Their manager, Ryan Maxwell, had Ryan Blackman back from suspension but he chose to stick with the team that won at St. Albans City three days earlier. That meant that Blackman, club captain Nathan Cooper, and Colchester United loanee Joshua Adesanya were all included on the substitute’s bench.

Although the Wings had the pronounced slope in their favour, and the weather conditions behind them, they struggled to create much in a gritty opening to the match. They had a half chance when Zak O’Keefe’s acrobatic overhead effort flew over from Demaray Anyadike’s cross, then Sam Smith had a couple of shots wide, the second missing due to a deflection, before Kaan Bennett’s effort was blocked.

As half time loomed, Welling made a chance count when they went ahead. Fumnaya Shomotun crossed low and Bennett finished at close quarters for his third goal in two matches.

Early in the second half, Bennett and Anyadike had half chances before Whitehawk started to utilise the slope and wind to their advantage. Welling goalkeeper Mackenzie Foley saved a near post free kick from Victor Aiye before tipping over a fierce drive by Kamarni Ryan. He then got himself into a bit of a pickle when his clearance struck Rhys Murphy but he won the race to the rebound and hacked it into touch.

Maxwell then made a triple change to change the team’s shape when bringing on Adesanya, Cooper and Jamie Reynolds. However, they couldn’t stem the flow and the hosts levelled midway through the second period. Imran Kayani eased along the edge of the penalty area before clipping it over Foley and into the net.

Five minutes later, the Hawks went ahead. Murphy’s initial effort was blocked and when it was played back in to him, he crashed it into the back of the net.

Whilst some teams might have folded, Welling showed their promotion candidate credentials by piling on the pressure with substitute Blackman involved in most of the big moments. Harris crossed and Blackman’s near post header looked destined for the net until Hugo Fisher got across to make an outstanding save.

Moments later, an inswinging corner caused chaos in the penalty area and Harris showed his predatory instincts with a close range finish.

Blackman then came close to winning it when his shot beat Fisher, but not centre back Nikolai Keokhin who got back to clear off the line.

Deep into stoppage time, Blackman fired over and the two teams had to settle for a point apiece.

Welling United: Foley; Otseh-Taiwo, O’Keefe, Majoyegbe, Arthur (Anthony 77); Miller-Rodney, Smith (Blackman 71); Anyadike (Cooper 63), Bennett (Reynolds 63), Shomotun (Adesanya 63); Harris. Subs not used: None.