An entertaining evening game at Park View Road ended all square between Welling United and Eastleigh.
Injuries meant Welling were without four regular full backs. Player manager Loui Fazakerley, Joey Taylor and Barney Williams were joined on the sidelines by Harry Osborne. Zac Fagan was the player entrusted with taking the role for the visit of Eastleigh.
Fazakerley had demanded a fast start from his team but got anything other than that as the visitors controlled the early stages without creating anything.
Eventually, Josh Payne had an effort that went wide before Ross Lafayette, the former Welling striker, shot across the face of goal having made space well.
James Constable put Eastleigh ahead in the 23rd minute finishing a great move and continuing his run of a goal in every game this season.
An unlikely equaliser changed the whole feel of the game. Ben Jefford’s marauding run and excellent cross was put past Michael Poke by his own defender, Jamie Turley, and suddenly Welling started to believe.
Ricky Wellard’s close control might have earned the club a penalty when he was stopped by an untidy tackle, and Reece Harris drew a good save out of Poke just before half time.
George Porter had a great opportunity early in the second half. After out-muscling Joe Partington he shot just beyond the far post with Poke beaten.
Again, the speed and desire of Porter troubled Eastleigh and Poke could only block his shot out as far as Xavier Vidal whose effort was deflected over by Turley.
Tom King then made a fine save from Constable as the striker broke through before Porter’s hard working evening came to an end with Sahr Kabba coming on.
Within two minutes, Welling went ahead. Ricky Wellard was the architect causing more chaos in the Eastleigh area and the ball broke for Vidal to open his Welling account.
Six minutes later, Welling conceded a disappointing equaliser. The award of a free kick against Harry Lee seemed very harsh but there was no excuse for the poor marking that allowed Ben Strevens to rise unopposed before heading home.
There were no further clear cut chances although the outstanding Sam Corne was required to make one crucial last gasp tackle as Constable looked to have got away.
After the game, Fazakerley said “We’ve gone in the dressing room disappointed to only draw that game. Credit to the lads because Eastleigh are going to be up there.
“It was a bit frustrating the way the game started but when we play with high energy, not many teams can live with us.”
Welling United: King, Fagan, Jefford, Vidal, Chambers, Lokko, Corne, Wellard, Lee, Porter (Kabba 70), Harris.
Unused substitutes: McEntegart, Adeyinka, Nortey, Obafemi.
Eastleigh: Poke, Partington, Evans, Turley, Payne (Reason 56), Constable, Lafayette (Odubade 67) , Midson, Cook (Strevens 56), Drury, Harding.
Unused substitutes: Noice, Todd.
Referee: Nigel Lugg
Assistants: Paul Lister and Daniel Cook
4th Official: Oliver Jackson
Welling star man: Sam Corne
Attendance: 545
Pictures supplied by David Brown.