Welling United manager Ryan Maxwell says coin toss vital in narrow defeat at Eastbourne Borough | Wings boss reunited with striker Chris Harris while winger Troy Howard joins Faversham

Ryan Maxwell felt the coin toss was decisive in Welling’s narrow defeat at Eastbourne Borough.

The Wings were edged 1-0 by a first-half goal from ex-Gillingham midfielder Josh Rees as the hosts played with the wind behind them.

It was Welling’s turn to benefit in the second half, and while Nahum Melvin-Lambert missed a golden chance to level, ultimately, Rees’ goal gave Boro something to hold on to.

The weekend defeat saw Welling drop a place to second in the Isthmian Premier, with Enfield moving top on goal difference and going three points after winning at Carshalton on Monday night.

“The wind was a huge factor in the first half, and they won the toss to go with it,” said Welling manager Maxwell.

“That was absolutely vital because it was difficult conditions, favouring the team that went with the wind in the first half. Ultimately, that’s what separated the teams.

“It was frustrating but that’s not to say we didn’t have a great chance to level in the 75th minute, which we should have taken.

“It was an incredibly close game in terms of chances, decided by a moment of quality from Rees. It’s a great strike.

“If we’d got to half-time at 0-0, I’d have been super-confident of winning the game because they wouldn’t have had anything to hold on to then.

“Having got themselves ahead, they had something to hold on to and although we created one fantastic chance, the keeper’s got to take some credit for the save, but it does have to go in.

“With 15 minutes remaining, plus injury time, I’d have fancied us to get the winner, but it wasn’t to be.”

Maxwell, whose side host Burgess Hill at Park View Road this Saturday, gave a debut to new signing Chris Harris.

The striker, who played under the Wings boss at Sittingbourne, joins after