Although Welling United will be pleased to have broken their points duck, they will rue their luck with another penalty decision against them.

Once again they succumbed to a spot kick, their fourth such indiscretion in four games, but this time they could feel hard done by.

Often, an away point sends supporters home happy, but on this occasion, conceding a late controversial goal made it feel like a defeat.

All started well with a goal inside the first minute but the Wings appeared to tire in the second period and were forced onto the back foot.

It could not have been a better start for the Wings. Pierre Joseph-Dubois rose high to head beyond East Thurrock goalkeeper Lukas Lidakevicius.

Had it not been for an incredible save by the Rooks stopper from his own captain, Joe Ellul, it would have been two within three minutes.

Despite former Wing, Reece Harris, testing Chris Lewington, Welling enjoyed possibly their best spell of the season so far.

Dean Leacock, Danny Waldren and Ricky Hayles all had efforts off target as the Wings looked for the all important second goal.

Jordon Brown spared Sean Francis’ blushes when the Welling captain’s air kick let James Walker in, but the full back came round to make a crucial clearance.

Archie Johnson tested  Lidakevicius with a cheeky chip before creating a shooting chance for Dan Walker but the former Braintree Town player was unable to find the power to finish.

Harris tested Lewington once more before the break but Welling went in by far the happier.

Supporters hoping for more of the same were left scratching their heads as their team defended deeply and looked like they were tired.

Certainly, the hosts had far more energy and possession but excellent defending meant they created little.

However it all went wrong for the Wings in the 81^st minute. Having enjoyed a solid Welling debut, Julian Banton was horrified when the referee deemed that he had brought down Joe Gardner. Ben Marlow stepped up to send Lewington the wrong way.

Bobby Devyne’s trickery gave him the chance to get a shot in but he could not find the power necessary.

Welling might have gone home empty handed but Gardner’s late free kick fizzed just past the post.

 

East Thurrock United: Lidakevicius, Sammons, Nesbitt, Clark, Ellul, Craddock, Harris, Marlow, Walker (Honesty 74), Gardner, Freiter.

Unused substitutes: Wraight, Wood, Nottage, Age.

Welling United: Lewington, Banton, Brown (Nelosn 68), Hayles, Francis, Leacock, Joseph-Dubois (Hatton 53), Waldren, Crawford, Walker (Devyne 63), Johnson.

Unused Substitutes: Nelson, Slabber, Smith.

 

Referee: Paul Kelly

Assistants: Robert Claussen and Tom Nicholls

Attendance: 286

Images courtesy of Dave Budden