Welling 2 Thurrock 2

WELLING were made to pay for a series of missed chances as they remain deep in relegation trouble in Blue Square South.

The Wings were pegged back by an 81st-minute equaliser on Saturday to remain 18th in the table.

They were up against a Thurrock side that conceded eight goals at Bromley on Boxing Day - and the Wings should have come close to equalling that tally.

As it was Welling had to come from behind after former Wings striker Che Stadhart headed in a 15th-minute opener for the visitors.

Welling equalised four minutes later to end a run of 572 minutes without a league goal. Thurrock made a mess of defending Ellis Green's cross and Ellis Remy turned the ball in from close range.

The Wings went 2-1 ahead on 26 minutes when skipper Richard Carpenter's quickly-taken free-kick found Orlando Smith at the far post and he produced an excellent left-foot finish.

Player-manager Neil Smith headed against the bar five minutes before the break and Remy headed wide when left unmarked six yards out three minutes later.

Remy went clean through after 57 minutes after smart work by Orlando Smith but his low shot was saved by keeper David Blackmore.

Defender John Wilfort's close-range effort crashed against the crossbar on the hour mark and the Wings were then awarded a spot-kick after Remy's shot was handled. Green stepped up to take the penalty but Blackmore managed to pull off a fine save.

Thurrock substitute Michael Malcolm hit the post midway through the second half but he made no mistake of some sloppy Welling defending nine minutes from time, finding the back of the net courtesy of a deflection off Chris Moore.

Both sides still had chances to win the game but Remy, having done the hard work, sliced his shot wide and Malcolm's close-range header was kept out by Jamie Turner.