Welling United shared the spoils from a 1-1 draw with St Albans City at Park View Road on Saturday.

After a scrappy back and forth, the Wings took a 77th minute lead thanks to Jayden Davis, only to be pegged back shortly after by a St Albans equaliser.

A fairly even first 45 was played out in muddy conditions, with the game only going ahead thanks to the hard work of volunteers to make the pitch playable on Saturday morning.

The home side had the first sight of goal when James Alabi headed just wide after 10 minutes, although he may have been denied by the linesman’s flag had the ball nestled in the net.

At the other end, the visitors did have the ball in the net through Gio Rasulo, but the flag was up quickly.

The two sides exchanges chances with Harrison Smith firing straight at the returning Rhys Lovett, while Dave Winfield came close for Welling when his goalbound header from a corner was kept out by a smart low save from Michael Johnson in the Saints’ net.

And just before the break, the away side also came close to an opener, with Aidan Dausch sending a shot just wide of the post from the edge of the box.

The second half proved to be scrappy affair with little in the way of big chances.

Zain Walker’s introduction from the bench saw him test Johnson with a low effort from distance, before he embarked on a brilliant run which started in his own half, before getting into the box and seeing his shot deflect into the side netting.

With 13 minutes remaining, the Wings broke the deadlock following a good spell of pressure.

An inch-perfect Daniel Martin cross from the left was met by the head of Davis, who guided the ball into the net off the left-hand upright.

Welling were hoping that would prove to be the goal to give them a massive three points, but St Albans had other ideas, bagging a leveller eight minutes later.

A Brandon Mason cross from the left was flicked towards goal by Alfie Bendle, taking a nick off a Welling body before ending up in the net.

The away side nearly went one better in injury time when Lovett was beaten to a loose ball in the box by a yellow shirt, who sent the ball goalwards, forcing a red shirt into heroics to hook the ball off the line.

Although it was a frustrating end to proceedings, there was a positive moment in injury time when Harvey Walker emerged from the bench to make his long-awaited return from injury, having recovered from the broken leg he sustained in pre-season.

The Wings will go again on Tuesday when they face another big game against Enfield Town.

Welling United: Lovett, Johnson (Redfearn 46), Quick, Winfield, Di Trollio, Grant, Kennedy, Davis, Ballard-McBride (Z Walker 56), Martin, Alabi (Cornish 78).

Subs (not used): (Burchell 90), (H Walker 90).

Booked: Grant 90+2 (foul)

Goal: Davis 77

St Albans City: Johnson, Longe-King, Smith (Jeffers 75), Banton, Bendle, Woodman, Dausch, Rasulo, Sweet (Castiglione 84), Mason, Davis (Moore 64).

Subs (not used): Payne, Wyatt.

Goal: Bendle 85

Referee: Phillip Eddie

Att: 895