Following their disappointing exit from the F.A. Cup, Welling United failed to bounce back and took a thumping in their Vanarama National League South match at Boreham Wood.

Their manager, Rod Stringer, made changes to their starting line up and their shape, but it did not have the desired effect. They could have gone behind in the first minute when a low Cameron Coxe cross picked out Tyrone Marsh who slotted wide from close range. Tom Whelan was then given far too much space on the edge of the penalty area and hit a shot that crashed back out off the post.

Coxe, who moments earlier had been treated for what appeared to be a match ending injury, made a surprising recovery to get on the end of a Charlie O’Connell through ball and Welling goalkeeper Rhys Lovett had to be alert to block with his left foot. He wasn’t rewarded for his good save though, as from the resultant corner Erico Sousa sent in a low cross that was knocked back by Whelan to Jack Payne and he had all the time that he needed to fire home.

Whelan then fired well over before Marsh squared to Payne who dragged his shot wide. Clever footwork by former Wing Marsh gave him another shooting chance from Sousa’s through ball but Lovett did well to block with his foot.

It came as no shock when Boreham Wood added a second just past the midway point of the first half. Reece Grant tripped Coxe in the penalty area and Sousa made no mistake with his spot kick.

Another Whelan shot was beaten out by Lovett before the hosts added a third. Kwesi Appiah crossed to Marsh and he cushioned it back to Junior Dixon who fired home off the inside of the post.

Lovett made a stunning save from O’Connell’s close range header from a corner then Chris Bush headed wide from Sousa’s free kick.

As half time approached, Welling had their first attempt when Gene Kennedy picked out Dave Winfield with a free kick but he couldn’t get a clean head on it and it went well wide.

During the first half, Stringer made his first personnel change and at the break he used all of his other four substitutes.

That had an impact at first, and Welling came close when Elliot Long played a short corner to Jack Munns and got it back to fire just over from the edge of the penalty area. Lovett then made a comfortable low save from Gus Mafuta before Long was again in the action when creating a shooting opportunity for Anointed Chukwu but he blazed wide.

Things then went from bad to worse for the Wings when Charlie Pegrum tried to evade a wild challenge twenty five yards out. Referee Dan England made the amazing decision when, instead of awarding Welling a free kick, he showed the young Leyton Orient loanee a second yellow card and dismissed him.

Any chance that Welling might have had of getting something out of the match disappeared with that decision and they capitulated. Abdul Abdulmalik shot wide from the hosts from twenty yards before they laid siege to the away team’s penalty area in the last ten minutes.

Mafula added a fourth when firing into the top corner before Abdulmalik had a shot deflected wide. Another Abdulmalik shot was kept out by a further excellent save by Lovett. Again, Welling’s escape was short lived when Winfield headed the corner against his own post and Appiah was first to the rebound to blast into the empty net.

One minute later, Boreham Wood scored again when Abdulmalik fired home after Johnny Goddard had broken down the wing.

It might have been even worse for the Wings when Goddard had a shot deflected wide before they were put out of their misery by the referee when he blew his whistle for full time on the second that his watch struck ninety minutes.

Due to the Wings’ early cup exit, they are now without a game for two weeks giving Stringer and his assistant, Kevin Watson, time to consider what personnel changes are necessary.

Boreham Wood: Ashmore, Coxe (Richardson 57), Ilesanmi, Payne, Bush, O’Connell, Whelan (Sagaf 70), Dixon (Abdulmalik 77), Marsh (Mafuta 58), Appiah, Sousa (Goddard 84). Subs not used: None.

Goalscorers: Payne (12), Sousa pen (25), Dixon (38), Mafuta (82), Appiah (86), Abdulmalik (87)

Yellow cards: None

Welling United: Lovett, Donkor, Borg (Statham 31), Burchell, Winfield, Mensah (Long 46), A. Grant (Andrews 46), Kennedy, Taylor-Crossdale (Pegrum 46), R. Grant (Chukwu 46), Munns. Subs not used: None.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Pegrum, Birchell

Red card: Pegrum (73)

Referee: Dan England

Assistants: Kieran Bailey and Christopher Poole

Fourth Official: Stuart Smith

Attendance: 803 (including 112 from Welling)

Images courtesy of Dave Budden