Welling United slipped to defeat at the death to Hemel Hempstead Town at Park View Road on Tuesday evening.

After falling behind 13 minutes from time, the Wings pulled themselves level shortly after thanks to Sahid Kamara as it looked like they were heading for a first point under caretaker boss Brian Statham.

But a 95th-minute penalty awarded to the visitors – their second of the evening after a first-half spot-kick was saved – stole the points for the side from Hertfordshire.

The hosts looked bright in the first half and looked dangerous going forwards, despite not finding the net in the opening 45 minutes.

Josh Redfearn headed wide, before lifting an effort over the bar early on, while the dangerous-looking Sahid Kamara tested keeper Craig King with an effort at his near post.

Kamara saw another shot deflect just over after he twisted and turned in the box, while Zain Walker’s effort from distance was well saved.

Despite Welling’s promising start, the Tudors came close themselves on 25 minutes when Millar Matthews-Lewis’ effort fizzed just past the post. And after the referee bizarrely awarded a corner when there was no apparent deflection, the hosts were made to force the ball off the line when the delivery was directed towards goal.

Just before the half-hour mark, Hemel were given the opportunity to open the scoring when they were awarded a penalty following a foul in the box.

Oliver Lynch stepped up and he would be denied not once, but twice – first from Rhys Lovett’s excellent save, diving to his left to keep out the forward’s spot-kick, before Chiori Johnson rushed in to clear his rebound off the line.

Moments later, the Wings came close at the other end when Sam Cornish laid off for Walker in the box, but his poked shot was well saved by King.

In truth, the home side had plenty of chances to go into the break with an advantage and very nearly did late in the half when King dropped a catch, leaving Kamara to pull the ball back across the box for Gene Kennedy, whose goalbound shot was cleared off the line by a green shirt.

After a rather action-packed first half, the game slowed down somewhat in the second with little in the way of chances for either side.

Indeed, it wasn’t until the away side finally opened the scoring on 77 minutes that the first opening of the half presented itself – Brandon Barzey’s cross from the left found its way to Oliver Lynch at the back post, who tapped home from close range.

Five minutes later, however, Welling fought back to equalise and they did so in style.

Kamara shaped up on the edge of the box and found the bottom left-hand corner with an excellent strike to secure his first goal for the club and what looked like a point.

But there would be one more twist in the tale when Hemel were awarded their second penalty of the evening deep in injury time.

A speculative shot into the box was adjudged to have struck a Welling arm and a different penalty taker was put forward in Joe White, who went one better than his colleague Lynch by stroking his spot-kick into the net, condemning the hosts to defeat.

The Wings will go again as they host league leaders Worthing at Park View Road on Saturday.

Welling United: Lovett, Statham, Burchell, Di Trolio, Quick, Johnson, Cornish (Taylor-Crossdale 79), Kennedy, Z Walker (Kashket 67), Kamara, Redfearn (Moore 59.

Subs (not used): Grant, Bramble.

Booked: Kennedy 66 (foul)

Goal: Kamara 82

Hemel Hempstead Town: King, Adenola, Ogungbo, Ajayi, Tompkins, Matthews-Lewis (Smith 90+6), Williams, Achuba (Wiltshire 79), Lynch (McKeown 90+8), White, Barzey (Omoko-Brosnan 90+2).

Subs (not used): Chinedu.

Booked: Achuba 41 (foul), Lynch 76 (delaying restart)

Goals: Lynch 77, White (pen) 90+5

Referee: Nicholas Dunn

Att: 520