Welling United fell to a narrow defeat at the hands of Burgess Hill Town at Park View Road on Saturday afternoon.

There was not much to separate the sides during the first half with Freddie Norman, who was returning between the sticks for the hosts, got down well early on to keep out a Burgess Hill effort from distance, while Aaron Williams-Bushell’s deflected shot from 22 yards was heading for the top corner at the other end, before Roco Rees got over well to claw it away.

Welling had a good opportunity to open the scoring just before the break when Femi Akinwande broke free in the box to find himself one-on-one, only to be denied by a vital Rees save.

Moments later, the away side would take the lead to ensure it would be them heading for half-time with the advantage. A low ball from the right, aimed towards the near post, was met by Martyn Box who cleverly poked inside the post for 1-0.

The Wings could have drawn themselves level before the half-time whistle when the ball dropped kindly to Jack Thomas in the box, but an outstanding block from a yellow shirt kept him out from close range.

Welling would, however, get their equaliser early in the second half thanks to an own goal – a cross the right was aimed towards the the six-yard box and Hamish Morrison, under pressure from John Ufuah, turned the ball into his own net.

The home side had their tails up and came close to a second on 67 minutes – Ufuah beat Rees to the ball just inside the box to get past him and get back to his feet with the goal at his mercy, only for a desperate Burgess Hill defender to lunge in and make a huge challenge to deny the forward from finishing into the empty net.

Moments later, Ufuah came close again after Scott Simmons raced forwards and slipped in the Wings’ number 10, who poked past the keeper, but could only watch as it rolled inches past the post.

Welling were getting on top and having much the better of the second half, but it would be the visitors who would claim the match-winning moment, against the run of play, 11 minutes from time.

A corner was cleared as far as Glenn Rea, who sent a volley towards goal which was turned over the line by Box for his second of the afternoon.

There was plenty of huff and puff from the Wings as they looked to salvage a point, but it was not to be as they defeat sees them slip to 21st in the league table.

Welling will go again when they host Cray Wanderers in DA16 next Saturday.

Welling United: Norman, Williams-Bushell (Walker 81), Simmons (Redfearn 87), O’Neill, Majoyegbe, Adjetey-Brew, Thomas, Ebuzoeme (Young 18), Paxman, Ufuah, Akinwande.

Subs (not used): Clout, Boxall.

Booked: Thomas 40 (foul), Paxman 78 (foul)

Goal: Morrison (og) 49

Burgess Hill Town: Rees, Ward, Morrison, Rea, Meeres, Williams, Vukoje, Rowe, Pope, Whelpdale, Box.

Subs: Worall, Spinks, Gambin, O’Neil, Vorster.

Booked: Box 39, Whelpdale 90+7 (delaying restart)

Goals: Box 43, 79

Referee: Marcin Indyk

Att: 483

(Photos: Chris Zimmerman and Peter Jozwiak)