An entertaining pre-season friendly between Welling United and Gillingham ended with the spoils shared.
Vadaine Oliver had the first chance of the match for the visitors when he rose well to meet a Danny Lloyd cross but his header clipped the bar on the way over.
Welling then had a couple of half chances before the Gills took the lead in the seventh minute through a well directed header by Lloyd.
Dipo Akinyemi had a shot deflected narrowly wide and Olumide Durojaiye fired just over before Gillingham doubled their lead when Ollie Lee sent Oliver clear and he showed great composure to chip into the far corner.
Akinyemi reduced the arrears with a stunning long range effort that gave Aaron Chapman no chance and three minutes later he drew Welling level when sent clear, he slotted beyond Chapman into the bottom corner.
There were no further clear cut chances in the first half and Gillingham made ten changes at the break with just Chapman continuing.
Early in the second period John Akinde was sent clear but the Welling trialist goalkeeper made an outstanding one on one save.
Although the Gills continued to probe they created little and Steve Lovell’s changes for Welling gave then fresh impetus.
The Wings went ahead midway through the half when one of the substitutes was brought down in the penalty area and Lyle Della-Verde converted.
Two substitutes combined well for Welling and the left winger was close then Della-Verde struck just wide from the edge of the area with Chapman.
However, Gillingham showed their fortitude when parity was restored in the final minute. Although off balance, Akinde squeezed it home giving the hosts’ goalkeeper no chance.
Welling United: Trialist, Barnes, Trialist, Trialist, Mvemba, Ilic, Durojaiye, Stevenson, Campbell. Akinyemi, Trialist.
Substitutes: Della-Verde, Shokunbi and seven trialists.
Gillingham first half: Chapman, Lintott, Ehmer, Tucker, Akehurst, Dempsey, Woods, O’Keefe, Lee, Lloyd, Oliver.
Second half team: Chapman, Jackson, Lintott (Gbode 80), Carter, Tutonda, Smith, Gale MacDonald, Reeves, Woods (Chambers 80), Akinde.
Welling goals: Akinyemi (26) & (29) Della-Verde pen (73)
Gillingham goals: Lloyd (7), Oliver (15), Akinde (90)
Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.