After the lift from their point on Saturday, Welling fell to defeat against a Braintree Town team that were reduced to ten men midway through the first half.

Having not conceded a home goal since September, the hosts grit and determination, mixed with some less than pleasing to the eye time management, ensured that they held onto the three points.

Although twice hitting the woodwork, Welling didn’t work goalkeeper Michael Crowe as much as they would have liked but the game was never going to be a great spectacle on a very heavily sanded surface.

One thing Welling didn’t need was to concede early, but that was just what they did. An attempted clearance was sliced straight to Dan Sparkes ten yards from goal, and he needed no second invitation to fire home.

To their credit, Welling came back strongly. Kadell Daniel twice tested Braintree goalkeeper Michael Crowe either side of Xavier Vidal’s first time shot that was cleared off the line by Matt Fry.

New signing, Ian Gayle, had a header saved by Crowe before Welling goalkeeper Marek Rodak claimed a header from Sim Akinola.

Then the curse of the Welling centre half struck again. With Zach Fagan, Kevin Lokko and Harry Osborne already out, Gayle was flattened by a vicious flail of Sean Marks’ elbow. Although the referee missed it, his assistant did not, and the Iron striker was shown a red card.

Sadly for Gayle, the damage to his face meant he could no longer continue, and as had been the case at Halifax, Nortei Nortey came on as an emergency centre back.

Reorganised Braintree then made their first priority to make sure they didn’t lose what they already had and chances at both ends became more of a rarity.

On the stroke of half time, Welling came close when Harry Lee let fly from long range only to see his effort come back off the underside of the bar,

Having the greater share of possession didn’t help Welling to create many opportunities and only the sharp handling of Rodak from Sim Akinola’s sharp effort kept the Iron from extending their lead.

Eventually, Michael Bakare got in behind the Braintree defence only to see his effort come out off the inside of the post.

That proved to be the final clear cut chance for Welling and they will need to bounce back quickly for their crucial match with Altrincham on Saturday.

 

 

Braintree Town: Crowe, Clerima, Habergham, Paine, Phillips, Fry, Davis, Woodyard, Marks, Akinola (Miles 90), Sparkes (Issac 89).

Unused substitutes: Edgar, Cheek, Anderson.

 

Welling United: Rodak,Williams, Chesmain, Ferry, Chambers, Gayle (Nortey 39), Daniel, Lee,  Bakare, Vidal (Wellard 57), Harris (Wanadio 79).

Unused substitutes: McEntegart, Kabba.

 

Attendance: 461

Welling star man: Barney Williams

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.