Welling United slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Taunton Town at Park View Road on Tuesday evening.
A frustrating evening saw the Wings fall to Zac Smith’s goal eight minutes from time after the Peacock’s forward had missed his initial penalty and the hosts had no reply as they are kept waiting for their first home win since New Year’s Day.
The first half began with a good tempo with both sides eager to attack.
Dangerous free-kick deliveries at either end caused problems early on, before Myles Roberts got down well to keep out Cameron Evans’ shot from the edge of the box which was bound for the bottom left-hand corner.
Sadik Balarabe did brilliantly down the right to win possession and cut the ball back for Stefan Payne, who in turn teed up Ade Azeez in a good position, but the striker was snuffed out by a solid block.
The Wings received a blow 20 minutes in when Balarabe was forced off with a hamstring injury with Aaron Barnes entering the fray in his place, while the two sides continued to feel each other out in an end-to-end affair.
Both keepers were called into action to keep out near-post headers from corners – Grimes for the Peacocks and Kodi Lyons-Foster for the hosts respectively – but there was very little in the way of anything clear cut as the sides headed to the changing rooms at the break on level terms.
Things tightened up in the second period with chances remaining hard to come by in the early exchanges after the restart.
Roberts was made to deal with a stinging Smith drive from distance and made a fine save from the same with 20 minutes left, this time from a great position in the box.
Welling began to turn the screw themselves with Azeez flashing a dangerous ball across the six-yard box, but the killer touch proved elusive, while Christie Pattisson stung the hands of Taunton stopper Jack Bycroft shortly after.
George Alexander was introduced with 18 minutes remaining and nearly made an immediate impact when he chested down in the box and unleashed a decent volley to draw a good save from Bycroft.
But just as the Wings looked to be getting on top, the visitors were given the opportunity to go ahead from the spot when Mat Jarvis went down in the box.
Smith stepped up to do the honours but Roberts dived to his right to keep his spot-kick out. The celebrations were cut short, however, as Smith got to the rebound first to tuck away what would turn out to be the only goal of the game.
Welling United: Roberts, Howard, Lyons-Foster, Sendles-White, Ezennolim, Dunne, Kassarate, Pattisson (Andrews 79), Balarabe (Barnes 20 (Alexander 72)), Payne, Azeez.
Subs (not used): Barnsley, Parry.
Taunton Town: Bycroft, Foulston, Grimes, Ball, Chamberlain, James (Lucas 76), Jaris, Guest, Smith, Evans, Morgan (McCootie 58).
Subs (not used): Irish, Stearn, Sims-Burgess.
Booked: James 51 (foul on Kassarate), Bycroft 72 (foul on Azeez), Jarvis 77 (obstruction)
Goal: Smith 82
Referee: Michael Robertson-Tant
Att: 485
