It took a late goal by Boreham Wood’s Tyrone Marsh to beat Welling United in the F.A. Cup Fourth Qualifying round.

Danny Bloor’s team were unfortunate not to take the tie to a replay at Welling as they had to overcome a series of obstacles.

There could have been a reduction of numbers for the hosts early on when former Wing Jamal Fyfield and Tristan Abrahams clashed awaiting a Boreham Wood corner. Abrahams fell to the ground but referee Callum Walchester brandished a yellow card when it would appear that it should have been a dismissal if he saw the offence or nothing if he didn’t. That set the tone for the afternoon.

Although the home team had plenty of corners in the early stages, Welling defended them well and there were no real goal efforts until Lee Ndlovu got on the end of Marsh’s knock down but his first time effort from twenty yards flew over.

However, it was not one way traffic and Tristan Abrahams fired just beyond the far post having been freed by Anthony Papadopoulos.

On the half hour mark, Welling were forced into making a change when Lewis White suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder and was replaced by Kain Adom.

Marsh side-footed just over after playing a clever one-two with Erico Sousa before Welling suffered a further set-back. Marsh was again involved when trying to slot inside the far post.

Ben Winterbottom dived to make the save and Cameron Green also slid in to clear resulting in the defender kicking the goalkeeper in the head. Winterbottom was helped off with blood pouring down the side of his face and teenager Javarn Pitterson was introduced.

Crossley Lema headed over for Welling from Dominic Odusanya’s corner before Boreham Wood’s Angelo Balanta headed beyond the far post from Cameron Coxe’s cross.

Early in the second half Adom had a shot deflected wide then Jephte Tanga kept an attack alive and it fell for Jack Burchell whose shot crashed against the post.

Sousa curled well wide for the hosts before Welling again came close when a slick passing move sent Adom in space down the left. He crossed low for Tanga who was unable to turn it home as he stretched.

Ndlovu had a shot deflected towards the bottom corner by a team-mate and Pitterson got down well to save then Green had an opportunity at the other end when cutting in and fizzing his effort over.

Pitterson saved well from Balanta and Nathan Ashmore did likewise from Tanga’s low effort. Ashmore then got down well to save Papadopoulos’ shot then, at the other end, Wood substitute Timmy Abraham hooked an overhead kick over.

Four minutes remained when Welling conceded a tired free kick on the edge of the penalty area. One time Welling player Marsh sized it up and fired beyond Pitterson inside the far post.

One last chance fell to Welling after good work by Tanga but Green thrashed over and Welling’s F.A. Cup hopes were ended for another year.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Coxe, Ilesamni, Payne, Fyfield, Bush, Ilesamni, Robinson, Balanta (Abraham 73), Marsh, Ndlovu, Sousa (Stephens 87). Subs not used: Whelan, Abayomi, Griffiths, Sass-Davies.

Goalscorers: Marsh (86)

Yellow cards: Fyfield, Payne

Welling United: Winterbottom (Pitterson 41), Lema, Green, Kassarate (Muwonge 87), Byrd, Burchell, Tanga, Odusanya, Abrahams, Papadopoulos, White (Adom 30). Sub not used: Curran. MacAllister, Kamara.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Kassarate

Referee: Callum Wallchester

Assistants: Nicholas Cooper and Peter Wilson

Fourth Official: Joanne Horwood

Attendance: 756

Images courtesy of Dave Budden