Although they had plenty of opportunities, Welling United were held for a draw by Chippenham Town in their Vanarama National League South match at the J. Hearnden Skip Hire Community Stadium.

Danny Bloor kept teenager Javarn Pitterson in goal as a precaution to a strain that Ben Winterbottom is feeling. However, he did make two changes from the team that started against Maidstone United. Enoch Muwonge came in for his full debut and Jephte Tanga was restored. TJ Bramble and Lewis White dropped to the bench.

Matt McClure had the first chance of the match when heading wide having met Eddie Jones’ cross unopposed. Jack Evans then failed to hit the target when teed up by Ed Williams as Welling started slowly.

However, from midway through the first half, Welling assumed control. Jack Burchell couldn’t get on the end of a Crossley Lema knockdown before Tanga was twice thwarted by Chippenham goalkeeper Will Henry. First he was sent clear by Tristan Abrahams but Henry got down superbly to save as Tanga tried to slot it home. Then the Orient loanee cut in from the right and unleashed a powerful shot that was turned over brilliantly by the Bluebirds stopper.

As they had been, in the first half, Welling were a little sluggish at the start of the second period and McClure again failed to take advantage when glancing a header wide before Luke Spokes side-footed wide from close range after Luke Haines had headed down a long throw.

After that, it became one way traffic in Welling’s favour. Antony Papadopoulos was introduced from the bench, with Muwonge making way, and he was quickly in the thick of it with a low shot that Henry held well.

Kain Adom intercepted a sloppy pass from poor playing out from the back and he found Dominic Odusanya whose curler towards the far post was kept out by a full length diving save by Henry. Adom then came even closer when beating Henry but seeing his shot clatter the bar on its way over.

Henry showed that he was human when not holding a low cross from Abrahams and a goalmouth scramble ensued before Burchell shot over. Abrahams was the next Welling player to miss out when picked out by Papadopoulos. He shot wide of the near post and showed his frustration by kicking the advertising hoarding.

Papadopoulos had another shot that took a deflection to send Henry the wrong way and the Chippenham goalkeeper was relieved to see it pass just beyond the post. Another substitute, Lewis White, then rounded Henry but was forced wide and couldn’t get a shot away.

The two substitutes were again involved when Papadopoulos found White and he cut in and fired a low shot that Henry saved and the Bluebirds custodian again came to his team’s rescue when saving from Abrahams after he had taken advantage of more untidy passing at the back.

Amadou Kassarate came close in stoppage time but his powerful drive was tipped over brilliantly and one last chance fell to Burchell but he curled his effort over.

Bloor may shuffle his pack again at Weymouth next Saturday as he looks to find the winning formula.

Welling United: Winterbottom, Lema, Green, Kassarae, Byrd, Burchell, Tanga, Odusanya (Kamara 90+1), Abrahams, Adom (White 74), Muwonge (Papadopoulos 53). Sub not used: Curran, Bramble.