Relegation threatened Welling United missed the opportunity to close the gap between them and safety when held at home by Taunton Town.

They came into the game four points behind the Peacocks but were held to a goal-less draw meaning that there was no change.

There was less than a minute on the clock when Welling had their first chance. Cameron Green slung in a cross that picked out Tristan Abrahams but he couldn’t get over it to head it down and it flew over.

Antony Papadopoulos then shot wide from twenty-five yards, having shown good close control before the visitors had their first effort when a Nick Grimes free kick flicked the Welling defensive wall and flew wide.

After that, chances were few and far between for the remaining half hour of the first period with Taunton having the better of them. Grimes headed over from Zac Bell’s cross then Zac Smith skewed a shot well off target.

Shortly before half time, Welling goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook was called into action for the first time when saving low from Smith after meeting Bell’s low cross.

Just as they had done in the first half, Welling started the second period quickly. Abrahams played it into the path of Adam Roscrow but his first touch took it away and he sliced his shot wide of the near post. Green then had a shot that appeared to take a deflection although the referee thought otherwise and gave a goal-kick.

Papadopoulos did well at the back, when under pressure, and turned defence into attack when playing it down the wing. Although giving his marker a head start, Abrahams won it and burst forward before driving in a cross demanding a finish. Sadly, nobody was on hand to turn it in for what would have been the perfect counter move.

Two more crosses, both by Green, caused alarm in the Taunton penalty area but, again, nobody was able to apply the finishing touch. In between those half chances Ollie Chamberlain had a header claimed comfortably by Charles-Cook.

Once again, Green caused problems for Taunton with a fierce drive that was tipped over by goalkeeper Dan Lavercombe.

It seemed to be just a matter of time until Welling scored however everything changed with seventeen minutes remaining. Dominic Odusanya went in hard, but not recklessly, in a challenge in midfield however the referee deemed otherwise and brandished his red card.

That gave the visitors the impetus to search for a winner. Callum Dolman shot so far off target that it went for a throw in before Charles-Cook claimed a tricky well struck cross-shot by Cameron Evans.

In stoppage time, Charles-Cook could only push out substitute Ross Stearn’s shot but Green was on hand to clear. Then the Welling goalkeeper saved well from Ball. Although Stearn looked interested in any rebound, he was flagged for offside so it wouldn’t have counted had he netted.

One last chance went the way of the visitors when Stearn burst through but Charles-Cook was out quickly to smother at his feet and Anthony Grant was on hand to tidy up.

Rod Stringer now has two cup games to navigate before Welling are back in league action when entertaining Tonbridge Angels.

Welling United: Charles-Cook, Lema, Green, Grant, Ellul, Byrd, Papadopoulos, Odusanya, Roscrow (Alemanji 70), Abrahams (Adigun 75), Wood (Johnson 79). Sub not used: Holness, Burchell.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow card: Wood

Red card: Odusanya

Taunton Town: Lavercombe, Bell, Slough (Dolman 61), Grimes, James, Ball, Smith, Tabu-Minzamba, Jarvis (Stearn 87), Chamberlain, Evans. Unused subs: Rose, Grubb.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: None

Referee: Jack Bloxham

Assistants: Nick Blogg and Bogdan Khimych

Attendance: 484

Images courtesy of Dave Budden