Eastbourne Borough 1 Welling 0

ONLY the woodwork denied Welling an unlikely point at Blue Square South pacesetters Eastbourne on Tuesday night.

The Wings could have been blown away in the opening five minutes, during which they conceded the only goal of the game and twice had keeper Clark Masters to thank for coming to their rescue.

But they nearly snatched a dramatic point in the second half when Daniel Maxwell's volley came back off the crossbar.

The Wings fell behind as early as the third minute when a left-wing corner was turned in at the near post by Andy Atkin.

Masters then denied striker Scott Ramsay twice in quick succession as the Wings struggled to cope with theirs hosts.

Welling regained their composure, however, and threatened through Fabian Quintyn and Omari Coleman on the counter attack.

Eastbourne missed a glorious chance to put the game beyond doubt less than a minute into the second half when Tony Sinclair felled Ramsay but the forward saw his spot-kick saved by the legs of Masters.

The Wings seemed to grow in confidence and took the game to Eastbourne. Manager Neil Smith and Richard Carpenter produced inspired displays in midfield and Lloyd Blackman, introduced as a half-time substitute for the injured Coleman, linked up well with the willing Quintyn.

Maxwell saw his volley hit the bar on 52 minutes and then Eastbourne keeper Lee Hook was at full stretch to tip over his 64th-minute drive.

Quintyn created the clearest chance of the night after 69 minutes but, after a brilliant flick over the last defender he could only watch as his right-foot lob landed on the roof of the net with Hook beaten.

Carpenter saw his 20-yard drive well held by the keeper and while Eastbourne threatened on the counter attack at the other end, it was Welling who looked more likely to equalise in the closing stages.