Welling United fell to their first defeat in six at Braintree Town on Tuesday evening.

A disastrous first 25 minutes saw the Wings fall to a three-goal deficit which they simply could not recover from, despite emerging for the second half in spirited fashion with Dominic Odusanya pulling a goal back.

The visitors looked to attack early on and registered the first shot on goal of the evening when Josh Chambers tested the reactions of keeper Josh Blunkell, but the home side would soon be in front as the Wings gave themselves a hill to climb in the early exchanges.

Seven minutes were on the clock when Shaquille Coulthirst fired the Iron ahead after turning in the box and squeezing a shot past Javarn Pitterson.

Nine minutes later they doubled their advantage as Aaron Blair raced through to send a confident finish into the bottom corner one-on-one, giving Welling an almighty early hill to climb.

And the task ahead of Welling would get even greater in the 24th minute when they found themselves three goals behind.

The visiting defence was cut open all too easily, allowing Matthew Ward to get into the box and fire a low finish into the net to ensure his side had full control of the game.

For the Wings’ part, they closest them came was just before the break when Cameron Green pulled back for Jephte Tanga, but he could only force Blunkell into a smart save from close range.

After a forgettable first 45. Danny Bloor’s men needed some kind of spark early in the second half if they were going to give themselves any hope and they did just that, four minutes after the restart.

After good work from Kain Adom to keep the ball in play on the right, it was worked back to Odusanya who picked his spot and caressed a brilliant finish into the bottom right-hand corner from just outside the box.

That put the wind in the sails of the Wings somewhat and they came so close to another on 58 minutes when Antony Papadopoulos diverted Adom’s centre off the left-hand upright.

But Braintree slowly regained their footing as the half wore on, comfortable with their lead, although Welling still gave their hosts something to think about with the odd foray forward – substitute Will Wood forcing Blunkell into a fine save at his near post with a well-struck shot from the edge of the box

But with eight minutes remaining, the Iron put the game to bed, netting a fourth in some style. A free-kick 25 yards from goal was teed up for Ward, who proceeded to smash home an unstoppable strike to secure his brace.

All in all, it was an evening to forget for the men from DA16 and the frustration was compounded by an injury to the in-form Adom, who was carried off with an injury late on.

Bloor will now have to dust his side down as attention turns to a home tie with Taunton Town in the second round of the  Isuzu FA Trophy on Saturday.

Braintree Town: Blunkell, Mason, Davies, Watt (Pinto 62), Grimwood, Tompkins, Critchlow (White 70), Payne, Blair (Herschel 88), Coulthirst, Ward.

Subs (not used): Blackwell, Sims.

Booked: Watt 28 (foul on Adom), Pinto 90+1 (foul)

Goal: Coulthirst 7, Blair 17, Ward 24, 82

Welling United: Pitterson, Papadopoulos, Curran (Wood 69), Byrd, Green, Tanga, Kassararte, Odusanya, Adom (Sekajja 76), Chambers (Burchell 30), Abrahams.

Subs (not used): White, Muwonge.

Goal: Odusanya 49

Booked: Abrahams 45+3 (foul on Davies)

Referee: Robert Claussen