After getting themselves into a great position to drive for the play-offs in February and March, Welling United's hopes have been hit hard in April.

Four games from Easter Monday onwards have wielded just two points and defeat at Whitehawk leaves their hopes in real peril.

Defeat for the Brighton based club would have confirmed their relegation but despite playing for over fifty minutes with ten men, they were worthy of their victory and results elsewhere leave them still with a mathematical chance of surviving the drop.

In the opening minutes, Welling looked lively and the more likely winners. Olumide Durojaiye was played through and Daniel Wilks was out quickly to block. It came out as far as Jack Jebb but his first time effort was met with an excellent reaction save from Wilks.

Nassim L'Ghoul was played in by Gold Otomayo but he fired well over.

A long ball over the top almost put Jebb away but Wilks read it well and came out quickly to bring it down with his chest to get it away.

Connor Dymond shot straight at Wilks before Welling gifted Whitehawk an opportunity. A long ball forward was headed across the face of his own goal by Callum Driver but Lloyd Macklin failed to take advantage and shot wide.

Jamie Philpot floated an effort wide from a Jebb cross before Otomayo was set free by Ky Marsh-Brown but shot straight at a grateful Bailey Vose.

However, Welling were unable to hold out much longer and went behind when L'Ghoul pulled back for Macklin and he passed it into the net of his former club.

Joe Healy sent a volley wide for Welling before the Wings had another escape. Pinball in the Welling penalty area ended when Macklin's drive hit a team-mate and flew wide.

Bradley Goldberg had a shot deflected over before Durojaiye created a couple of chances that were not taken. First he found Dymond whose shot was saved comfortably. Then it was Goldberg's turn to not work Wilks hard enough.

Otomayo then made life tougher for the Hawks when he kicked out at Dymond and was sent off by referee James Durkin.

Dymond shot well over before Welling went in to re-group.

Three minutes after the break, Welling levelled when Jebb's long free kick was pushed out to Durojaiye and he took the chance well with a low drive into the bottom corner.

Knowing that only a win would do, Welling sacrificed a midfield player, Dymond, and introduced striker Tom Bradbrook for a stronger aerial threat.

Whitehawk manager Steve King did likewise, taking off defender Osa Obamwonyi and bringing on striker Nathaniel Pinney.

L'Ghoul shot wide for Whitehawk before Welling missed a great chance when Goldberg pulled back to Bradbrook but he side-footed wide when well placed.

While Welling awaited the right time to make a double substitution, King sent on Elliot Benyon and his first touch was to volley home L'Ghoul's corner to put the hosts ahead.

Jebb curled wide after his initial free kick had been half cleared before Pinney had a chance to extend Whitehawk's lead on the break but Vose was out quickly to block.

Kodi Lyons-Foster made a brilliant perfectly timed tackle to thwart Philpot before Bradbrook headed wide from another Jebb free kick.

Sadly for Bradbrook, his game ended before injury time was completed when dismissed harshly for a challenge as he chased back. Seconds later, the final whistle blew leaving both clubs' hopes hanging on a thread.

Welling United: Vose, Driver, Jefford, Durojaiye (Hall 80), Okuonghae, Coyle, Dymond (Bradbrook 60), Healy (Nanetti 80), Goldberg, Jebb, Philpot. Subs not used: Johnson, Coombes.