Welling United suffered their first away league defeat of the season as Braintree Town claimed a 4-1 victory over the Wings at the Dunmow Group Stadium on Tuesday evening.
After the highs of Saturday’s battling performance at Ebbsfleet United with nine men, the clash in Essex may have come too soon for Warren Feeney’s tiring side who somewhat capitulated after taking the lead through Ade Azeez as the hosts took every chance that came their way.
After a fairly quiet opening half-hour in which both sides were feeling each other out, the game suddenly sprung into life with the Wings taking the lead with the first real opening of the evening.
Amadou Kassarate claimed the assist, providing a cross from the right for Azeez to head home for his seventh of the season.
The lead would not last long, however, with the home side hitting back four minutes later as the Wings were caught napping.
A Braintree corner from the right was met by Boris Altintop who rose highest to head home from close range.
Moments later, Welling very nearly went back ahead at the other end with Kassarate coming close to turning goalscorer only for his goal-bound effort to be hacked off the line.
But before Welling knew it, they would find themselves behind in the 41st minute as former Wings man Alfie Matthews headed into an empty net after Kai McKenzie-Lyle had made a good initial save to deny Levi Amatchi.
And so, it was the hosts who would go into the break with the lead thanks to two goals from their only two first-half chances late on.
Indeed, it would be more of the same in the second half as the Wings continued to be frustrated.
The best the Wings could muster was an Kassarate effort which flew well over the bar from Azeez’s pull-back before the Iron punished them once again at the other end with a third with 18 minutes remaining – Lamar Reynolds racing through to slot home.
The hosts were proving to be clinical and they netted a fourth from their next opportunity seven minutes later when substitute Matt Rush poked in from close range.
Welling will now have to pick themselves up and dust off the disappointment ahead of Saturday’s return to Park View Road, with Hungerford Town the opponents in DA16.
Welling United: McKenzie-Lyle, Cox, Parry, Nelson, Dickens, Ezennolim, Dunne, Kasim (Papadopoulos 71), Kassarate (Maloney 61), Payne, Azeez.
Subs (not used): Pitterson, Howard, Aransibia.
Booked: Azeez 21 (foul on White)
Goal: Azeez 30
Braintree Town: Sims, Clemons, Farrell, Clements, White, Altintop, Benton, Payne, Amantchi (Rush 62), Matthews (Regis 75), Reynolds (Boachie 83).
Subs (not used): Niemczycki, Cowling.
Goals: Altintop 34, Matthews 41, Reynolds 72, Rush 78.
Referee: Roberts Claussen
Att: 559
