It was a smash and grab win for Welling United as they claimed a come from behind victory at Hungerford Town.

Going into the last ten minutes one goal behind and struggling to break down a determined Hungerford back five, it was hard to see any way back for the Wings but there was drama galore still to come.

In the early exchanges, Welling had the better of things. Bradley Stevenson sent a curler wide, Dipo Akinyemi shot well over, and Stevenson had another effort blocked after a corner was half cleared.

Jacob Evans drew a save out of Coniah Boyce-Clarke for Hungerford, and Rhys Tyler tried his luck with an audacious effort from just inside the Welling half. At the other end Harvey Bradbury flicked on a long clearance from Boyce-Clarke into the path of Akinyemi but Luke Cairney pulled off an excellent save to deny the Welling hitman.

Stevenson blasted over from a good position before Boyce-Clarke made a stunning save to tip over Max Ram’s close-range header from James Rusby’s long throw.

Although Welling shaded the first half, they struggled up the hill after the break. However, they were entitled to feel aggrieved when the hosts went ahead. Ryan Seager’s clear push on Ade Shokunbi went unpunished and he crossed low into the penalty area. A goalmouth scramble followed and Duane Ofori-Acheampong found the space to scramble it home.

Andre Burley had a shot well saved by Boyce-Clarke and the Wings’ custodian was again called into action to save from Ram, who again got on the end of a Rusby long throw.

George Smith shot over for the hosts before the dramatic finale. Stevenson and Chi Ezennolim combined to find Akinyemi on the left and he cut in and fired an unstoppable shot that left Cairney helpless with nine minutes remaining.

Then, on ninety minutes, Welling stunned the home supporters by going ahead. Tom Derry went up with Burley and the Crusaders’ defender could only flick it into the path of substitute Alfie Matthews who side-footed home with precision.

Six minutes of stoppage time was signalled. Boyce-Clarke made a good save from Reece Wylie before Matthews fouled Seager and was shown a second yellow card. Cairney went up for the free kick but when it was cleared, Cairney did not retreat all the way back to his goal. It was put back int the area and cleared as far as the Hungerford keeper and he unleashed a thunderbolt from twenty-five yards that rattled the crossbar before the referee called time. 

After the match, Welling manager Warren Feeney was pleased with the three points but not with the way his team played. He said “I was disappointed with the performance. I said to them before the game ‘It’s going to be a tough game, don’t look at their form.’ 

“For the first ten minutes, fifteen minutes, I thought we did well but then we took our foot of it. But at this stage of the season, it’s not about performances, it’s about results and what a finish to the game.” 

Cairney’s shot coming back off the bar could have been Welling’s third concession of a two-all equaliser with the last kick of the game in eight days. Feeney said “That’s the bit of luck we needed. I was thinking hopefully what has happened, we can do the same to somebody else.”

He also added that for Welling to keep fighting to the end, it needs everyone, including the supporters, to be positive “I know that they are frustrated but people don’t realise how hard it is at the end of the season.

“The fans need to be behind us, and it affects players at this level. They’re not out there to make mistakes, they’re trying their hardest. We need everyone behind us. I was a wee bit disappointed with some of the shouts. I’m glad we’ve given them something to be cheerful about, but we’ve got to back each other up to get over the line.”

Hungerford Town: Cairney, Ram, Tyler, Rusby (Herbert 86), Burley, Angell, Smith (McGrory 82), Emmerson, Ofori-Acheampong, Seager, Evans (Wylie 91).

Subs not used: Jones, Crowther.

Goalscorers: Ofori-Acheampong (50)

Yellow cards: Ofori-Acheampong, Rusby

Welling United: Boyce-Clarke, Statham, Ezennolim, Wells, Sendles-White, Margetson, Allen (Derry 58), Stevenson (Barnes 82), Bradbury (Matthews 74), Akinyemi, Shokunbi.

Subs not used: Pearce, Burnett.

Goalscorers: Akinyemi (81), Matthews (90)

Yellow cards: Wells, Ezennolim, Matthews

Red card: Matthews

Referee: Stephen Parkinson

Assistants: Michael Hayden and Andrew Hickman

Attendance: 488

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.