Welling United manager locked horns with Adrian Pennock, former Wings manager and now boss of Forest Green Rovers, for the first time at the New Lawn and neither was too disappointed with a point.
Neither side really worked a goalkeeper and there was only one corner in a cagey first half, although England C International James Norwood threatened occasionally.
Early in the second period. Tobi Sho-Silva played a reverse pass with Toby Ajala and struck a low shot that drew a decent save from Sam Russell before Matt Taylor fired over for the hosts.
Taylor made space down the left but his cross shot just evaded former West Bromwich Albion striker Lee Hughes as he looked to finish.
In the last fifteen minutes the hosts upped the level and stretched the Welling defence. A route one clearance from Russell almost caught Welling out but Norwood, who looked well offside, squared behind Luke Rodgers.
Rodgers had another chance when sent free in the closing minutes, but Hudson came out quickly and blocked with the ball coming back out off his face.
Both Pennock and Welling boss Jamie Day appeared to be content to settle for a point.
Pennock said “A draw isn’t a bad result. I know that Welling are a good team and I’m happy with a point and a clean sheet. Over a glass of wine or cup of tea, neither manager can give each other too much stick”.
Day commented “We had a young team out today and it was only in the last fifteen that we were under a little pressure”. He was delighted with the performance of Barney Williams stating “If he was a little taller he would be in the football league. When we have everyone available we will have a very good team.”
Forest Green Rovers: Russell, Stokes, Turley, Bennett, Norwood, Taylor (Wright 73), Oshodi, Green, Barry, Hughes (Rodgers 73), Kelly (Hodgkiss 24) .
Unused substitutes: Bangura, White.
Welling United: Butcher, Fazakerley, Williams, Wakefield, Taylor, Mawson, Ajala (Clarke 69), Beautyman (Karagiannis 77), Sho-Silva, Cornick (Gallagher 69), Healy.
Unused substitutes: Turner, Day.
Referee: Kevin Johnson
Attendance: 1,038
Welling star man: Barney Williams
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.