Welling United came away with a point in a 0-0 stalemate away at Chelmsford City in a gruelling, physical encounter.
In contrast to the fluid high scoring matches the Wings have taken part recently, both teams struggled with their finishing and conceded too many fouls interrupting the flow of the game.
The home side started the better as Joe Anderson combined with Rhys Murphy on the left allowing the latter to fire a shot from a tight angle straight to Dan Wilks.
Tom Wraight found joy on the home side’s opposite wing too fashioning two quickfire chances. His finishing though was systemic of the whole game, unable to find the target on both occasions.
Half way through the first half, Welling should have taken the lead as Brendan Kiernan’s header flashed past Nathan McDonald’s post from a great Jack Jebb free kick. The Wings’ top scorer should have done better though with a free header from close range. 
The home side were able to win several set plays in dangerous positions as the scrappy half wore on. These largely came to nothing though with Wilks able to keep out the best chance of the match for Chelmsford – a close range header by Scott Fenwick.
Wilks had to thwart the Clarets’ striker again just before half time after Fenwick pounced on a loose header by Anthony Acheampong and fired off a long shot.
Just one minute after the restart, Charles Banya was convinced he won a penalty after a challenge by Elliot Omozusi. In contrast to his somewhat overzealous whistle blowing during the first half, referee Dan Lamport said no to the appeals of the away faithful much to Banya’s anger.
The shoe was on the other foot for the Wings on 63 minutes after Chelmsford had their own huge appeal turned down. Substitute striker Shaun Batt tumbled over under pressure from Acheampong whilst clean through on goal.
Referee Dan Lamport ordered Batt to get to his feet which was good news for the Welling centre back who had already been booked.
The second half saw even fewer chances then the first, but the best fell to Welling’s captain David Ijaha. Chelmsford couldn’t effectively clear their lines under pressure from Kiernan and Danny Mills, but the midfielder could only sky the ball over the bar from close range.
He had another chance to make amends with one minute to go. Substitute and debutant Tignana Quebe skipped past Matthew Young and chipped a teasing cross into the area. Ijaha’s head was there first but he couldn’t get his effort on target.
With the game reaching its end and after seeing another penalty appeal dismissed, Chelmsford’s Batt lost his composure in the final minute of the match.
The big striker launched a crunching tackle on Banya that would have been worth a straight red at any stage during the game. With a few seconds remaining, the referee was content to show Batt his second yellow in a finale befitting this attritional match.
Chelmsford City: McDonald, Young, Omozusi, Swaine, Anderson, Porter (Miles 85), Spillane, Wraight (Whelpdale 80), Church, Murphy, Fenwick (Batt 50)
Subs Not Used: Giles, Reason
Goalscorers: None
Yellow Cards: Church (21), Batt (63)
Red Cards: Batt (93)
Welling United: Wilks, Hurst, Banya, Ijaha ©, Acheampong, Audel, Kiernan (Quebe 86), Mendy, Mills, Jebb, L’Ghoul (McCallum 69)
Subs Not Used: Goldberg, Ambroisine, Pinney
Goalscorers: None
Bookings: Acheampong (25), Hurst (29)
Red Cards None
Referee: Mr. Dan Lamport
Attendance: 806
Images courtesy of Dave Budden