Welling now have a spare weekend as they prepare for the visit to Dartford one week later. 

Braintree Town: B. Johnson, Johnson-Schuster, Porter, M. Johnson, Clements, Pennell, Crichlow, Payne, Holness (Fage-Burgin 88), Ilic (McKeown 72), Davidson.

Unused substitutes: Barlow, Eyoma, Morgan.

Goalscorers: Johnson (35), Holness (46)

Yellow cards: Porter, B. Johnson, M. Johnson, McKeown, Clements

Welling United: Sims, Statham, Ezennolim, Durojaiye, Davis, Penney, Barnes, Shokunbi,  Akinyemi, Parish (Stevenson 84), Saunders-Henry (Campbell 88).

Subs not used:, Muscatt, Perkins, Jackson.

Goalscorers:  Akinyemi (61), Barnes (70)

Yellow cards: Taylor

Referee: Jack Packman

Assistants: Thomas Harvey and Murray Grant

Attendance: 324 

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.