Welling 3 v 3 Maidenhead

Nationwide Conference South

For more pictures, click on Non-League Pictures

WELLING threw away two much-needed points after lowly Maidenhead held them to a draw at Park View Avenue, writes Tim Ashton and James Underwood.

A last-gasp leveller from the visitors currently languishing second from bottom in the Nationwide Conference South robbed Wings of valuable ground in the chase for the play-offs.

In an exciting and topsy-turvy match Welling had the lead, lost it and then regained it before the last minute drama to finish the day seventh in the table.

Rob Owen made way for new mid-week signing Martin Carthy while Steve Perkins replaced the suspended Lee Gledhill.

Like the visit to Hayes last week it was the Wings who took an early lead when Carthy knocked Perkins' right-wing cross to the path of Che Stadhart who nodded the ball home.

Wings were unlucky not to double their lead on 15 minutes when Danny Kedwell pulled back a cross from the by-line for Matt Bodkin and his right foot volley inadvertently hit Carthy and went inches wide.

Further chances for Carthy and Kedwell were all squandered and Maidenhead took advantage just after 30 minutes by drawing level.

Former Wings striker Stephen Hughes broke down the right wing beating Chris Moore before crossing for Dean Bradshaw who volleyed home.

Kedwell forced Magpies keeper Scott Tarr into a good save just before the break but the Wings went into half-time certainly disappointed.

The hosts' frustration continued when Maidenhead took the lead three minutes after the restart when Mark Graham's free-kick was headed home by Chris Wild.

Despite the setback, Welling clawed their way back into the game with a disallowed Carthy goal spurring them on.

Welling's determination was awarded with a penalty on 72 minutes when Carthy, who signed from Thurrock on March 10, was pushed inside the box by a Magpies midfielder.

Kedwell confidently stepped up to draw the Wings level and scored his 23rd goal of the season.

Welling had another goal scrubbed out when the linesman's flag ruled Stadhart offside but, undeterred, they took a deserved lead with just 10 minutes left.

Good work from Kedwell allowed the Wings striker to cross for Stadhart who at the far post side footed the ball home.

There was to be a final twist when, three minutes into stoppage time, the Magpies drew level when a left wing corner was bundled over the line by Yashma Romeo.

While the result may prove to be a huge dent in the Wings' play-off push their future is in their hands because they face three of the top six clubs in the league.

It includes a challenging trip to fourth-placed Havant and Waterlooville this weekend.

MATCH FACTS WELLING: Turner; Perkins; Solomon; Guest; C Moore; Bodkin (Owen, 56); Carthy; Kedwell; Clarke (Pinnock, 56); Stadhart (Jiunju, 90); Day.

SUBS NOT USED: D Moore; Rowland.

ATT: 646.