Following their emphatic win last time out, Welling United had to grind out a hard fought three points at Eastbourne Borough.

Stefan Payne scored the only goal, after which Welling were forced to prove how far they have come defensively since the early games of the season.

Brad Barry was involved early for the hosts when getting in behind Welling goalkeeper Myles Roberts, but his cross was too high for Leone Gravata coming in at the far post. James Vaughan then launched a shot high over after Anthony Papadopoulos headed out an Eastbourne corner.

Barry was again in the thick of it with a cross that Kai Innocent headed onto the roof of the net before Welling also couldn’t make the most of an advantageous position when a cross by Aaron Barnes was just too high for Ade Azeez who was unable to get over it, and to guide his header on target.

Taylor Maloney found Payne, but his low shot didn’t have enough fade on it to go inside the far post, and Payne came close again when meeting James Dunne’s low cross, but a defender got a crucial touch to deflect it wide.

Maloney delivered a deep free kick and picked out Manny Parry, but he headed over before the hosts were lucky not to be reduced to ten when Barry went through Payne from behind. That sparked ugly scenes with people from both benches involved. The referee spoke to both of his assistants, both managers, and both captains before only brandishing a yellow card for the initiator.

As the game moved into injury time, Roberts got down well to save from Gravata before just managing to hold on to a long range shot from James Hammond.

Payne and Azeez showed how their partnership is developing as the former found the latter early in the second period. He turned his man well, but Mitch Dickenson got back to make a crucial block.

Just shy of the hour mark, Welling made the breakthrough. Maloney sent over a deep corner, Papadopoulos headed goal-wards, and Payne got the important last touch to guide it home.

Vaughan looked for a quick response with a powerful shot that Roberts dived to save. At the other end Dunne fired over after Azeez and Payne had combined well from Maloney’s cross to create the half-chance before Eastbourne tested Welling’s resolve for the final twenty minutes.

Full-back Innocent slung in a free kick from out wide that beat everyone but went just beyond the far post then Jamie Sendles-White got in the way of a shot from Miguel Scarlett that looked destined for the bottom corner.

Innocent was again in action with a cross that found Alex Wynter, however he prodded tamely wide. Once more, Innocent showed his attacking intent with a shot that was off target.

Ten minutes remained when Welling manager Warren Feeney was shown a red card for delaying play as the Sports continued to strive for an equaliser.

Shiloh Remy fired high and wide on the turn before Welling gave away a tired free kick in a dangerous area, but Hammond fired well over.

Samuel Omperon was introduced for Eastbourne and shot wide immediately after coming on and they had one last chance in injury time when Roberts palmed out a difficult cross, but Jake Hutchinson could only hook it over.

Feeney’s team will now get a rest from league football as they start their F.A. Cup campaign on Saturday when entertaining Fisher.

Eastbourne Borough: Worgan, Scarlett (Remy 67), Innocent, Hammond, Wynter (Omperon 86), Dickenson, Barry, Vaughan, Hutchinson, Whelpdale (Mbonkwi 45), Gravata.

Subs not used: Perez, Seymour.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Barry, Scarlett

Welling United: Roberts, Barnes, Ezennolim, Dunne, Sendles-White, Parry, Kassarate (Elito 55), Papadopoulos (Olomowewe 89), Azeez, Payne (Hyde 77), Maloney.

Sub not used: Francis, McKenzie-Lyle.

Goalscorers: Payne (58)

Yellow cards: Papadopoulos, Ezennolim, Barnes

Red cards: Feeney

Referee: Matt Norton

Assistants: Adam Steele and Joel Lamping

Attendance: 565

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.