Welling knocked out of FA Cup to Chatham Town – with ex Crystal Palace loanee getting the winner

Rod Stringer’s Welling United team were completely out of sorts when knocked out of the FA Cup at home to Chatham Town.

It was disappointing for all involved with the club, whose supporters have been starved of a good run in the world’s most famous national knock-out competition for several years. They have not reached the first round proper as a step two club since 2005.

Although they were missing some key players, that cannot be used as an excuse, as it was the same 11 who started in their excellent win over Torquay. At the same time, their visitors were forced to make changes to their starting line-up from seven days earlier through injury and suspension.

They had plenty of possession and got themselves into some promising positions, but they rarely threatened to hurt their step-three guests and could easily have been beaten by a heavier scoreline.

In the early stages, they were the better side, and Jack Burchell came close with an overhead effort that went wide after David Winfield headed Gene Kennedy’s corner back across the face of goal.

Elliot Long combined well with TJ Bramble and fired just beyond the far post then Anointed Chukwu tried to be cheeky by slotting a free kick under the defensive wall as they jumped, but there was no power in his effort and Brad House saved comfortably.

Against the run of play, Chatham went ahead when the powerful Jamie Yila was too strong for Welling and made room for himself to pull back a low cross and it fell into the path of Freddie Sears, who slammed it home.

Although Charlie Pegrum had a low shot saved and Burchell volleyed narrowly wide from the edge of the area, the Chats looked dangerous whenever they went down the sides and another low Yila cross was knocked back to Jordy Robins by Jack Evans and Rhys Lovett had to get down sharply to make the save.

Another Chukwu shot lacked the venom to worry House before Kwaku Donkor cut in but blasted well wide.

Early in the second period, Sam Sene-Richardson nicked it away from Teddy Perkins but shot wide of Lovell’s goal before Welling came close. Kennedy picked out Burchell with a free kick and his shot was saved brilliantly by House. It came back out to substitute Reece Grant but House recovered quickly to smother his attempt.

Winfield should probably have done better than heading wide from Pegrum’s corner but as Welling tried to create opportunities, the visitors posed more of a threat on the counter attack.

Poor defending didn’t help the Wings’ cause, and a loose pass along the back line was intercepted by Sears, who didn’t make the most of the opportunity when he fired straight into Lovett’s arms. The Welling goalkeeper was then a spectator as Kian Garlinge’s header floated wide of the far post from a Yila cross.

Just after the hour mark, House was injured and had to be replaced and when substitute goalkeeper Ben Bridle-Card took over and he looked just as comfortable as his team-mate.

Sears had another chance when he was clean through but missed the far post. He then came closer when Lovett was stranded and his effort from out wide clipped the crossbar on the way over. Once again, Sears was sent through after a Welling corner was cleared but Lovett burst out and blocked with his chest.

Despite missing those chances, they weren’t made to pay as the hosts were unable to fashion another opportunity and slumped out of the cup.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN