Welling were without eight potential players but were still able to put out a good enough starting line-up to stun high-flying Braintree Town.

Although the game was not one for the purist, Welling stuck the game out well and provided the moments of real quality that swung the game their way.

After weathering an early Braintree storm Welling came close to opening the scoring. First the Irons were indebted to Dean Wells for putting his head in the way of a Joe Healy thunderbolt then Nathan McDonald was relieved to see a first time effort from Jamie Day go just wide after he had flapped away a cross.

Sam Cox posed a threat to the Wings defence and shot over when picking up a loose ball before flick ons gave Charlie Strutton and Dan Sparkes but neither were able to find the target.

Strutton did better in the 27^th minute and fired Braintree ahead although there was more than a suspicion of offside about it.

Braintree’s lead lasted just four minutes. After McDonald had made one excellent save from a Day free kick, a needless foul on Loick Pires gave him a second opportunity and the Wings player-manager, making his first appearance of the season, gave the hapless goalkeeper no chance.

There were no further clear chances in the first period and the second half was also a battle

Better chances fell to the visitors and Pires saw a shot deflected wide before Loui Fazakerley missed the near post on the break.

High balls in seemed the Irons main tactic and Sparkes shot wide when Strutton flicked on a long ball forward.

Lee Clarke put Welling ahead in the 72^nd minute at the end of a quality move when Fazakerley crossed and Healy dummied to give the Wings’ captain all the space he needed to fire home.

Ten minutes later, Welling increased their lead with a very similar move. Kurtis Guthrie, who had worked hard throughout, made space for a cross and this time Clarke stepped over the ball. Alex Dyer was the recipient this time and although his shot took a deflection, there was no doubt it was going in anyway.

Pires came close to adding a fourth when McDonald misjudged a Day free kick but Cox gave Braintree a lifeline when firing home with a minute remaining.

Five minutes of onslaught followed but Fraser Franks and Baily Cargill dealt with all until the very last minute when Cox was unable to turn in a deep cross from a tight angle.

 

Braintree Town: McDonald, Griffiths, Habergham, Wells, Massey, Isaacs, Paine, Sparkes (Holman 72), Mulley (Enver-Marum 46), Cox, Strutton.

Unused substitutes: Peters, Carney, Hamann.

Welling United: Butcher, Fazakerley, Jack Obersteller, Day, Franks, Cargill, Dyer, Clarke,  Guthrie, Pires, Healy.

Unused substitutes:Turner, Hughes-Mason, Cornes, Griffin.

Referee: Craig Hicks

Attendance: 1.119

Welling star man: Baily Cargill