Two teams at opposite ends of the table met as promotion chasing Grimsby Town claimed victory over relegation threatened Welling United.
Sadly, the main talking point was more controversial refereeing decisions that went against Welling.
Behind from an early Ollie Palmer goal, the Wings were hauling themselves back into the game when new signing Tarshan Adeyinka appeared to be fouled inside the Grimsby 18 yard box.
The assistant referee at that end was well placed and signalled for a penalty but referee David Rock consulted him before allowing the Mariners an uncontested drop ball.
Instead of being level, and possibly with a one man advantage, Welling soon found themselves two down.
Palmer’s goal after nine minutes came when he met Nathan Arnold’s low near post cross with a flick beyond Jonathan Henly in the Welling goal.
Arnold, a handful throughout, then shot over before Charlton Athletic loanee, Harry Osborne, thwarted Lenell John-Lewis.
Adeyinka fired over for Welling before being involved in the pivotal moment of the first half.
Even Grimsby’s second goal, three minutes before the break, might have been stopped by the referee. The original break resulted from an apparent foul on Ross Lafayette.
Although Henly made fine saves from Arnold’s shot and a header from the first corner, he was clearly impeded by Craig Disley at the second, and Shaun Pearson’s unopposed header floated into the back of the net.
Although Dominic Vose smashed a free kick against the crossbar early in the second half, Welling rarely looked like getting back into the game.
Arnold and John-Lewis missed chances for Grimsby before Gregor Robertson was cautioned for a foul on Ross Lafayette, back at Welling on loan from Luton Town.
Michael Chambers had a header tipped over for Welling and Joe Healy fired over after Jake Gallagher’s shot was blocked.
James McKeown saved a Vose daisy cutter but Welling were unable to breach the Mariners defence.
Manager Loui Fazakerley said afterwards “Second half, once again, like Barnet, it was a good reaction, but you can’t wait to go two goals down before you get a reaction.”
“We had a new partnership up top and they’ve only had one training session together. I would imagine with the extra training sessions this week it can only get better.”
Wings captain Gallagher added “We seem to have started slow in the last couple games, and when you go two goals down they sit back and we’re always chasing the game.”
“We had a couple of half chances and worked the ball into good areas. We didn’t really create any clear cut chances.”
Welling United: Henly, Williams, Harris, Gallagher, Osborne, Chambers, Corne (St. Aimie 64), Vose, Lafayette, Adeyinka, Healy.
Unused substitutes: McEntegart, Taylor, Fagan, Young.
Grimsby Town: McKeown, Magnay, Nsiala, Pearson, Robertson, Brown, Disley, Mackreth (Chappell 87), Arnold, Palmer, John-Lewis (Pittman 90).
Unused substitutes: Clay, Jolley, Parslow.
Referee: David Rock
Assistants: Anthony Serrano and Craig Green
4th Official: Mark Potkins
Welling star man: Jake Gallagher
Attendance: 1,042
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.