Report and pictures of Welling 1 AFC Telford 1
AFC Telford United survived two sendings off to claim a 1-1 draw at Welling on the opening day of the Conference Premier.
Defender Kristian Platt had given them a slender lead approaching half time, before midfielder Godfrey Poku was sent off for a second bookable offence.
And winger Mike Phenix suffered the same fate seven minutes after the break, leaving the Bucks to battle with nine men for more than half an hour.
Sean Clancy almost had the Bucks in front inside two minutes, but just couldn't quite reach Phenix's superb cross to the far post.
Neill Byrne and Phenix then both narrowly missed the target from inviting positions, as Telford started brightly.
The former nodded just over from Owens' excellent free-kick and then Phenix dragged wide from Adam Farrell's through ball.
But Jake Gallagher should have put Welling ahead when he drilled wide from close range, after Telford had failed to deal with a long throw.
It was though an error from Wings' goalkeeper Lee Butcher which allowed the Bucks to take the lead on 34 minutes, when he failed to hold Platt's low 20-yard free-kick.
But the Bucks found themselves reduced to 10 men in first half stoppage time, Poku was sent off for a second bookable offence.
He looked to have been bundled over and handled the ball anticipating a free-kick, only to be booked for handball.
He had gone into the book earlier on for a late challenge on Charlie Gorman.
Things got worse for the Bucks within seven minutes of the re-start when Phenix, who had been booked for handball in the first half, was shown a second yellow for a late challenge on Ben Jefford.
From there it was, understandably, one-way traffic and only the reflexes of goalkeeper Jonathan Hedge denied Rod Young an equaliser soon afterwards.
But he could do nothing to prevent Harry Beautyman's 20-yard equaliser, which arched into the top corner following a slick short corner routine.
And the hosts had three great chances to nick the points late on when Jake Gallagher, Beautyman and Jamal Fyfield missed the target with close range headers.
The Bucks had to survive six minutes of injury time, but they held on to claim a very well-earned point.
