by Matthew Panting

Welling were left with mixed emotions following a goalless draw against Braintree in Blue Square South on Saturday.

The Wings were indebted to keeper Charlie Mitten for a string of spectacular saves that kept them in the game.

But they were left fuming when referee David Rook failed to award a penalty for handball in the last minute.

He told Welling officials after the game that he saw the incident but felt it was ball to hand, despite the defender having his arm above his head.
In truth, though, Welling were lucky to escape with a point, although Mitten was on top form.

After Braintree dominated the first 15 minutes, it was Welling that went close to scoring midway through the first half when loan signing, Yado
Mambo from Charlton, saw his header cleared off the line.

Mitten then turned aside Brad Quinton's effort before somehow clawing away Jacob Mingle's header.

Not to be outdone, opposite number Nicky Morgan produced a brilliant one-handed save to tip over Lee Clarke's overhead kick at the other end.

Mitten continued his one-man show after the break, denying Joe Bruce at the far post and then turning over Harlee Dean's shot.

Substitute Jon Keeling was next to be denied as Welling - two penalty appeals aside - threatened rarely at the other end.

Chelmsford 1 Bromley 1

Bromley recovered from conceding inside the opening minute to take all three points from their Blue Square South clash at Chelmsford on Saturday.

In difficult conditions, Rob Gillman could only succeed in heading Ricky Holmes's cross straight to Rob Edmans after only 30 seconds and he finished superbly beyond Gareth Williams in the Lillywhites's goal.

Bromley were level in the 16th minute when a lucky ricochet fell kindly for striker Gareth Williams and he made no mistake to score past Craig Holloway.

The winner arrived on the stroke of half-time as Ryan Hall sent Holloway the wrong way from the penalty spot after Ryan Dolby had been shoved in the back by Matthew Lock.

Warren McBean came within a whisker of making it 3-1 in the second half but his precise chip came back off the underside of the bar and Hall blazed the rebound over from close range.

Cray Wanderers 1 Hastings United 2

Cray were made to rue a missed penalty as they went down 2-1 at home to Hastings United in the Ryman League Premier Division.

Two goals from Ade Olorunda had the visitors 2-0 up at half-time and seemingly cruising towards victory.

But substitute Lee Bremner glanced in a header on the hour to give the hosts hope of a comeback.

And that hope looked to have turned into reality 10 minutes from time when Bremner was hauled down in the box by Reece Wyhbourne. The defender saw red for the challenge - but Michael Power's spot-kick cannoned off the keeper and came back off the bar.