Before the match started, Ebbsfleet United had a twenty point advantage over hosts Welling United.

However, for large parts of the game, it was not obvious who was the team pushing for promotion and the one that was fighting relegation.

In the first minute, Danny Kedwell met a Sean Shields cross with a firm header that flew just beyond the far post. Had he netted, it would not have counted anyway as he had strayed into an offside position.

Christian Nanetti then caught Dave Winfield in possession at the other end and pulled back for Adam Coombes but his powerful drive flew the wrong side of the post.

Shields had a shot deflected over the bar before the end to end start continued as Lyle Della-Verde headed wide from Dean Morgan's clever chip.

It was then Ebbsfleet's turn to attack and from their next foray, they went ahead, Jack Powell broke down the right wing and crossed low for Darren McQueen to finish with a first time flick.

Della-Verde twice got in behind but on both occasions, his shots were beaten out by Nathan Ashmore with nobody able to follow up.

Coombes then had a free kick that was deflected off the wall for Ashmore to save.

Two Powell free kicks caused Welling problems. First Mark Phillips stabbed wide then Winfield's header flew beyond the far post.

After thirty five minutes, Ebbsfleet were reduced to ten men when Winfield was sent off for an elbow in the face of Rickie Hayles.

Ebbsfleet manager Daryl McMahon made a change bringing on Jack Connors for McQueen as he changed the formation from 3-5-2 to 4-4-1.

Morgan created a further chance before the break but Coombes headed his cross wide at the near post.

McMahon made a further change at half time replacing Sam Deering with Marvin McCoy.

Sam Hatton's corner after the interval was met by a glancing Coombes header that did not have quite enough purchase to direct it inside the far post.

Then Welling were forced into making changes as Hayles had to be replaced by Mitchell Nelson.

Ashmore was again called into action saving a near post drive at the second attempt.

Kedwell was then withdrawn by McMahon and replaced by Bradley Bubb as he looked to give the Welling defence different problems.

Searching for an equaliser, Welling left themselves open to breakaways and Shields burst away only to be thwarted by a perfectly timed dive and claw away by Chris Lewington. Shields tumbled and was shown a yellow card for his pains.

On 70 minutes, Welling levelled. Another excellent Hatton corner was met by Danny Waldren who gave Ashmore no chance with a powerful header home.

Sensing an opportunity to win the game, Welling manager Mark Goldberg replaced Della-Verde with Mason Walsh for his debut.

After Coombes had fired over from twenty yards, Welling were denied a penalty when Waldren's drive struck an Ebbsfleet defender on the arm.

Despite their grievance, Welling continued to look for the winner and Nelson met another excellent Sam Hatton with a downward header that was somehow kept out by Ashmore on the line.

Just as it looked as though the game was going to end in stalemate, Bubb got through two half challenges on the bye-line before pulling back for Powell to fire home via a slight deflection

No further chances came to either side as Ebbsfleet kept track with the leaders whilst Welling remain in peril.

Welling United: Lewington, Fish, Braham-Barrett, Hatton, Hayles (Nelson 51), Leacock (Fuseini 90), Morgan, Waldren, Nanetti, Coombes, Della-Verde (Walsh 72). Subs not used: Agu, Johnson.

Ebbsfleet United: Ashmore, Cook, Shields, Phillips, Winfield, Clark, Rance, Deering (McCoy 46), Kedwell (Bubb 60), McQueen (Connors 39), Powell. Subs not used: Sheringham, Jordan.