Welling United’s side for Saturday’s F.A. Trophy match with Braintree Town included over half a team of players making their first starts of the season.
Welling claimed a fine victory in a Skrill Premier league match at the Amla stadium in October but the much changed Wings lacked the cohesion to trouble a first choice Iron team.
After a fairly even first fifteen minutes, the hosts took control after a succession of corners, one of which was cleared off the line, the Iron went ahead.
Kenny Davis burst through and played in James Mulley whose ball through was parried by Jamie Turner into the path of Dan Holman who finished comfortably.
Returning loanee De Reece Vanderhyde did well to block a Mulley shot then Holman fired wide from distance.
Ross Lafayette curled an effort wide for Welling but was cautioned shortly afterwards when showing dissent against a defensive foul given against him.
Turner did well to save Alan Massey’s header from Sam Habergham’s free kick.
Vanderhyde became the second Wings’ player to be booked, somewhat harshly, when Mulley couldn’t avoid him.
At the break, Braintree withdrew Mulley, introducing Dan Sparkes to the fray and he came close early in the second half with a free kick that drifted beyond the far post.
Coskun Ekim brought Nik Hamann into action when despite getting two hands to the free kick, he could only push it around the post. Ekim’s corner was then headed over by Blaine Hudson.
Sean Marks and Sparkes then combined only for the latter to see his effort blocked but his appeal for a penalty was unconvincing.
Kenny Davis shot well over and then Chez Isaac broke away but blasted high after a Welling attack broke down when referee Daniel Cook failed to award a free kick for a blatant foul on Vanderhyde.
It came as no big surprise when Braintree increased their lead through Sparkes after Davis had brought down a long ball skillfully.
Sam Corne attempted an audacious chip when Hamann was caught out of position but the Braintree goalkeeper recovered his position to save comfortably.
Artistide Bassele, on debut, became the third Welling player to be booked before Braintree added a third goal.
Substitute Jordan Cox burst through and fired home via the near post.
Braintree Town: Hamann, Peters, Habergham, Massey, Wells, Isaac, Paine, Davis, Mulley (Sparkes 46), Marks (Cox 81), Holman (Daley 85).
Unused substitutes: McDonald. Geohaghon.
Welling United: Turner, Vanderhyde, Hudson, Gallagher, Hudson, Webb, Clarke, Corne, Ekim (Hughes-Mason 72), Bassele, Lafayette.
Unused substitutes: Guthrie, Dyer, Butcher, Healy.
Referee: Daniel Cook
Attendance: 365
Welling star man: DeReece Vanderhyde