There was no love lost on Valentine’s Day when Welling United drew at home to St. Albans City in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

Four new Welling players were included in Ryan Maxwell’s sixteen but all took a place on the substitute’s bench. Junior Savane, Samuel Oguntayo and Jack Thomas were absentees through injury.

In the eighth minute, the visitors were given a great opportunity to go ahead. Lekan Majoyegbe brought down Ryley Scott in the penalty area. After referee Daniel Trout had cautioned the Wings’ defender for a tackle that was rash but not malicious, and goalkeeper Mackenzie Foley had received treatment, Zane Banton struck the penalty cleanly but the Welling custodian anticipated correctly and dived to push it around the post.

Shortly afterwards Lewis Page crossed from the left and Leo Sery’s diving header flew wide of Foley’s near post before former Wing, Alex Dyer, hit a free kick over the bar. Scott was unable to keep his looping header down from Jake James’cross before Foley pushed Sery’s shot over after Kieran Petrie had created the opportunity for him.

Five minutes before half time, Sam Smith had to be replaced and Stefan Vukoje was introduced for his Welling debut.

Ayman El-Mogharbel then split the St Albans defence with a perfect pass to put Troy Howard through but his shot lacked power and Sam Donkin mopped up comfortably. Then, just before half time, Page made a brilliant last ditch tackle to deny Howard just as he was pulling the trigger.

Shortly after the restart Foley was out smartly to block away Sery’s close range effort. It came back in and Banton hooked over.

Zak O’Keefe then did superbly to create an opening for Ade Azeez and the Welling striker’s shot was deflected wide before Banton had another chance when it fell kindly for him but he struck it straight at Foley.

Jasper Mather then got on the end of a cross by Page and he got a clean header on it but Foley got down to save well. Sery then twice came close, first when snatching at a shot and lofting it over, then when hitting a sweet strike that brought a brilliant save out of Foley.

As the game became more stretched, there were chances at both ends. Majoyegbe drew a brilliant save out of Donkin before Petrie’s cross struck Mather and flew over the empty net.

Majoyegbe had one last effort with a header from a Lewis Gard corner but Donkin made a comfortable save.

Two points dropped meant that Welling now find themselves at the foot of the table, however, the point won means that they are now within six points of safety having played two games fewer.

Welling United: Foley; O’Keefe, Majoyegbe, Gunner, Arthur; Smith (Vukoje 40); Howard (Crichlow 72), El-Mogharbel (Gard 61), Reynolds; Ufuah (Sach 89), Azeez (Rawlins 83). Subs not used: None.

Goalscorers: None
Yellow cards: Majoyegbe (8 foul), El-Mogharbel (45+5 foul), Reynolds (48 foul)

St Albans City: Donkin; James (Gauthier 78), Hart Grante, Page; Sanghrajka (Mather 52), Dyer; Petrie, Scott (Smart 78), Banton; Sery, Subs not used: Fyfield, Kone.

Goalscorers: None
Yellow card: Sery (87 dissent)

Referee: Daniel Trout
Assistants: Jamaal Horne and Promise Phillips

Attendance: 525