Christie Pattisson’s goal against Eastbourne Borough went a long way towards ensuring Welling United’s safety in the Vanarama National League South.

It was one of Warren Feeney’s team’s best performances of the second half of the season and they played some delightful football at times, especially in the first half.

After a cagey start Ryan Bartley delivered a deep cross that Leone Gravata couldn’t turn home then Kai McKenzie-Lyle made a good save from Jamie Yila’s shot.

At the other end Rob Howard played it in to Payne. He touched it on for James Dunne who shot wide.

Kai Innocent crossed for Eastbourne, Yila knocked it down and Gravata blasted over before Welling went ahead. Pattisson strode through and let fly from twenty-five yards to beat Lee Worgan’s full length dive just inside the near post.

That settled Welling’s nerves and Medy Elito’s outswinging corner was headed forward by James Dunne and Dylan Gavin’s shot was tipped over.

Payne had a shot blocked wide after receiving Pattisson’s pass and from Elito’s corner, Gavin’s header was saved.

Pattisson cut in from the left and again shot from distance but this time Worgan turned it round the post, albeit without conviction.

As half time approached, Gavin was bundled over in the penalty area by Bradley Barry but the referee was unmoved. However it was the visitors who finished the half looking dangerous. Yila squared across the edge of the area but Jaden Perez passed his shot wide of the post. Then McKenzie-Lyle tipped over James Vaughan’s free kick.

Early in the second half, Eastbourne came close when Perez’s shot came back out off the base of the post then Vaughan lofted the follow-up well over.

Payne got on the end of McKenzie-Lyle’s long kick out but could only head directly into Worgan’s arms before Eastbourne’s Shiloh Remy shot well wide at the other end.

Elito’s tigerish midfield tackling allowed him to send Pattisson away and he found Payne whose effort was deflected wide. Elito had a shot blocked then Dunne drew a straight-forward save out of Worgan.

Morgan Williams had a free kick tipped over by McKenzie-Lyle and then found Chris Whelpdale with the corner but he headed wide.

Substitute Dan Nkrumah found Payne whose shot was turned round the post by Worgan before McKenzie-Lyle dived to keep out an offer by Remy.

Whelpdale again headed well wide but the last half chance went to Welling when Eastbourne made a mess of a clearance and it fell to Sam Cox who shot wide.

Victory took Welling up to seventeenth in the table ahead of their trip to sixth placed St. Albans City next Saturday.

Welling United: McKenzie-Lyle, Howard, Barnes, Parry, Sendles-White, Lyons-Foster, Pattisson (Lisbie 90+5), Dunne, Payne, Gavin (Nkrumah 46), Elito (Cox 78).

Sub not used: Azeez, Andrews.

Goalscorers: Pattisson (18)

Yellow cards: Howard

Eastbourne Borough: Worgan, Bartley, Innocent, Yila (Whelpdale 70), Dickenson, Barry, Perez, Vaughan (Williams 73), Pearce, Remy, Gravata (Beckford 65).

Subs not used: Williams, Burchell, Wabo.

Goalscorer: None

Yellow cards: None

Referee: Aaron Farmer

Assistants: Tolu Sangowawa and Daniel Procter

Attendance: 465

Pictures supplied by Michael Brown.