Defensive lapses proved costly as Welling tumbled to defeat on their travels at Macclesfield Town.

Loui Fazakerley made two changes to the team that was so unlucky to come away empty handed from Forest Green. Sam Corne returned, having missed the game through injury, with Zac Fagan dropping back to the bench. George Porter was chosen for a full debut ahead of Sahr Kabba.

After a few minutes of ponderous football, the Silkmen created a quick break. Chris Holroyd's flick got beyond the Welling defence but Kristian Dennis was stretching and could only nod into the arms of a grateful Tom King.

Jack Sampson had a couple of half chances, first heading over from a corner, then forcing himself through but not finding the power to trouble King too much.

Somehow. Paul Lewis escaped a yellow card for a late challenge on Ricky Wellard, again raising the question of consistency following the soft yellow cards in the match between Welling and Guiseley one week earlier.

Superb overlapping by Ben Jefford almost created an opener for Welling. Having nutmegged Dan Cowan, he looked for Wellard at the far post but George Pilkington got enough of a touch to cause Wellard's header to miss the target.

Porter then fired in an effort from 25 yards that Shwan Jalal did well to tip over, and from the resulting corner Jefford headed wide from Wellard's corner.

Having silenced the crowd, Welling gifted Macclesfield their first goal of the season. Ponderous defending allowed Danny Whitaker to claim possession and round King before slotting home.

Paul Turnball then had a shot saved as the hosts tried to claim a quick second.

Dennis then fired wide as another deep ball in was only half cleared before Lewis fired well over from a long way out. Then Whitaker did likewise as Welling struggled to deal with another cross.

Another bad tackle by Lewis on Jefford resulted in the first booking of the afternoon just before the break.

Less than a minute after half time, Welling conceded again. Once again a low cross was only half cleared and Dennis fired in a shot that squirmed under the body of King.

After Welling had replaced Tashan Adeyinka with Kabba, Whitaker fired wide from the edge of the area after being teed up by Sampson. Harry Lee then came on for his Welling debut in place of Corne.

Jalal was finally called into making a second half save when Kabba held up well before sending Reece Harris away. The Welling man shot across the goal but the Silkmen's goalkeeper saved with his feet. From the resulting corner, Porter volleyed just over.

Xavier Vidal brought a great save out of Jalal from a free kick as the Macclesfield foul tally mounted but Welling struggled t create clear cut chances from their increased possession.

Chris Holroyd tested King at the near post in the closing minutes before Harry Osborne limped off to be replaced by Zac Fagan.

In the 92nd minute, Welling reduced the arrears when Kabba finished from a huge King punt but it was too little too late for the visitors.

Welling United: King, Osborne (Fagan 89), Jefford, Vidal, Chambers, Lokko, Corne (Lee 57), Wellard, Porter, Adeyinka (Kabba 55), Harris. Unused substitutes: McEntegart, Obafemi.