Two goals in the last seven minutes rescued a point for Welling United at Eastbourne Borough.

When the hosts went three up after thirty-three minutes, they probably thought that it was ‘job done’ but Wings’ manager Warren Feeney made changes to the shape, and they came back to claim an unlikely point.

Charlie Walker sent a dipping volley wide early on then they won a corner and overloaded at the far post but the delivery was looped high so there was no power on it and Jake Elliott could only guide it wide.

Bradley Pearce did well to head out a dangerous free kick before Walker put another dead ball opportunity wide of the near post. James Hammond headed just wide from a Greg Luer deep cross before the hosts went ahead. Although Hammond’s original shot was blocked, Charley Kendall collected it and fired it into the top corner.

Hammond blasted over before Eastbourne went two up. A low free kick was delivered towards the far post and Mitch Dickenson made no mistake with a crisp finish.

Feeney made a change but before Welling had a chance to settle into the formation, they conceded again. Kendall caught a player dithering, nicked possession, and strode through to give Coniah Boyce-Clarke no chance.

Having come on just before that, Harvey Bradbury controlled a long ball out wide and played it inside to Dipo Akinyemi, but he couldn’t keep his shot down.

Just before half time Chris Whelpdale got in front of Boyce-Clarke when a low cross came in, but the angle was too tight for him to turn it home.

After the interval Walker fired over before he tried his luck from out wide, but Boyce-Clarke saved easily. Luer also went for a near post effort and again Boyce-Clarke made a comfortable save, then Kendall got in behind only for Chi Ezennolim to make a crucial block.

On the hour mark, Welling pulled one back. Bradbury’s low ball in found Akinyemi with the goal behind him but he back-heeled coolly into the net.

Kendall burst through and tried to round Boyce-Clarke, but the goalkeeper got just enough on the ball to push it away and shouts for a penalty were correctly refuted.

Walker again missed the target, but the game was more open now and Aaron Barnes flashed a shot just over for the Wings.

They reduced the arrears with seven minutes remaining when a deep cross from Brad Stevenson was sliced into his own net by Trent Mahorn as he tried to clear.

Joel Rollinson’s trickery created a shooting chance, but Boyce-Clarke saved well before Welling scored again with three minutes remaining. Alfie Matthews found Akinyemi and he cut in from the right and unleashed a fierce drive that gave Lee Worgan no chance in the Eastbourne goal. 

The point took the Wings off bottom spot and, although they have difficult fixtures to come, they now have their fate in their own hands.

Eastbourne Borough: Worgan, Elliott, Currie, Perez, Dickinson, Mahorn, Luer (Innocent-Woollard 86), Hammond (Vaughan 66), Kendall, Walker, Whelpdale (Rollinson 78).

Subs not used: Nippard, Shaw.

Goalscorers: Kendall (22), (33). Dickenson (29)

Yellow cards: None

Welling United: Boyce-Clarke, Barnes, Ezennolim (Derry 71), Statham, Sendles-White, Pearce, Shokunbi, Wells (Matthews 61), Akinyemi, Saunders-Henry (Bradbury 32), Stevenson.

Subs not used: Allen, Jackson.

Goalscorers: Akinyemi (60), (87), Mahorn o.g. (83)

Yellow cards: Bradbury

Referee: M. Norton

Assistants: D. D’Uroso and P. Dingle

Attendance: 2,078

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.