Blaine Hudson’s first goal in Welling United colours was sufficient to see the Wings claim the one-nil win that left them just five points outside the play off zone.

Three wins and a draw from four games have moved Welling well away from the relegation zone and looking at the higher end of the league table.

An injury to Lee Butcher, Welling’s last remaining league ever present, on Tuesday night meant that Jamie Turner had to come in as a replacement. Also, Connor McLaren replaced Loui Fazakerley.

Ross Lafayette had the first shot on target but his swirling effort was claimed comfortably by Macclesfield goalkeeper Rhys Taylor.

Harry Beautyman was next to fire a shot on goal, but Taylor saved without pressure.

Jack Mathreth’s low corner was met with a clean volley by Danny Andrew but Turner did well to envelope the shot as Macclesfield strikers hoped to pounce on any rebound.

Toby Ajala had a shot blocked by George Pilkington in front of Taylor as Welling looked to make a breakthrough.

Although Welling enjoyed the lion’s share of the goal attempts, they struggled to test Taylor, exemplified by a Beautyman shot flew well over.

Hudson missed a great chance immediately after the break when he chested down before thrashing over from just six yards out.

Ajala then had an effort cleared off the line by Danny Whitaker before Welling went ahead in the 62nd minute.

Beautyman did well to chase down an apparently lost cause, before crossing for Hudson to meet with a crushing diving header from close range.

Tobi Sho-Silva then burst through but Taylor was out quickly to save.

Substitute Chris Holroyd, a thorn in Welling’s side earlier in the season when the clubs met at the Moss Rose Stadium, headed wide of the near post although Turner looked to have had it covered had it been on target.

After that, everything the Silkmen had to offer was soaked up by the blossoming partnership of Hudson and Alfie Mawson.

Josh Wakefield replaced Ajala but played a more forward role than he had done previously rather than disrupting the pairing of Jake Gallagher and Joe Healy in the central midfield positions.

Tom Bender went on a surging run to set up an opening for Sho-Silva but it came to nothing. It did not matter, however, as Macclesfield failed to bother Welling again and the hosts claimed a well deserved three points.

Welling United: Turner, McLaren, Bender, Gallagher, Hudson, Mawson, Beautyman (Fazakerley 85), Ajala (Wakefield 75), Sho-Silva, Lafayette, Healy. Unused substitutes: Clarke, Cumbers, Day.