Despite being reduced to ten men after twenty-five minutes, Welling United battled well for their first clean sheet sine October.

They were also hamstrung by turning up late due to traffic problems and Eastleigh refusing them fifteen minutes to warm up.

On top of that, both teams had to cope with an awful playing surface.

Chances were few and far between in the early stages but the Wings had the better of the early exchanges.

After a very cagey opening, a foul on the edge of the penalty area presented Reece Harris with a chance that he curled over the mall, but also over the bar.

Sam Corne, on his return from injury, then fired over from 25 yards before a refereeing decision changed the game.

Michael Bakare jumped into a challenge on Dan Harding but pulled out of going in two footed and claimed the ball cleanly. Harding, however, crumpled and rolled around convincing referee Mark Pottage to send the Welling striker off.

Stricken Harding then took a throw in before called back on, before sprinting back into place.

His actions may well have worked against his own team as Welling played solidly to ensure they did not concede.

Mike McEntegart, in goal to replace Marek Rodak who was away on international duty, pulled off an excellent save to deny Josh Payne but was otherwise untroubled in the remainder of the first half.

In fact, Reece Harris came close to putting Welling ahead when his drive went just wide after brilliant work by Sahr Kabba.

After the break, Welling had to withstand a fair bit of pressure.

Lively Yemi Odubade brought a save out McEntegart before the Wings keeper blocked a near post effort from the otherwise anonymous Matt Tubbs.

Lee Cook shot wide before Eastleigh missed their best chance when Jack Midson hit the bar from a few feet out.

McEntegart made a further save from substitute, and Welling nemesis, Andy Constable.

Josh Payne missed a couple of late half chances but Welling were not to be robbed of their fourth Vanarama National clean sheet of the season, and first since 3^rd October.

After the game, Wings manager Dean Frost commented “Delighted with a point. We need more than points at the moment but you can’t fault the character of the group of players considering the position we were in, down to ten men, so full credit to the players for the resolute performance.they put in to get a point.

“We were stuck on the coach for four hours for probably a journey that should should only take two, two and a bit, and we asked Eastleigh to give us fifteen minutes to warm up but we had a five minutes warm up then came back out. I don’t like making excuses but full credit to the lads again for the situation they were in and getting a point.”

 

Eastleigh: Flitney, Partington, Evans (Turley 86), Odubade, Payne, Reason, Midson (Constable 68), Cook (Fanimo 68), Harding, Coulson. Tubbs. Unused substitutes: Poke, Green.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Reason, Coulsobn

 

Welling United: McEntegart, Williams, Chambers, Taylor (Wanadio 82), Gayle, Lokko,, Nortey, Corne, Kabba (Kashket 68), Bakare, Harris. Unused substitutes: Bloxsome, Daniel, Saggers.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: None

Red Card: Michael Bakare

 

Referee: Mark Pottage:

Assistants: Ben Cobb & Lee Marshallsay

4^th Official: Adrian Quelch

Attendance: 2.037

 

Welling star man: Mike McEntegart

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.