After a good first half, Welling United had to hold on to what they had to claim a point at Braintree Town.

Having gone off injured at Bath City on Saturday, both Welling front line strikers Tom Bradbrook and Bradley Goldberg had to sit the game out so Welling played with a makeshift forward line.

Not having a target man meant that they had to play the ball more to feet and they surprised Braintree with some of their slick passing in the first period.

Early on, Jack Parkinson played the pass of the season so far, picking out Christie Pattisson who brought it down superbly before finding Jack Jebb. He looked to play the ball inside but it was deflected to safety.

Jebb was again involved soon after when shooting wide at the end of a swift Welling break.

Billy Crook created the Iron's first opportunity with a deep cross but the angle was too tight for Luke Allen to worry Dillon Barnes.

Another Jebb effort went over after Braintree struggled to clear then Parkinson attacked a Jebb corner but was just wide of the near post.

Once more Jebb was the creator with a free kick that Parkinson flicked just beyond Tom Phipps.

Roman Michael-Percil caused problems down the wing and his cross was punched out bravely by Barnes as their strikers closed in.

It was slightly against the run of play when Braintree went ahead with Michael-Percil again the architect. His through ball sent Phil Roberts away and the striker finished clinically with a powerful drive from just inside the area.

That signalled a difficult spell for Welling with Michael-Persil firing over, and Roberts shooting wide.

However, Welling weathered the storm and came back with Jeffrey Monakana scuffing wide at the end of a long run.

There was nothing wrong with his next effort, however, when he cut in from the right and curled a brilliant effort beyond Nathan McDonald for his first Welling goal.

Allen sent a free kick over for Braintree before missing a great opportunity at the end of a goalmouth scramble.

Karl Oliyide got in behind as the Iron finished the half on the front foot but Barnes made a great save and the teams went in level.

If the first half was fairly even, the second was a real backs against the wall forty five minutes for the Wings.

Roberts shot wide of the near post whilst off balance then Michael-Percil cut in and shot over.

Osa Obamwonyi missed a great chance when meeting a deep corner but heading wide then Allen broke straight through the middle but fired his shot into the arms of the grateful Bbarnes.

Barnes saved from Christian Frimpong before watching an Oliyide shot go wide at the end of a quick break.

Jon Muleba was the next player to be thwarted by Barnes then Allen fired straight into the ground and it looped up kindly for the Welling goalkeeper to claim.

When Barnes made another good save, Jamie Coyle remained calm before hacking the loose ball away.

Substitute Dernell Wynter was twice off target before there was all sorts of confusion when Parkinson kicked the ball off to allow Monakana to receive treatment. Braintree weren't sure about whether to return the ball to their visitors but they did so eventually.

A rare Welling attack ended when Christian Nanetti had a goal-bound shot deflected into the side netting then Harry Phipps had a header cleared off the line.

That almost cost Welling as Braintree broke out quickly again and Barnes had to make another excellent save, this time from Tyler Campbell.

Joe Healy then managed to earn himself two yellow cards in quick succession and was sent off.

There was still time for one more Braintree chance when Frimpong's shot came back off the post and hit an onrushing striker but flew wide.

Whilst Braintree may be wondering how they didn't win the game, Welling's rear guard action didn't deserve to go unrewarded and will feel that for sheer endeavour they deserved their point.

Welling United: Barnes, Dymond, Jefford, Phipps, Coyle, Parkinson, Pattisson (Durojaiye 56), Healy, Monakana, Jebb (Macklin 67), Nanetti. Subs not used: Gayle, Francis, Johnson.