ERRATIC refereeing will provide the abiding memory from Saturday’s scrappy game between the two play-offs chasing United’s, Welling and Maidenhead, played on a very cold afternoon.

Both clubs will have been hoping for victory having started the day in fifth and sixth places in the league.

Lee Protheroe was welcomed back by the hosts having missed the previous three matches through injury.

However, this was more than offset by the fact they were without injured Rob Quinn and Gavin Dayes and suspended Tony Sinclair.

Maidenhead gave Welling an early scare when Dale Binns broke down the left hand side and shot wide of the far post.

A poor challenge by Jamal Fyfield on Loui Fazackerley was punished with a free-kick and talking to when it appeared to warrant more from referee Richard Kendall.

This served to set the tone of the day and gave the visitors the green light for some aggressive tactics.

When football was played, the Wings played most of it.

Sonny Cobbs slid in a perfectly weighted through ball for Sanchez Ming, although his turn and shot did not trouble Shane Gore in Maidenhead’s goal too much.

Jack Parkinson crossed from the right, as Welling continued to attack, but Charlie Sheringham was unable to find the target with his header when under pressure from Jermaine Hinds.

Cobbs then broke again down the left and Gore did well to push his powerful shot away as Fazackerley closed in.

It can have come as little surprise when Welling went ahead.

Lee Blackburn’s deep corner found Parkinson and his towering header deserved a goal.

Although Gore did very well to keep it out, he could only push it into the path of Sheringham who gleefully forced the ball into the net.

Good work by Blackburn and Sheringham played Ming in but his shot went just wide of the far post.

Just before half-time, and totally against the run of play, Maidenhead profited from some shocking defending after Cobbs had done well to block a shot from Ben Surey.

Ashley Smith collected the loose ball and his low cross did not appear too threatening, but Richard Pacquette was completely unmarked to fire the equaliser into the back of the net.

Welling made their first change in the 50th minute, bringing on Richard Stevens for the disappointing Orlando Smith.

Another foray by Cobbs brought about the first of a number of second half penalty appeals when the ball struck the arm of Hinds, but only a corner was awarded. Curiously, this prompted Maidenhead’s Nevin Saroya to unleash a furious volley of abuse at one of the referee’s assistants.

A terrible challenge by Smith on Cobbs was deemed worthy of a talking to by the referee, but he didn’t even bother with that when Hinds went right through Fazackerley.

On 63 minutes, Protheroe was replaced by Ryan Johnson before Welling had another shout for a penalty when Stevens was bundled over close to the spot.

Following another half cleared corner, Ming ran 15 yards to be first to the ball and did very well to keep his rasping drive low, but it was deflected away for another corner.

Incredibly, Matthew McEntegart was shown the yellow card for a foul when several far worse tackles by Maidenhead had been shown great leniency.

Blackburn became the second Welling player to be cautioned when Fyfield flattened him in the penalty area but the referee waved play on.

When the ball went out of play Mr Kendall brandished the card, presumably for diving or dissent.

Sheringham had a shot on the turn which was well held by Gore before Ashley Nicholls shot wide in a rare Maidenhead attack.

When Blackburn was clattered by Binns, the lack of action by the referee proved too much for the Welling bench and shortly after when Cobbs was harshly penalised, Wings manager Andy Ford was sent to the stand for something he said to an assistant referee.

Mr Kendall even managed to make a drama of this by being unable to differentiate between Ford and reserve goalkeeper Charlie Mitten.

Johnson’s error almost let Pacquette in but David Wilkinson made an easy save and a Blackburn shot which went wide after good play by Sheringham saw the match end with honours even.

Welling: Wilkinson, Protheroe (Johnson), Cobbs, Parkinson, Andrews, McEntegart, Ming, Blackburn, Fazackerley, Sheringham, O. Smith (Stevens). Subs not used: D. Smith, Mitten, Morgan.