Welling United slipped to another narrow 1-0 defeat as Eastbourne Borough claimed victory at Park View Road on Saturday.

A first-half penalty proved to be the difference on the day, while the Wings had two appeals turned down themselves, not for the first time in recent weeks.

And despite an encouraging second-half showing from the hosts, they could not find the leveller their efforts deserved.

The first action of the day saw visitors took an early lead via the penalty spot when Rhys Lovett was adjudged to have clipped former Wing George Alexander as he nodded the ball past him.

Alexander did the honours himself, stepping up to slam home from 12 yards.

With the heavy rain in DA16 making for difficult conditions, it proved to be a cagey first half although the Wings did show a couple of glimpses with Martell Taylor-Crossdale fizzing in a good, low cross which skidded across the six-yard box, only just evading the outstretched leg of Anointed Chukwu, while Mitchel Bergkamp saw a shot from the edge of the box saved and Gene Kennedy was denied by a good block in the box following some neat build-up play.

At the other end, Lovett had to be alert when Yahaya Bamba broke through one-on-one, reacting well to keep the Borough forward at bay.

The second half was just as cagey after Eastbourne came close 25 seconds after the restart, with Chiori Johnson clearing one off the line to deny Michael Klass.

Welling were seeing much more of the ball without creating much in front of goal, while the hosts had a penalty appeal turned down on 74 minutes when Alex Lankshear appeared to be pulled back in the box.

As the clock ticked over into the last 10 minutes, the Wings started to turn the screw. Charlie Pegrum saw a shot deflect agonisingly wide, before Dave Winfield’s powerful header was nodded off the line from the resulting corner.

And moments later, another Winfield header was bound for the top right-hand corner, only to clawed out by Wright.

Into injury time and the home side had yet another penalty appeal controversially waved away when Winfield was hauled down in the box, leading to yet more frustration.

In truth, Welling had done more than enough to deserve at least a point for their efforts, but it was another game were they just not have the rub of the green.

Rod Stringer’s men will go again when they travel to St Albans City next weekend.

Welling United: Lovett, Johnson (Donkor 61), Burchell, Winfield, Lankshear, Martin, Grant, Kennedy, Bergkamp (Pegrum 65), Taylor-Crossdale, Chukwu (Long 80).

Subs (not used): Statham, Cornish.

Booked: Johnson 58 (dissent)

Eastbourne Borough: Wright, Barry, Diarra, Alexander (Quick 90+6), Klass (Pavey 87), Sesay, Bamba (Ligendza 80), Odusanya, Williams (Johnson 78), Clarke, Bird.

Subs (not used): Pitblado.

Booked: Williams 62 (foul on Grant), Clarke 90 (foul on Donkor)

Goal: Alexander (pen) 5

Referee: Jack Bloxham

Att: 726