Disastrous defending cost Welling dearly as they crumbled to defeat at Eastbourne Borough.

Three times, they pulled level after conceding before they fell apart and conceded four times in the closing minutes.

Jake Phillips was introduced for his debut with Sam Hatton dropping to the bench and Dean Leacock came in for the injured Sean Francis.

Five minutes had passed before the Welling defence was breached for the first time. Gavin McCallum crossed and Nathaniel Pinney finished easily.

Pinney should have scored again soon after but shot directly at Chris Lewington who held on comfortably.

Lewington then beat out a shot from McCallum before Miguel Baptista, looking suspiciously offside, crossed for Pinney who should have scored.

They were made to pay for that when Dan Walker's optimistic shot was blocked but some comic defending ended with it coming back to him and he fired powerfully into the far corner.

That gave Welling some momentum and Danny Waldren fired just wide, then Rhys Murrell-Williamson set up Alex Cathline but he miss-hit his shot when well placed.

However, Eastbourne then went on the attack again and regained the lead when Jamie Taylor left Leacock in his wake before pulling back for McCallum to finish.

One minute later and the scores were again level when Danny Waldren headed home from Walker's cross.

Phillips fired over for Welling before Pinney intercepted a Rickie Hayles back pass but Lewington was out quickly to block.

After the break McCallum went close for the Sports before Murrell-Williamson fired well wide for Welling.

Taylor then put Eastbourne ahead for the third time with a shot from the corner of the area but Welling came back and Harry Crawford had a shot saved by Lewis Carey.

Shaun Hobson came to Eastbourne's rescue clearing off the line from Waldren before Leacock had to retire injured to be replaced by Pierre Joseph-Dubois.

Less than a minute after coming on, Joseph-Dubois clipped Walker's cross inside the far post for Welling's third equaliser.

Ali Fuseini had a shot blocked out bravely then Walker got in behind but Carey made a good save.

Back to the other end and Taylor saw a shot fly out off the bar before Pinney chipped a shot straight into the arms of Lewington.

With ten minutes remaining, Eastbourne went ahead for the fourth time when Pinney played a short free kick into the path of Josh Hare and the full back fired home.

Any hope that Welling had of coming back again were dashed when Reece Connolly found Pinney who invited Taylor to fire home and he made the most of the opportunity with a crisp finish.

In time added on, Hayles brought down Connolly in the penalty area and Taylor converted to complete his hat-trick.

Six became seven when Pinney smashed home another free kick before a demoralised Welling team trudged off.

Welling United: Lewington, Phillips, Brown, Fuseini, Hayles, Leacock (Joseph-Dubois 60), Walker, Waldren, Kathline, Crawford, Murrell-Williamson. Subs not used: Hatton, Richards, Amu.