Ten-man Welling United are just six points clear of danger after allowed Chester to come from behind and claim a 3-1 win at Park View Road on Saturday.

John Rooney, brother of Manchester United and England star Wayne, was the hero for the Deva Stadium side as he scored twice as the resurgent visitors moved within four points of the play-off places in the congested middle of the Vanarama Conference rankings.

The Wings weathered an early storm with Jon Henly saving from Rooney, who saw another effort blocked, while Oliver McBurnie headed over.

Debutant Karl Duguid had already flashed a shot inches wide from distance on the break when the Wings put themselves ahead with a swift counter-attack leading to Reece Harris being played through to find the bottom corner just 15 minutes in.

However McBurnie headed the equaliser eight minutes before the break from a Ryan Higgins cross and it was McBurnie who was fouled late by Jake Gallagher moments later, earning the United midfielder a straight red card.

The action before the interval was not over however as Rooney stepped up to slam home a penalty in the third minute of first-half stoppage time after Duguid was adjudged to have handled a cross from Craig Mahon.

Two minutes after the turnaround the points were all but safe as Rooney netted his second, firing in a free-kick which beat Henly in the bottom corner, and Mahon went close to a fourth when he hit the post just after the hour.

Gareth Roberts was another Chester man to rattle an upright 15 minutes from time, though Chris Bush did see a header cleared off the line at the other end before the close.