Over eleven hundred spectators were present at a highly entertaining draw between Welling United and Havant and Waterlooville.

Coming into the game Havant had won seven and drawn one so it was always going to be a tough challenge for the Wings, but a draw was probably a fair result.

James Roberts sent a free kick over the wall but wide of the near post before Havant goalkeeper Ross Worner made a brilliant double save from Stefan Payne and Ade Azeez.

Myles Roberts made an outstanding save from James Roberts before the Wings’ goalkeeper held Jake McCarthy’s overhead kick comfortably.

Azeez went clear from a training ground free kick routine and Worner got down well to make an excellent save before Welling went ahead. Payne clipped over the Havant defence and Azeez shrugged off a challenge before his shot had too much power for Worner.

Six minutes later, Havant equalised. Roberts burst down the left and crossed, and in his attempt to cut it out, Jamie Sendles-White could only divert it into his own net.

After a further six minutes, Welling went back ahead. Aaron Barnes was too strong for Joe Newton and burst down the right wing. He then showed great composure in picking out Taylor Maloney and he fired low beyond Worner.

Payne almost caught Worner out from a tight angle, but he got back to palm it out. Then, just before half time, Billy Clifford jumped in with a shocking challenge but escaped with a yellow card.

Early in the second half, Welling’s Roberts made a brilliant save from his Havant namesake before the visitors’ substitute Muhrmaddis Faal drew a good save out of the Welling custodian. He was called into action again when making an excellent save when Roberts met a cross from Gianni Crichlow and headed towards the bottom corner.

At the other end Amadou Kassarate clipped the bar with a cross before two further instances of Roberts against Roberts ended in the Welling goalkeeper’s favour. First, he saved another header before he made a stunning save to tip away a curler.

Faal tried his luck from twenty-five yards, but his shot was deflected, and Roberts got down to save before Jason Prior got on the end of a slick Havant move but could only head straight at the Welling goalkeeper, Clifford stopped a Welling break with a cynical trip and was shown a second yellow card before Welling might have put the game to bed.

Chi Ezennolim broke down the left wing and picked out Payne at the far post. For once, his clinical finishing skills deserted him, and the chance was gone.

Less than a minute later, Havant levelled. Josh Passley crossed and Prior headed home from close range.

Seven minutes of additional time was signalled, and Anthony Papadopoulos had a shot deflected wide before Maloney’s shot was held by Worner.

Welling thought that they had won the game in the final exchanges when Devonte Aransibia bundled it home, but the ball had crossed the bye-line before being pulled back and the celebrations were cut short.

Welling United: Roberts, Barnes, Ezennolim, Olomowewe, Sendles-White, Parry, Maloney, Dunne, Azeez (Papadopoulos 83), Payne, Kassarate (Aransibia 83).

Sub not used: McKenzie-Lyle, Hyde, Francis.

Goalscorers: Azeez (27), Maloney (39),

Yellow cards: Barnes, Payne, Azeez, Kassarate, Dunne

Havant and Waterlooville: Worner, Passley, Newton, Gobern (Faal 59), Membhard, Oaster, Clifford, McCarthy, Prior, Crichlow (Wright 70), Roberts (Collins 87).

Subs not used: Read, Burnett.

Goalscorers: Sendles-White own goal (33), Prior (86)

Yellow cards: Clifford, Roberts, Newton

Red card: Clifford

Referee: Shirley Elson

Assistants: Joe Burgess and Steven Goldup

Attendance: 1,123

Pictures supplied by Michael Brown.