After back-to-back losses, Welling United claimed a point at Hemel Hempstead Town but will wonder what might have been.
Steve King’s side controlled the game before and after Hemel went down to ten men but they were unable to create the chances to finish off the hosts.
King’s plans were hampered early on when Jordan Gibbons was injured and had to be replaced. With no natural right back on the bench, Welling had to adapt and change formation.
Cagey football meant that neither side created chances in the first twenty minutes until Bradley Goldberg tried a shot that didn’t have the power to bother Laurie Walker in the Hempstead goal.
Nassim L’Ghoul whipped in a corner that created chaos but when it came back out to him he fired well over.
At the other end Jordan Parkes picked out Scott Shulton’s late run but his header had no power and Dan Wilkes collected it before it went out of play.
Parkes did then register a shot on target but Wilkes was right behind it and saved easily.
As half time approached, Hemel were reduced to ten men. Thierry Audel burst through and rode a poor challenge before sending L’Ghoul clear, As he closed in on goal, Kyle Connolly wiped him out and the referee had no option other than dismiss him.
L’Ghoul continued to cause problems after the break but shot high and wide before former Gillingham midfielder Luke Rooney had two efforts deflected wide.
Goldberg screwed a shot wide after creating the opportunity for himself before L’Ghoul’s improvised flick allowed Thierry Audel a shooting chance but his low drive was well saved by Walker.
A tight offside decision then went against Welling as Goldberg finished after the whistle had been blown.
It appeared to be just a matter of time before Welling went ahead but it was Hemel who broke the deadlock. Parkes clipped a through ball to Shuton and he finished comfortably.
When a twenty yard L’Ghoul shot was saved it looked as though Welling were going to return home empty handed again but their luck finally changed with four minutes remaining. Gavin McCallum fired in a low cross that evaded everyone including Walker and it hit the far post on the way to the back of the net.
In the closing minutes Walker made a great save from Goldberg then Danny Mills shot just wide after bringing an angled cross down well.
Hemel Hempstead Town: Walker, Howe, Connolly, Parkes, Ward, Yakubu, Osborn (Swain 42), Shulton, Cawley, Tomlinson (Watt 57), Snelus (Sinclair 57).
Subs not used: Mendy, Paulin.
Welling United: Wilks, Gibbons (L’Ghoul 12), McCallum, Hill, Acheampong, Audel, Kissock, Mendy (Anau 74), Paterson (Mills 71), Goldberg, Rooney.
Subs not used: Kiernan, Newton.
Hemel Hempstead Town:
Goalscorers: Shulton (68)
Yellow cards: Osborn, Shulton, Swain.
Red cards: Connolly (41)
Welling United:
Goalscorers: McCallum (85)
Yellow cards: Acheampong, Audel
Red cards: None
Referee: Dean Skipper
Assistants: Christopher Reeson and Brian O’Sullivan.
Attendance: 474
Welling star player: Thierry Audel
Images courtesy of Dave Budden