CHARLIE Mitten’s goalkeeping and the ineptitude of the officials provided most of the high and low points in the goalless draw between Welling United and Braintree Town on Saturday.

Mitten’s heroics kept the Wings in the game, but how Mr Rock and his assistant failed to see the most blatant of Braintree handballs in the Iron penalty area with minutes remaining was astounding.

Yado Mambo, on loan from Charlton, and Craig Rocastle were debutants for the hosts, while the visitors welcomed back striker Sean Marks to resume his partnership with George Purcell.

After a scrappy start in which Braintree’s Mark Jones was lucky to escape a yellow card for an ugly tackle on Tony Finn, the visitors took the game to their hosts.

Purcell shot wide, Marks fired over the crossbar, Mitten saved bravely at the feet of Brad Quinton and Purcell was foiled by a magnificent tackle by Michael Deane before Welling came into the game.

Sam Hurrell was fouled but play was waved on then Mr Rock blew his whistle for the free-kick just before Jake Hobbs netted.

From the resultant free-kick, Braintree had a further let off as goalkeeper Nicky Morgan fumbled the ball just wide of his near post.

Rocastle’s corner was headed back across goal and Mambo’s header was cleared off the line by Ryan Peters.

Another chance for Welling followed but Mambo failed to make connection with a long ball from Deane.

Quinton had a shot pushed round the post by Mitten before the Welling custodian again came to the rescue by stopping a point blank Jacob Mingle header from the resultant corner.

Lee Clarke had an overhead kick tipped wide by Morgan, Rocastle and Hurrell failed to hit the target from long range efforts and a Clarke header appeared to have put Tony Finn clear but he was thwarted by a dubious offside flag.

Into the second half and Braintree again fashioned openings. Marks headed over from a corner before another Mingle header from a Quinton free-kick was saved brilliantly by Mitten.

Marks was then thwarted by another Mitten save before Lheureux Menga was brought on in place of Clarke.

Mambo became the first name in the referee’s book for a foul before Mitten made another outstanding save, this time from Adam Bailey-Denis.

Tom Whitnell’s introduction for Hurrell represented the 24th player used by Welling this season in just six league games.

Having escaped a yellow card in the first half, Jones was booked for an atrocious foul on Hobbs, which could have been punished more severely.

Harlee Dean was also lucky to escape censure as he clearly raised hands in the ensuing melee.

Substitute Jon Keeling then brought another save from Mitten who had to be alert when Quinton tried to curl the ball around the defensive wall from a free-kick.

In the 88th minute, the big moment of controversy occurred.

As a corner came in, Bailey-Denis clearly slapped the ball away and how neither the referee nor his assistant failed to see it was a real mystery.

Finn was cautioned for dissent in frustration at how the Wings were denied from having an opportunity to nick the points.

Welling United: Mitten, Deane, Haswell, Cracknell, Mambo, Perkins, Finn, Rocastle, Hobbs, Clarke (Menga 62), Hurrell (Whitnell 70). Subs not used: Hughes, King, Protheroe.