Any hope that Welling appeared to have of escaping relegation, were all but ended by their home defeat to bottom club, Kidderminster Harriers.
Other results went their way, and had they won, they would have still had an outside chance. However the loss means that both clubs could be demoted as soon as Tuesday should Guiseley and Halifax win, whilst Torquay claim a point.
Although they conceded much of the possession and territorial advantage, they looked to have seen out the danger when one up with eight minutes to go, but two goals in three minutes changed that.
Having already had one chance that went wide, Kadell Daniel put Welling ahead in the seventh minute. Ian Gayle crossed, Reece Harris headed back, Ade Yusuff knocked it forward and Daniel’s crisp finish did the rest.
Had Kevin Lokko managed to get over Harris’ corner and head it under rather than over the bar, or Nortei Nortey kept his shot under the bar after his clever creation of the opportunity, Welling might have had a sufficient cushion to allow them to take charge.
It was not to be, however, and Kidderminster enjoyed plenty of possession and caused the Welling defence to work hard.
Ben Whitfield headed wide then had a shot saved by Marek Rodak. The Welling stopper made another save, this time from James McQuilkin before Elton Ngwatala shot wildly from a good position.
Sam Corne was off target with a first time effort just before the break but the Harriers continued to enjoy territorial advantage after the interval.
Ngwatala had a shot saved easily before shooting wide of the near post from 20 yards.
Their perseverance paid dividends when they equalised in the 82nd minute although Rodak may feel he could have pushed Omar Patrick’s shot away, rather than out to Kelvin Langmeade who made no mistake from close range.
Three minutes later, the game was turned on its head when McQuilkin headed home Whitfield’s cross from close range.
After the game, Welling manager Dean Frost struggled to explain how Welling failed to build on their recent good form.
“As long as we’ve been with here just for the last two or three months, even when we’ve been beaten, we’ve had quite a lot of energy about us and we’ve gone to the end and shown a lot of positives in most games..Today it’s a tough one because we get an early goal and gradually Kidderminster grew into the game.”
“Maybe we’ve missed someone like Ibrahim (Kargbo) that brings a bit of control to the game, Michael Bakare, a bit of legs. Maybe there weren’t enough legs. I think we missed Kashket today as well, he brings a bit of energy to the side.
“I don’t care about the other results. I just care about what we’re doing. I think there was fifteen minutes left and we were 1-0. I know that people think that because of the two results we’ve had recently we’d just go and beat sides comfortably. It don’t work that way. They’re scrapping for their lives so are we. It’s important that we got a result and we haven’t done.”
Welling United: Rodak, Gayle, Williams (Taylor 57), Nortey, Chambers, Lokko, Wanadio (Porter 89), Corne, Yusuff (Caicedo 63), Daniel, Harris.
Unused substitutes: McEntegart, Saggers.
Goalscorers: Daniel (7)
Yellow cards: Daniel (55)
Kidderminster Harriers: O’Leary, Williams, Lowe, Ngwatala, Kinsella, Langmeade, Singh (Omari 72), McQuilkin, Whitfield (Garnett 90), Francis-Angol, Fane.
Unused substitutes: Snedker, Hodgkiss, Tunnicliffe.
Goalscorers: Langmeade (82), McQuilkin (85)
Yellow cards: None
Referee: Craig Hicks
Assistants: Will Finnie and David Spain
4th Official: Paul Burnham
Attendance: 565
Welling star man: Ian Gayle
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.