Despite being reduced to ten men, Welling United outplayed their third placed hosts until a defensive error proved costly.

Early on Dominic Vose slung in a free that was just too high for the attackers and went narrowly beyond the post as the visitors started strongly.

Waide Fairhurst's trickery almost gave the hosts joy in their first meaningful attack but after twisting and turning, he could only shoot directly at Jonathan Henly.

Anthony Jeffrey's short back pass could have proved costly but Matthew Barnes-Homer's shot could not beat Henly and Fairhurst put the rebound wide.

After 15 minutes, Welling went ahead. Jason Williams controlled a long cross-field pass well before giving Jeffrey room to cross and Vose ghosted in to head beyond Rhys Taylor.

Paul Turnball came close to equalising almost immediately, but his measured free kick came back off the post.

Jason Williams had a goal disallowed when finishing well but Jeffrey had just over-run before crossing.

Twenty six minutes into the game, Macclesfield equalised when a shot struck Darren Purse on the arm from point blank range and a penalty was awarded much to the shock of the Welling players and supporters. Although Henly went the right way, he was powerless to keep out a perfectly struck Fairhurst conversion.

Vose came close for Welling with a shot curled just beyond the far post before Welling's cause became harder just before the break.

Having already been booked, Jeffrey mistimed a tackle that looked to be no more than a foul. Jason Whiteley thought otherwise and showed the Welling debutant a second yellow card and sent him off.

After the break, Turnball had a flicked header saved by Henly however Welling did not sit back.

Despite being one man short, Welling enjoyed a spell of sustained pressure early in the second period but struggled to create a clear opening however it was only when they gave the ball away that they looked in any danger.

It was certainly not against the run of play when Welling regained the lead. Reece Harris' cross was headed out to Joe Healy who nodded over the top of the Silkmen's defence for Jason Williams to finish well.

All seemed to be going well for the Wings until they let the hosts back into the game with some terrible defending. A routine long ball caused confusion between Chris Bush and Henly to allow Barnes-Homer in to finish.

That served to give Macclesfield momentum and they made it count when Barnes-Homer headed home from an Adriano Moke run and cross.

Another break could have caused the Wings problems but Barney Williams made an excellent tackle on Barnes-Homer and still had the presence of mind to find Loui Fazakerley, who had come on as a substitute after a long time out through injury.

Jody Brown was downbeat after the game knowing that Welling played well and should have come away with a result but will go back to work this week knowing that a good result at Aldershot could kick start their climb away from the danger zone.

Welling United: Henly, B. Williams, Fyfield, Fagan (St. Aimie 90), Bush, Purse, Harris, Vose (Fazakerley 74), J. Williams (Corne 84), Jeffrey, Healy, Harris. Unused substitutes: Carmichael, Little.