Welling United’s involvement in the Emirates FA Cup came to an end at the hands of Chatham Town on Saturday.
Despite enjoying the lions’ share of possession on the day, Freddie Sears’ first-half strike was enough to down the Wings on a frustrating afternoon.
The hosts started brightly with Elliot Long coming close to an opener on 12 minutes when his overhead effort dipped just over, before the forward fired narrowly wide with an angled shot shortly after.
Anointed Chukwu tried his luck with a free-kick positioned just outside the box which arrowed towards the bottom right-hand corner, only for Chats stopper Brad House to make the save.
But despite playing all the football early on, Welling found themselves behind against the run of play on 23 minutes.
The hosts failed to clear their lines from an attack down the right and the ball made its way to former West Ham United striker Freddie Sears, who converted from close range.
That knocked the hosts off their stride somewhat – Charlie Pegrum did see a volley well saved from inside the box before the break, but it wasn’t enough to prevent them from taking a one-goal disadvantage into the break.
Welling suffered a blow before half-time when Ben Wells was forced off through injury, while TJ Bramble also followed suit as he was carried off early in the second period as the Wings’ ever-growing injury list continues to disrupt.
The Wings came close on 53 minutes as they searched for a way back into the tie – Jack Burchell’s volley at the back post was somehow kept out by House, while Winfield headed wide from a good position.
Chatham were making life difficult for their hosts, slowing the game down and leaving Welling frustrated as they couldn’t break them down despite enjoying all the possession.
For the Chats’ part, the nearly caught the Wings off guard on the break on two occasions with Sear spurning a good opportunity one-on-one, before the goalscorer hit the woodwork when trying to catch Rhys Lovett off his line.
Sears should have put the game to bed late on when he was through one-on-one with plenty of time to think about to finish, but Lovett stood strong to keep him out.
At the other end, however, Welling just could not muster a killer chance to save their FA Cup campaign and their attention will now turn back to the league, with a trip to Boreham Wood next weekend.
Welling United: Lovett, Burchell, Winfield, Perkins (Mensah 82), Wells (Donkor 36), Pegrum, A Grant (Cornish 75), Kennedy, Bramble (R Grant 51), Long, Chukwu (Carty 75).
Subs (not used): Munns, Andrews.
Chatham Town: House (Bridle-Card 61), Akehurst, Robins, O’Keefe, Evans (Garlinge 66), Yila, Sene-Richardson, Cooper, Naylor, Aidoo, Sears.
Subs (not used): Scarlett, Sangare, Roe, Burgess, Maciocia.
Booked: Evans 10 (kicking ball away), O’Keefe 45+3 (foul), Naylor 71 (foul), Yila 90+5 (obstruction)
Goal: Sears 23
Referee: George Laflin
Att: 661
