There was dismay for Welling United when they crashed late on at Burgess Hill Town in their Isthmian League Premier Division encounter.

They looked good to take home all three points when they were ahead after ninety minutes but two goals in stoppage time meant that they went home empty handed.

Early opportunities went the way of the visitors. Sam Smith delivered a deep free kick that was met by Lekan Majoyegbe at the far post and his low volley flew into the side netting. Ade Azeez then crossed and John Ufuah nodded it down to Lewis Gard who fired over.

At the other end, Chris Whelpdale fired well over from distance before Welling’s Zak O’Keefe brought it down skilfully then sent Troy Howard away and his shot from out wide was well saved by Michael Dike.

After that, the hosts had the better of the remainder of the first half. Glen Rea fizzed a shot over although Welling goalkeeper Mackenzie Foley appeared to have it covered. George Vorster then had a shot deflected wide. Rea missed the target with a header from a Vorster cross before Ben Pope sent Whelpdale clear and Foley did superbly to keep his shot out with his left boot.

Foley made another great save at the end of the first half to keep out Kieran Rowe’s close range shot.

Shortly after the break, Foley was again called into the action when tipping over spectacularly before Welling got more of a grip on the game and kept the hosts at arms length.

Just over twenty minutes remained when the Wings went ahead. Ufuah was brought down on the edge of the penalty area and a free kick was awarded. Smith lined it up and arrowed it into the bottom corner with the aid of a slight deflection.

Looking for a quick response, Whelpdale clipped in a free kick that flicked the head of
Pope before drifting beyond the far post then Foley made another great save from a clever touch by Whelpdale as the hosts pinned Welling back.

Rea’s free kick clattered the crossbar before a minimum of ten yards of time added on was indicated. In the first of those minutes, the hosts levelled. Pope found space on the edge of the penalty area and drilled his shot just inside the far post.

Vorster shot wide before Burgess Hill grabbed the winner eight minutes after equalising. Whelpdale was allowed to cut in from the left wing, made space to shoot, and fired home from twenty yards.

That knocked the stuffing out of the Wings and they were unable to create another chance before the final whistle.

Results elsewhere meant that Welling remained third from bottom, four points adrift of safety.

Burgess Hill Town: Dike; Price, Spinks, Malins (Beckford 80) , Morrison; Rea; Vorster, Rowe, Bennett (Lawson 90+10); Pope (Stone 90+10), Whelpdale. Subs not used: King, Parkinson.

Goalscorers: Pope (90+1), Whelpdale (90+9)
Yellow cards: None

Welling United: Foley; O’Keefe, Majoyegbe, Gunner, Arthur; Oluwatimilehin (Thomas 46), Smith; Howard (Vukoje 84), Gard (El-Mogharbel 54), Ufuah (Reynolds 90+2); Azeez. Sub not used: Paternoster.

Goalscorer: Smith (69)
Yellow cards: Oluwatimilehin (16 foul)

Referee: Richard Baker
Assistants: Andrew Denikiewicz and George Lowe

Attendance: 1,017