Away day woes continued for Welling United when they fell apart at Eastbourne Borough.
In a game that co-caretaker manager Harry Wheeler had described as winnable, Welling came back from behind three times and looked like they may go home with at least a point when level on eighty minutes.
That turned out to be a false hope when Eastbourne scored four unanswered goals in the last ten minutes plus injury time.
Results elsewhere leave Welling just five points above the drop zone and results like this will chip away at their goal difference very quickly.
Five minutes had gone when Nathaniel Pinney put Eastbourne ahead from Gavin McCallum’s cross.
Eastbourne continued to enjoy the better of the early exchanges but it was not all one way as Danny Waldren had an effort deflected over.
After nineteen minutes, Welling equalised. Although Dan Walker’s first effort was blocked it came back out to him eventually and he fired home.
Waldren came close again but it was the hosts who drew next blood when Gavin McCallum finished following good work from Jamie Taylor.
One minute later and Welling were again level as Waldren headed home Walker’s cross.
Chris Lewington was out quickly to block Pinney’s shot ensuring the teams went in level.
Two second minutes had gone when Eastbourne made it three as Taylor curled home.
Harry Crawford had an effort saved by Lewis Carey and Waldren had one cleared off the line before Welling levelled again.
Pierre Joseph-Dubois had just been introduced as a substitute when he steered Walker’s cross inside the far post.
Walker came close to putting Welling ahead but Carey made a great save before Taylor rattled Lewington’s crossbar.
Ten minutes remained when Eastbourne grabbed the crucial fourth goal. Pinney put a short free kick into the path of Josh Hare and he blasted home.
Taylor made it five in the 86th minute when finishing from Pinney’s pass before completing his hat-trick four minutes later, converting from the spot after Rickie Hayles had brought down Reece Connolly.
Pinney finished the rout direct from a free kick well into stoppage time.
Eastbourne Borough: Carey, Hare, Stone, Khinda-John, Simpemba, Hobson, Baptista (Connolly 77), Worrall (Ransom 86), Pinney, Taylor, McCallum.
Subs not used: Tate, Crittenden, Horlock.
Welling United: Lewington, Phillips, Brown, Fuseini, Hayles, Leacock (Joseph-Dubois 60), Walker, Waldren, Kathline, Crawford, Murrell-Williamson.
Subs not used: Hatton, Richards, Amu.
Eastbourne Borough
Goalscorers: Pinney 5, 90+, McCallum 38, Taylor 47, 86, 90, Hare 80
Yellow cards: Simpemba, Worrall
Red cards: None
Welling United:
Goalscorers : Walker 19, Waldren 39, Joseph-Dubois 61.
Yellow cards: Hayles
Red cards: None
Referee: Lee Venamore
Assistants: Mark Shapland and Phillip Eddie.
Attendance: 402
Welling star player: Dan Walker.
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.