Myles Roberts saved a penalty to ensure that Welling United claimed a well deserved point at Farnborough.

Their depleted squad put in a superb second half performance after being second best in the first period against a club with realistic play-off ambitions. The Wings were without Medy Elito and Christie Pattisson who sustained injuries three days earlier, and George Alexander who was sick. However, Rob Howard was fit to start despite having had to go off at Hungerford and Amadou Kassarate was back following the completion of his suspension.

Taylor Maloney and Anthony Papadopoulos were also given starts, but it was their defenders who were made to work the hardest in the first half. Selim Saied got in early on but was crowded out before getting a shot away then Harry Parsons had a near post header saved comfortably by Roberts.

Jonathon Page sent Parsons away but he fired over before Roberts made a superb one handed reaction save from a Ricky Holmes free kick that took a wicked bounce to rear up suddenly. He made another good save to thwart Saied after he dispossessed a Welling defender. However, Roberts was powerless when Kevin Lokko showed great technique to chest down a cross-field free kick, turn, and volley only to see it clatter the bar and come out.

After the interval, Welling were dealt a further injury blow when Ade Azeez had to be withdrawn. This prompted Wings manager Warren Feeney to change his formation allowing the midfield more opportunity to play it along the ground.

Howard, looking for his first Welling goal, had a shot deflected wide then Stefan Payne was unable to keep down his flick past Yellows goalkeeper Jack Turner, having been played in by Papadopoulos. Payne again got in behind after Kassarate’s pass split the defence but he couldn’t beat Turner who made an excellent save.

Parsons had an opportunity when he saw Roberts off his line but the retreating goalkeeper made a simple save when the Swindon loanee failed to get loft on his lob. Soon after Barnes hit a low shot from distance that caught Turner flat-footed and relieved to see it go just outside the post.

Barnes headed over from a Chi Ezennolim cross before Farnborough were awarded a contentious penalty when Barnes’s foul on Saied appeared to be just outside the area. After the protests had caused the referee to check with his assistant and brandish his yellow card for two Welling and one Farnborough player, Jordan Norville-Williams prepared to take the kick. He struck his shot to the right of Roberts, but the keeper went the right way and pulled off a fine diving save.

Further injury woes blighted the Wings in the final minute when Papadopoulos had to go off to be replaced by Manny Parry and Feeney may have to shuffle his pack again when Welling entertain Concord Rangers on Saturday.

Welling United: Roberts, Howard, Ezennolim, Dunne, Sendles-White, Lyons-Foster, Kassarate, Payne, Azeez (Barnes 49), Papadopoulos (Parry 90), Maloney. Sub not used: McKenzie-Lyle, Andrews, Cox.