It was tough on Welling United to have come away empty handed from their visit to Grimsby Town having more than matched them.
Neither side created much until the referee decided that a sliced clearance caught by Grimsby goalkeeper James McKeown constituted a back pass. There was little room to manoeuvre so Jamie Day blasted the lay back as hard as he could. It struck a Mariners defender and flew away for a corner as Welling appealed for handball.
Scott Neilson gave Welling goalkeeper Jamie Turner catching practice before the Wings had to reorganise their front line following an injury to Kieron St. Aimie.
Jon-Paul Pittman and Neilson both failed to hit the target before Day came close at the other end following good work by Tyrone Marsh and Harry Beautyman.
When the deadlock was broken in the 37th minute, it came out of the blue. Jack Mackreth put in a cross in the area most difficult to defend and Pittman was the most alert to finish from close range.
Going behind meant Welling had to re-evaluate their tactics at the break and they came out and played some very good football in the second half.
Jon Nouble slung in a deep cross that Harry Beautyman nodded back but nobody was on hand to apply the finishing touch.
Marsh then shot first time wide of the near post from a delicious Day through ball before shooting over after Beautyman’s skills had invited Jake Gallagher to slide a pass through the back four.
Ross Hannah was brought on as a substitute for the Mariners and made an immediate impact. Malachi Hudson, back tracking, made a tackle in the penalty area that the referee felt was a foul and awarded a penalty. Hudson was cautioned, as was Chris Bush for dissent before Hannah blasted his spot kick off the diving Turner into the middle of the goal.
Discipline then went missing for the Wings who felt harshly treated. Bush was extremely lucky to avoid a second yellow after cleaning out Hannah. He was substituted immediately and replaced by Jamal Fyfield.
Day and Gallagher were also booked for fouls before they regained their composure.
Sadly a free kick by the Wings player-manager was all they could muster as they were condemned to another away day defeat.
Grimsby Town: McKeown, Bignot. Brown, Pearson. Magnay, Mackreth (Hannah 67), Neilson, Clay, Pitman (Arnold 75), Nsala, McLaughlin (Disley 79).
Unused substitutes: Doig, Walker.
Welling United: Turnerer, Fazakerley, Jefford, Day, Fagan, Bush (Fyfield 75), Beautyman, Gallagher, St. Aimie (Marsh 27), Nouble, Hudson.
Unused substitutes: Butcher. Williams, Fyfield, Corne.
Referee: J. Brooks
Attendance: 3,785
Welling star man: Jamie Day