Welling’s National League South away unbeaten record comes to an end at Braintree

BY MARK DOIG

 It was one step too far for Welling United when they visited Braintree Town for a Tuesday night game as they suffered a 4-1 defeat.

Having done so well to maintain their unbeaten league record when playing on the road at Ebbsfleet United on Saturday, the run was ended in a lacklustre performance in North Essex.

Warren Feeney’s team was the better of the two for the first thirty minutes before they fell apart and conceded four times against a well-drilled Braintree team. The Iron included two players who were released by Welling following Feeney’s arrival at the club last season.

Amadou Kassarate clipped the outside of the post with a cross in the early exchanges. Stefan Payne then had a shot saved by Jack Sims.

Former Millwall defender, Sid Nelson, flicked on a free kick that almost played Tom Dickens in, but he had to reach for it and could only guide it wide.

On the half hour mark, Welling went ahead. Kassarate did well to create space to cross, and Ade Azeez met it with a firm header to which Sims got a hand but could not keep it out.

However, Braintree levelled four minutes later when a deep corner picked out Baris Altintop, and he powered home his header.

Kassarate looked as if he was going to put Welling back ahead, but his effort was kept out by a last-ditch block, and it was the hosts who scored again three minutes before the break. Levi Amantchi got behind the Welling defence too easily and although Kai McKenzie-Lyle made an excellent save to keep his shot out, it looped up to Alfie Matthews to head gleefully into the empty net.

After the half time break, Braintree were content to keep players behind the ball and allow Welling possession in their own half with the Wings lacking the guile and precision to break them down.

Any hopes of salvaging something out of the game took a hit with seventeen minutes remaining when Lamar Reynolds took advantage of defensive dithering, nicked it away, and burst through to slot it beyond McKenzie-Lyle.

Reynolds was also involved in Braintree’s fourth, five minutes later when he squared for Matt Rush to finish.

Although substitutes Antony Papadopoulos and Taylor Maloney both had goal attempts in the closing minutes, neither threatened to hurt Braintree and Welling were left to lick their wounds as their good contingent of away supporters started their journeys back across the River Thames.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN