Both Welling United and Maidstone United ended the game in celebratory mood to complete an eventful bank holiday weekend.

Victory for the Wings, combined with Billericay Town’s defeat against Ebbsfleet United, ensured their survival from relegation whilst the Stones were in party mood having been crowned champions two days earlier.

Despite already having won the league title, Hakan Hayrettin was in no mood to let his team ease off and they played their full part in an enthralling encounter.

Sam Corne headed straight into the arms of Coniah Boyce-Clarke from a Regan Booty corner, Christie Pattison crossed to the far post but Tushaun Walters headed wide, then Walters had a cross shot cleared off the line by Ben Margetson.

Continuing to press forward the Stones got caught by a two on one Welling break. Harvey Bradbury broke clear and played in Dipo Akinyemi, but Yusuf Mersin came out to make a brilliant save to turn his shot over.

Pattisson had a shot blocked bravely by Ezennolim at the cost of a corner before Akinyemi and Bradbury again combined to create an opening, but the former pulled it back just behind Ben Allen and the chance was gone. 

Hady Ghandour broke clear for Maidstone but Ezzenolim did superbly to get back and usher him away then Joe Ellul rose for a corner but did not get a clean header on it and it drifted wide.

The deadlock was broken when a brilliant Ben Allen flick sent Akinyemi clear, and he chipped over Mersin for Bradbury to head home his first Welling goal.

That appeared to knock the stuffing out of the Stones and Welling had an appeal for a penalty turned away when Allen went down under the challenge of Walters.

Twelve minutes into the second period, Maidstone drew level. Corne and Gavin Hoyte combined to allow the latter enough space to send in a low cross that Ghandour turned home from close range.

Corne then found Walters who cut in, but he shot high and wide before Welling went back ahead. Substitute Alfie Matthews sent Bradley Stevenson away. His initial shot was saved by Mersin but came straight out for him to chest home.

Bradbury held up well before playing in Matthews, but he curled his effort well wide with Allen screaming for him to square it. Then Maidstone came close when Roarie Deacon’s shot was deflected but Boyce-Clarke reacted quickly to hold it well.

Pattisson went down holding his hamstring and Alfie Pavey was introduced to give the Stones more power in the air as the visitors pushed for an equaliser. George Fowler headed over from a Booty corner and Margetson made a brilliant last ditch clearance from Ghandour.

Booty had a shot that was blocked bravely by Maxwell Statham but Welling created problems at the other end when Matthews showed excellent control to bring down a long clearance, but Mersin saved his shot at the near post.

As the game moved into stoppage time, the Stones thought that they had levelled when Boyce-Clarke struggled to hold a Deacon shot but managed to claim it without the ball crossing the line. He cleared it quickly and Matthews sent Bradbury clear to give Mersin no chance with a composed finish.

Ezennolim blocked another Ghandour shot at the cost of a corner and from Booty’s delivery, Ellul headed home. There was no time for Maidstone to mount another attack and the two teams were soon celebrating, for very different reasons, with their supporters.

Welling United: Boyce-Clarke, Statham, Ezennolim, Margetson, Sendles-White, Wells, Allen (Barnes 79), Stevenson (Derry 79), Bradbury, Akinyemi (Matthews 52), Shokunbi.

Subs not used: Burnett, Pearce.

Goalscorers: Bradbury (24), (90+1), Stevenson (66)

Yellow cards: Matthews, Ezennolim

Maidstone United: Mersin, Hoyte, Booty, Binnam-Williams, Ellul, Fowler, Walters (Deacon 69), Corne, Pattisson (Pavey 75), Ghandour, Powell.

Subs not used: Elokobi, Hadler, Gurung.

Goalscorers: Ghandour (57), Ellul (90+4)

Yellow cards: Powell

Referee: Michael Ryan

Assistants: Luigi Lungarella and Daniel Procter

Attendance: 2,015

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.