On a warm August Bank Holiday Monday, chances were few and far between when Welling United visited newly promoted Hornchurch.

Having beaten early league leaders, Farnborough, on Saturday, the Wings would like to have backed it up with another three points two days later but found the Hornchurch back line difficult to breach.

Rod Stringer’s Wings came out sharply and Hornchurch goalkeeper Mason Terry got down well to gather Martell Taylor-Crossdale’s driven cross. 

After that, a midfield tussle developed with both team’s defences snuffing out any chance of an opening.

Midway through the first half, the game was stopped for a drinks break before Hornchurch had their first opportunity. Femi Akinwande worked himself into a good position and his shot was blocked by Welling captain Dave Winfield. It came back out to him and his second effort was kept out by Rhys Lovett. When it came out again, Ben Wells closed down Akinwande and cleared.

Jack Burchell played in Elliot Long who fired over before Winfield went up for a free kick and headed across the face of goal towards Burchell. As he rose to head home Nathan Bertram-Cooper got in front of him to make a brilliant defensive header past the post.

Long then went on a long run and sent Taylor-Crossdale through and he finished coolly. He turned away to celebrate only for his joy to be cut short as he saw the assistant referee flagging for what must have been a very tight offside decision.

Anthony Grant then tested Terry with a low shot towards the bottom corner but the young goalkeeper, on loan from West Ham United, got down well to turn it around the post.

As the first half drew to a close, Urchins’ midfielder Charlee Adams twice drilled efforts wide.

Sean Scannell had the first goal attempt for Hornchurch in the second half with a shot that flashed over before Welling came close around the hour mark. Gene Kennedy broke through and shot towards the far post but the impressive Daniel Martin was unable to get on to the end of it to turn it home.

Chiori Johnson’s low cross was cleared as far as Taylor-Crossdale, however he couldn’t keep his shot down. Then, at the other end, Akinwande had a clear sight of goal but Wells got across to make a vital block tackle.

TJ Bramble, who had come on as a substitute, delivered a fine cross and Terry had to be alert to punch off the head of Anointed Chukwu.

Chukwu was then replaced by Reece Grant and former Ebbsfleet manager, Daryl McMahon replaced Akinwande with ex-Fleet striker Darren McQueen.

Grant will be wondering how he didn’t win it late on when he met Johnson’s cross unchallenged only to head well wide. 

However, the Wings might have lost it deep into injury time when Liam Nash spun and shot. Lovett was equal to it, though, with a flying catch. 

Next Saturday, Welling entertain Chesham on the back of a satisfactory Bank Holiday from which they claimed four points out of six.

Hornchurch: Terry, Barnum-Bobb, Green, Adams, Bertram-Cooper, Scott, Wraight, Scannell, Akinwande (McQueen 68), Nash, Balanta.

Substitutes not used: Saunders, Alemanji, Harvest, Christou.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Bertram-Cooper

Welling United: Lovell, Johnson, Martin, Burchell, Winfield, Wells, A. Grant (Cornish 74), Kennedy, Chukwu (R. Grant 68), Long (Bramble 57), Taylor-Crossdale.

Substitutes not used: Mensah, Borg.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow card: Johnson

Referee: Isaac Searle

Assistants: David Payne and Mahdi Elhalawany

Fourth Official: Yashar Yekta

Attendance: 1,067

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.