Welling's seven-game unbeaten run came to an end against Chelmsford in Blue Square South on Tuesday night.

The Wings showed plenty of spirit but lacked a decisive touch in front of goal.

The game was settled in the 22nd minute when Rob Edmans beat the offside trap to flick on for Ricky Holmes, whose stunning volley from the edge of the area went in off the post.

It could have been a different scenario had referee Paul Harris spotted Holmes' 15th-minute stamp on Graeme Andrews as the Wings found themselves up against robust opponents.

Despite the physical nature to the contest, Welling persisted with their desire to get the ball down and play, and were rewarded with a number of good moves.

Michael Deane and Andy Pugh had already gone close before Chelmsford broke the deadlock while Pugh twice more failed to convert from long range and Loui Fazackerley volleyed over.

Deane had the two clearest chances, however, but he fluffed his lines from Jake Hobbs' cross and then shot narrowly wide from the edge of the area.

At the other end, Mitten kept his side in the game with a brilliant save on the half-hour to deny the dangerous Holmes.

Mitten was at it again within 18 seconds of the second half, producing a stunning stop to keep out Oliver Berquez' close-range shot.

Visiting keeper Ashley Harrison fumbled Pugh's right-foot curler and the on-loan Gillingham striker had a night of frustration as his downward header was straight at the keeper late on.

Mitten again thwarted Holmes as the clock ticked down before the game boiled over in the final minutes.

Chelmsford's former Welling left-back Michael Haswell twice refused to accept the ball from the home dugout to take a throw-in, and their frustrations saw Wings assistant Barry Ashby (pictured) sent to the stands for his reaction while Haswell was not punished. Chelmsford's Mark Haines was cautioned, however, after throwing the ball at the Welling dugout as tempers threatened to boil over.