Although ending their campaign with defeat, events elsewhere confirmed Welling United's place in the Conference Premier for the 2015-16 season.

Coming into the game, all they had to do was match Alfreton Town's result at Bristol Rovers, and a 7-0 defeat for the Reds confirmed that they, and not Welling, would take the final relegation spot.

Newly appointed manager Loui Fazakerley selected Jonathan Henly in goal for his final game before retuning to Reading. Sam Berry came in for the suspended Harry Osborne to play in a back three with Chris Bush and Michael Chambers.

Visitors Southport came into the game needing one point for mathematical certainty of avoiding the drop but it would have needed a big win for Alfreton in Bristol combined with a heavy loss at Park View Road for them to go down.

Their cause was not helped by an injury to Will Beesley after just six minutes but substitute Connor McCarthy proved a more than able replacement.

Kieron St. Aimie had Welling's first chance but his shot from Dominic Vose's free kick was blocked.

Vose then came close himself, when just missing at the far post from a near impossible angle.

Luke Foster made a brilliant goal-line clearance to foil Vose after Tony Thompson made a hash of a cross before the Southport goalkeeper redeemed himself with a save from a Jake Gallagher header.

It appeared that news of events of in Bristol had filtered onto the pitch as Welling seemed to drop off a little and Foster's header flew just wide.

Richard Brodie had a long shot that Henly was unable to hold but a defender was first to the rebound to clear.

Ben Jefford and Gallagher combined to create an opening for Ross Lafayette but he was closed down quickly and his shot blocked for a comfortable save.

Tom Davies headed wide for Southport just before half time when he might have done better.

Paul Carden, Southport's interim manager, sent his side out early for the second period as he looked to finish the season with a win.

Brodie earned himself a booking for dissent and was jeered by members of the Welling supporters who remembered his unsavoury behaviour in the game between the two clubs earlier in the season.

McCarthy shot wide before Welling had a great opportunity to break the deadlock. Another delicious Jefford cross was met by the head of St. Aimie but he was unable to get the purchase needed to finish.

Zach Fagan replaced Gallagher on the hour mark with the captain's armband again passed to eighteen year old Sam Corne.

Wings Player of the season, Barney Williams then combined with St. Aimie to present Vose with a shooting opportunity but he fired just over. Then St. Aimie was also unable to find the target when a good Welling move ended with Corne giving him the chance.

Henly made a good save from McCarthy but had no chance when Steven Hewitt fired home via the crossbar from 35 yards with twelve minutes remaining.

Berry went down injured and was replaced by Joe Henly before another substitute, Charlie Penny, glanced a header from another inviting Jefford cross to draw an excellent save from Thompson, Henly then saved well at the other end from George Donnelly.

In the closing minutes, further evidence that it was not to be Welling's day came and went when Hewitt sliced Vose's effort onto the underside of his own crossbar only for it to come down on the line and bounce out.

When Welling lost at home to Grimsby at the end of March to drop into 22nd place, their chances looked bleak but Fazakerley remained positive and produced a team spirit that kept them up and gives them optimism for the future.

Welling United: Henly, Williams, Jefford, Berry (Healy 82), Chambers, Bush, Gallagher (Fagan 60), Corne, St. Aimie, Lafayette (Penny 71), Vose. Unused substitutes: McEntegart, Taylor.