After a promising first half, Welling United failed to show the aptitude needed and allowed Whitehawk to beat them for the third time this season.

Although they had to play up a steep hill in the second period, the majority of the Wings team showed a lack of fight and hunger and lost to a team who had only managed one league win since October.

Early chances went Welling's way. Vas Karagiannis swung over a free kick that Danny Waldren headed wide at the far post.

Karagiannis then had a shot deflected past the post before Michael Thalassitis headed wide from the corner.

Sergio Torres missed a great chance when hitting a knock down straight into the arms of Chris Lewington.

Alex Kathline came close for Welling when his header from a Karagiannis cross came back off the crossbar.

Danny Waldren blasted well over then Rhys Murrell-Williamson went on a good run before pulling back for Ali Fuseini who sliced his effort wide.

Michael Thalassitis was next to create an opportunity for himself but he also failed to find the target.

Eventually, Welling did make Whitehawk goalkeeper Lucas Covolan work, but not too hard as Waldren's shot was straight at him and wasn't a power drive.

Whilst Welling's two wide men failed to put over threatening crosses, full back Jordan Brown did twice in quick succession.

First he delivered a deep cross that Waldren couldn't convert with his header at the far post.

Then he delivered another to a similar area and Covolan was grateful to tip away at the cost of a corner.

Brown then showed his brilliance at the other end when Danny Mills raced away, rounded Welling keeper Lewington and slid his shot goalwards only for Brown to make a dramatic clearance off the line.

Thalassitis tried his luck from twenty yards out but it dipped over.

As the half ended, Alex Osborn escaped a yellow card. At the end of a scolding for dissent following a decision against him for a foul, he threw the ball away but Marc Whaley did not take the appropriate action.

Having enjoyed the better of the first period, Welling failed to cope with playing uphill in the second, and allowed the hosts to dictate.

Ibrahim Adediran-Akanbi went on a long run before firing in a shot that was saved by Lewington.

He then turned provider when sending Josh Passley through but he failed to hit the target when he should have done better.

Another Adediran-Akanbi run saw him go clear but Matt Fish made great ground to effect a goal saving block.

Osborn then over-hit a cross that almost sneaked in at the far post before Mills converted only to see the strike ruled out for offside.

Finally, Osborn did earn the caution that might have been his second on another day.

Ramon Marimon-Aldavert was off target from Passley's corner before Osborn escaped once more. A clear two handed shove on the chest of Harry Crawford should have earned him a minimum of a second yellow card, but once again he escaped censure.

Eight minutes remained when Whitehawk broke the dead-lock. Having been awarded a dubious free kick, substitute Frankie Sutherland fired his effort over the wall and beyond the despairing Lewington.

If Osborn was lucky not to be dismissed, Thalassitis was equally fortunate when he struck Dan Harding on the back of the head.

That was the last event of a match that gave Whitehawk hope of escaping the drop whilst Welling were kept on the fringe of the relegation zone.

Welling United: Lewington, Fish, Brown, Fuseini, Hayles, Francis, Karagiannis (Walker 55), Waldren, Slabber (Kathline 17), Thalassitis, Murrell-Williamson (Crawford 55). Subs not used: Leacock, Richards.