There was a lot at stake when Welling United visited Billericay Town, it was sure to be a tense affair.

Only one team will be relegated from the National League South this season so the meeting between the two sides occupying the final two places in the table was a nip and tuck match. Twice, the hosts led, but twice Welling levelled and the spoils were shared.

It was the hosts who started the stronger and they put Welling under pressure with long throws and corners. However, Welling repelled all that was thrown at them until Olu Durojaiye lost possession on the edge of his own area. Kristian Campbell tried to rescue the situation by diving in on a tackle but fouled his man. Toby Stevenson delivered, and it fell for Femi Akinwande to bundle home.

Jack Sims made a contender for save of the season when Maxwell Statham diverted a Greg Halford delivery towards his own goal, but the Welling goalkeeper showed remarkable reactions and agility to tip it over the bar.

Zaki Ouaiah was then out sharply as Ade Shokunbi burst through before Durojaiye atoned for his earlier error by equalising. A half-cleared corner fell to the Welling captain, and he struck it sweetly through a sea of legs and into the bottom corner.

Another lost ball in midfield, this time by Dipo Akinyemi, led to Billericay’s second goal. Although Statham made a great block, Akinwande was fouled wide in the penalty area and Halford sent Sims the wrong way from the spot.

D’sean Theobalds fired just wide for the Wings in the closing minutes of the first half, but it was Billericay who went in at half time with the lead.

Henry Ochieng blasted over early in the second period before Welling were forced to make two substitutions. One of the replacements, Bradley Pearce, made a great block from Kreshnic Krasniqi before Brad Stevenson fired over from a free kick.

There was just under fifteen minutes remaining when Welling levelled. Stevenson’s perfectly weighted through ball sent Ben Allen clear of the attempted Billericay offside trap and he drew Oualah out before squaring for Akinyemi to slot home.

Anthony Jeffrey shot wide of the far post for Billericay before Akinyemi curled just over at the other end.

Deep into injury time, Campbell almost won it for the Wings with a drive towards the top corner, but Oualah reacted with an outstanding save.

Although not the three points that Welling wanted, a draw was a fair result and of greater value to the Wings than the hosts.

Welling United: Sims, Statham, Campbell, Durojaiye, Johnson (Pearce 65), Penney, Barnes (Stevenson 62), Shokunbi (Allen 68), Akinyemi, Derry, Theobalds. Subs not used: Saunders-Henry, Jackson.