HAVING drawn two games on the road Welling United thought they had done enough to earn the three points until Dorchester Town secured a last gasp leveller at Park View Road on Saturday.

Welling controlled the majority of the game but did not score the goal needed to make it safe and they suffered when they conceded a needless late penalty.

Lee Clarke and Tommy Whitnell both failed to hit the target in the opening minutes before Warren Byerley headed Dorchester’s first chance wide.

Charlie Mitten’s poor goal kick looked to have given Byerley another opening but Jack Parkinson got back quickly to make a fine tackle.

James Coutts shot wide for Dorchester after exchanging passes with Jamie Gleeson before Andy Pugh missed a golden opportunity.

Goalkeeper Regan Coward failed to claim a loose ball and Pugh nipped in to claim it. After side-stepping Nathan Walker he struck the visitors’ post with Coward struggling to get back.

Moments later Pugh was brought down in the penalty area by Gary Bowles and Clarke stepped up to convert the 17th minute spot kick.

Jack Obersteller was caught by a late challenge and after treatment was deemed unable to continue, being replaced by Michael Deane.

Dorchester came very close to an equaliser when Walker headed Steve Devlin’s corner against the crossbar.

Deane then dispossessed Jules Emati-Emati and saw his effort saved by Coward.

Pugh cut in from the wing before shooting an effort well held by Coward and he then played in Whitnell but he too was thwarted by the visitors’ custodian.

Gleeson was shown a yellow card on the stroke of half time following a string of fouls.

Graeme Andrews having taken a knock just before half time became the second Welling player to be replaced with Andy Sambrook taking to the field for the start of the second half.

Two further Pugh efforts missed the target before he chested down Whitnell’s cross to spin and shoot against the post for the second time.

Loui Fazakerley shot wide before Bowles was shown a yellow card for attempting to pull back the hard working Sam Hurrell by the shirt. Devlin shot wide for the visitors before Matt Jermyn saved the Magpies with a superb tackle on Hurrell after he had combined well with Deane.

Carl Jenkinson was the next player to be shown the yellow card and from the free kick Walker headed wide.

Jermyn was cautioned for an ugly challenge on Hurrell as the Magpies found foul play to be the only way to halt him.

Parkinson headed wide from a corner before Dorchester were handed a lifeline from the penalty spot.

Substitute Neil Martin did not appear to pose much danger but Jenkinson’s clumsy challenge gave Mr Neil the opportunity to point to the spot. Substitute Matt Groves despatched the penalty emphatically.

There was still time for Clarke to shoot high and wide after being teed up by Whitnell and Pugh, and for Deane to be shown a yellow card for an ugly challenge.

Welling United: Mitten, Jenkinson, Obersteller (Deane 23), Day, Andrews (Sambrook 46), Parkinson, Fazakerley, Clarke, Whitnell, Pugh, Hurrell. Subs not used: Finn, Cutler, Bakare.