An unnecessary penalty conceded in stoppage time cost Welling United two points on an icy cold night at Cheshunt.
They had to make two changes to the team that drew with Dartford three days earlier, replacing the injured Kodi Lyons-Foster and Medy Elito were replaced with Manny Parry and Amadou Kassarate.
Scrappy football at the start set the tone for the entire evening in which there was plenty of endeavour but little guile. Stefan Payne had Welling’s first opportunity but shot wide from Ade Azeez’s knockdown, but it was the hosts who had more of the possession.
Taylor Mackenzie flick headed a long throw beyond the far post before Tyrelle Newton spun and shot well over from a long way out. Former Dartford and VCD Athletic striker Alfie Cue headed wide for the Ambers and neither side even managed to win a corner until the hosts were awarded one two minutes before the interval.
In keeping with the first half, nothing came of it.
At half time, Welling manager Warren Feeney was forced into making a change with Jamie Sendles-White having to be replaced by Taylor Curran.
Five minutes after the restart, Welling went ahead. George Alexander sent Azeez away. Cheshunt goalkeeper Preston Edwards burst out, but his clearance struck the Welling striker and it rebounded into the net.
One time Erith Town striker Ken Charles had a half chance when Welling struggled with a clearance, but he snatched his shot wide before Welling substitute Dylan Gavin was well off target with a first time effort.
Although Cheshunt continued to enjoy more of the possession, a mixture of determined Welling defending and the hosts’ failure to make the most of their territorial advantage meant that Welling goalkeeper Myles Roberts wasn’t unduly worried.
Payne had a shot blocked then a Kyrell Lisbie corner picked out Azeez, but Edwards saved his header comfortably.
Joe Re had an effort saved by Roberts then Aaron Powell made a crucial block from a shot by Reece Beckles-Richards as Cheshunt upped the pace in the final fifteen minutes. However, it wasn’t all one-way traffic and Lisbie had a shot saved by Edwards after Cheshunt’s defence got into a mix-up.
Roberts made an excellent tip over save from Fraser Alexander and it looked like Welling were going to get a gritty win until conceding a penalty in the second minute of stoppage time. Payne brought down Emmanuel Maja off the ball, but right in front of the referee, and a spot kick was awarded.
Eventually Beckles-Richards stepped up and sent Roberts the wrong way. Payne made one comment too many to the referee and was shown a second yellow card and was dismissed.
There was insufficient time for the Ambers to make their one man advantage count and the two teams were forced to settle for a point apiece.
Cheshunt: Edwards, Popoola, Pitblado, Alexander (Da Silva Fernandes 90+1), McKenzie, Hobbs, Maja, Re, Charles, T. Newton (Z. Newton 79), Cue (Beckles-Richards 69).
Subs not used: Ekongo, Desbois.
Goalscorer: Beckles-Richards pen (90+4)
Yellow cards: Cue, Beckles-Richards
Welling United: Roberts, Howard, Powell, Dunne, Parry, Sendles-White (Curran 46), Kassarate, Alexander (Gavin 66), Payne, Azeez, Maloney (Lisbie 70).
Sub not used: McKenzie-Lyle, Barnes.
Goalscorer: Azeez (50)
Yellow cards: Payne, Kassarate, Powell
Red card: Payne
Referee: Tom Ellsmore
Assistants: Chris Williams and Stephen Hawkes
Attendance: 414
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.