Welling United bowed out of the Isuzu FA Trophy with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Havant & Waterlooville at Park View Road on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts made a bright enough start to the tie, enjoying plenty of possession in the early exchanges with Kwaku Donkor regularly threatening down the left and they registered the first shot on target of the afternoon on 20 minutes when Gene Kennedy’s well-struck half-volley from the edge of the box stung the palms of Hawks stopper Ben Dudzinski.
But for all of Welling’s dominance, it was Havant who took the lead against the run of play with their first foray into the final third.
After Daniel Jinadu had saved an initial effort one-on-one, the ball fell to Callum Keally, who dispatched the rebound into the bottom corner.
The goal put the wind in the sails of the visitors somewhat and Jinadu was forced into a good save at his near post to keep out Brendan Willson’s header to ensure the arrears would be limited to a single goal going into the break.
Come the second half and the Wings were struggling to muster up that killer touch to get themselves back into the tie as a somewhat dour second 45 between the two sides ensued with very little in the way of action for much of the half.
Garrett Kelly’s first-time effort from distance was well held by Dudzinski, while sub Josh Redfearn saw his volley well blocked in the box.
But with 22 minutes left on the clock, Havant all but killed off the tie with a slice of fortune as the hosts gifted them a second.
A tame Harry Sidwell effort from distance should have been dealt with by Jinadu with a routine save, but the keeper somehow spilled the ball into his own net.
Welling made a late push with Kelly’s shot also blocked in the box, while Anointed Chukwu’s header was some blocked on the line by a white shirt.
With seven minutes left on the clock, the Wings gave themselves some hope with Alex Lankshear rising highest to nod one back and keep the tie alive.
Welling threw plenty forward late on with Chukwu drawing a pair of good saves from Dudzinski, but it just wasn’t enough as the hosts fell at the FA Trophy’s first hurdle.
They will now dust themselves off and go again on Tuesday evening as they look to get back to winning ways against Weymouth.
Welling United: Jinadu, Donkor (Osew 52), Statham, Burchell, Lankshear, Johnson, Kelly, Cornish, Kennedy (Redfearn 46), Long (Z Walker 61 (Grant 80)), Chukwu.
Subs (not used): Perkins.
Booked: Kelly 59 (foul), Osew 90+4 (foul)
Goal: Lankshear 83
Havant & Waterlooville: Dudzinski, Stanley, Austin, Atangana, Willson, Seager, Maloney, Kealy, Sidwell, Anderson, Laidlaw.
Subs (not used): Walker-Harris, Aston, Swann, Tshaka, Dockerill.
Booked: Willson 20 (foul), Dudzinski 75 (time wasting), Kealy 84 (time wasting)
Goal: Kealy 27, Sidwell 78
Referee: Nathan Oakes
Att: 540
