St Albans City came away from Welling United with a point after a dramatic 2-2 draw that saw the hosts finish the game with nine men.

The Saints took the lead through Zane Banton’s header just ten minutes in and the visitors went in at half time with the advantage, before Josh Hill struck twice in five minutes for the hosts to put them ahead with half an hour remaining.

Red cards for Danny Mills and Arnaud Mendy offered the Saints a good chance to get back into the game and they eventually snatched a point in the 82nd minute when Sam Merson converted from the penalty spot.

Welling held firm for the remaining eight minutes, plus five added on and St Albans left with a draw.

Both sides created goal scoring opportunities within the first minute of a frantic first half, with Mills climbing high to head a Brendan Kieran cross just wide for the hosts before Merson forced a smart save from Dan Wilks at the other end.

St Albans would not have to wait too long to take the lead, which came with ten minutes on the clock.

Soloman Sambou delivered a searching cross into the penalty box which Merson cushioned back into the path of Banton at the back post. He gratefully nodded home from close range.

Parity was almost immediately restored when a low effort from Mills had Dean Snedker beaten in the St Albans net, but Joshua McLeod-Urquhart was the hero for the Saints - hacking the ball away before it rolled over the line.

Before half-time Welling were saved by the post when James Ewington’s effort cannoned off the woodwork following Mcleod-Urquhart’s free kick and with neither side able to add to Banton’s early strike, the sides went in at the break with the score at 1-0.

Shortly after the restart the Wings were forced into a substitution when Richard Orlu pulled up with a hamstring injury. He was replaced by Hill, who would soon have the home side ahead.

First the former St Albans man latched on to a Kiernan cross to finish from close range, before the same combination put Welling ahead.

In the wake of the second goal, Saints players Sambou and Tom Bender squared up to each other and a scuffle ensued, with the latter receiving a yellow card and the former immediately substituted.

Welling seemed to be cruising at this stage, but there was to another twist in the tale that would see them pegged back.

In the 68th minute Mills was sent off for Welling after he rose for an aerial challenge with Michael Clark and referee Tom Bishop adjudged him to have deliberately used an elbow and brandished a straight red.

Saints tried to make the most of the man advantage, but still failed to find the breakthrough they needed.

Then they were handed another lifeline in the 82nd minute when Mendy hauled Merson to the ground in the penalty area from a corner.

He was quickly shown a second yellow card and Welling were down to nine.

Merson stepped up and sent Wilks the wrong way with the spot kick to earn St Albans an important point away from home.