Despite taking an early lead, Welling United tumbled to defeat at Grimsby Town.

Sam Corne returned from suspension and replaced Xavier Vidal in an otherwise unchanged line up from Welling's midweek game with Forest Green Rovers.

Six minutes into the game, Welling went ahead. Reece Harris and George Porter combined to send Ben Jefford away and his inviting cross was met by Corne whose close range header gave James McKeown no chance.

Within a minute the scores were level. Alex Jones' sliced shot wrong footed the Welling defence and Padraig Almond stole in to volley home at the far post.

Four minutes later, Welling's joy turned to despair when the Mariners were awarded a free kick just outside the area. Connor Townsend and curled his free kick over the wall giving Tom King no chance.

After that, the game settled down and nearly thirty minutes had passed when Josh Gowling rose well from a corner but headed over.

Ricky Wellard fired wide for Welling before Nathan Arnold did likewise at the other end.

Aristote Nsiala was lucky to escape with a lecture following a crude foul on Reece Harris on the touchline.

Good close control by Michael Bakare set up a chance for a shot but he was unable to keep it down.

Harry Osborne replaced Barney Williams at the break for the first substitution of the match.

Worsening weather conditions made defending particularly hard and the back fours of both teams were stretched early in the second half.

Gowling made a great tackle to force Bakare to shoot over then Michael Chambers made a vital block at the other end.

Harry Lee burst through and was thwarted by a good tackle but Porter, following up, could not keep his effort down.

Lee was replaced by Joey Taylor soon afterwards before several meaty tackles flew in unpunished.

Richard Tait fired in a powerful effort that King was happy to beat out then Craig Clay blasted a half clearance wide from 25 yards.

Just over fifteen minutes remained when Welling made their final change with Sahr Kabba replacing Bakare.

Throwing men forward, Welling risked getting caught at the back but Chambers and Kevin Lokko continued to deal with all that came their way.

King made a good tip over from Gowling's header from a late corner and then mopped up after chaos from the following one as the Mariners looked to put the game to bed.

In the final minute of injury time, Grimsby added a third to give the scoreline a harsh reflection. With players thrown forward, Welling were caught on the break and Jack Mackreth was in the right place at the right time to finish.

Welling United: King, Williams (Osborne 46), Jefford, Lee (Taylor 65), Chambers, Lokko, Porter, Corne, Bakare (Kabba 74), Wellard, Harris. Unused substitutes: McEntegart, Vidal.