Salisbury City 0 Welling United 0
Published: 18:43, 31 March 2012
Dean Cracknell blasted a late penalty wide as Welling United recorded their second straight goalless draw in Blue Square Bet South at Salisbury City on Saturday afternoon.
The scrappy stalemate took Jamie Day's side to within five points of mathematically securing a play-off place but it could have been so much better if the midfielder had converted the 82nd-minute spot-kick.
Loick Pires had the best chance of the opening 45 minutes as he headed over the bar after keeper Mark Scott parried a drive from Ben Greenhalgh, who was restored to the side with Luis Cumbers ruled out through injury.
Neither Scott or Wings keeper Craig Holloway were really tested in a poor second half, but eight minutes from time Harry Baker went down in the box allowing Cracknell the chance to convert from the spot. With regular taker Lee Clarke overlooked this time after a string of misses, Cracknell (pictured) stepped up but fired off target.
The hosts could have snatched all three points themselves when Rob Matthews headed goalwards from a corner, only for Holloway to produce a fine save to ensure his third successive clean sheet for the Wings.
Third-placed Welling have a 13-point lead over play-off chasing Dover and Basingstoke, though the latter do have a game in hand.
Bromley boosted their survival chances in Blue Square Bet South with a crucial 1-0 win over Weston-super-Mare at Hayes Lane.
Pierre-Joseph Dubois teed-up the only goal of the game for midfielder Ali Fuseini to convert just after the hour mark to ensure Bromley's first win in eight games.
The three points took the Lilywhites up to 17th, three points and three places above third-bottom Staines with six games remaining.
Havant & Waterlooville are a further point back in 21st, but have a game in hand over Bromley.
Have your say on Welling's record from the penalty spot or Bromley's chances of survival by using our comments section below.
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KentOnline reporter