Brendan Kiernan's second-half penalty proved decisive as Welling got back to winning ways in National League South on Saturday.

Kiernan sent visiting keeper Sam Howes the wrong way from the spot to liven up a drab second half at Park View Road.

The Wings wideman was at the centre of two penalty appeals. Booked in the first half for diving by referee Lee Brennan when he appeared to be fouled, there was no dispute second time around after Tom Gardiner's clumsy challenge.

A string of departures from Park View Road during the week plus injuries meant there were only three substitutes named on the bench by Wings boss Steve King.

His starting line-up did include striker Jack Barham, signed on loan from Barnet until the end of the season.

Playing up front alongside Bradley Goldberg, it meant Welling lacked any physical presence in attack and too many times they failed to provide service of a sufficient quality to their diminutive strike force.

That said, Welling had enough chances in the first half to have wrapped up the game.

After Lloyd Dawes headed wide early on for Eastbourne, it was Welling who created the best openings.

Gavin McCallum wastefully fired over from inside the box after cutting inside before Goldberg ignored better options to shoot well wide from distance.

Goldberg then delivered an excellent right-wing cross but Barham could only direct his header at keeper Howes.

The best chance of the half came nine minutes before half-time when Goldberg was found in space inside the penalty area but Harry Ransom got across quickly to deflect his shot behind for a corner.

Dawes' 35-yard shot which went wide was the only attempt on goal for much of the second half.

But the game came to life with the introduction of Danny Mills in attack for Welling. Mills' physicality cleared the path for Kiernan to burst forward and draw a foul for the penalty.

Once ahead, Welling were never really troubled and they played out four minutes of stoppage time to move up to fifth in the table.

Welling: Wilks, McNamara, Braham-Barrett, Ijaha, Hill, Audel, Kiernan (Acheampong 83mins), Mendy, Barham, Goldberg (Mills 68mins), McCallum (Agyemang 68mins).

Eastbourne: Howes, Adebayo-Rowling, Campbell, Wills, Ransom, Gardiner, West (Briggs 79mins), Walker, Quigley, Hall, Dawes (Cotton 86mins). Subs not used: Blackmore, Hamilton, Santos.

Attendance: 445.