First half Welling United defensive shortcomings allowed Braintree Town to cruise to a comfortable win at Cressing Lane, this year known as the Rare Breed Meat Co, Stadium.

After Welling had looked lively for the first seven minutes, they conceded three goals in eighteen minutes as Braintree’s front three ran wild.

Josh Chambers had the first shot on target that was saved by Josh Blundell however, that proved to be a false dawn for the Wings.

In the seventh minute, Welling had several chances to clear but failed to get it away and Gio Crichlow’s blocked shot fell into the path of Ebbsfleet United loanee Shaquille Coulthirst whose shot beat Javarn Pitterson.

Coulthirst looked for a second but Pitterson saved, and the Welling goalkeeper was in action again to keep Aaron Blair out. There was nothing Pitterson could do in the sixteenth minute to stop Braintree from doubling their lead. Crichlow was the provider with a weighted through ball, and Blair the scorer.

Matthew Ward shot beyond the far post before Braintree added a third. Blair got in behind far too easily before squaring for Ward to tuck home.

Cameron Green created an opening for Jephte Tanga who shot first time but Blunkell made a brilliant close range save before Ben Watt saw Pitterson off his line, but lobbed well over. Tristan Abrahams tried his luck with a free kick that flew just over before half time.

Four minutes into the second half, Welling pulled one back. It came out to Dominic Odusanya and he measured his shot before firing into the bottom corner. Ward had a shot saved by Pitterson before Welling almost scored again. Kain Adom sent Antony Papadopoulos free down the right and his angled shot came back out off the base of the post.

Abrahams did well to hold it up with excellent close control before laying it off for Papadopoulos whose low shot from distance went wide.

As the game moved into the final fifteen minutes, Welling substitute Will Wood drew an excellent save out of Blunkell before Blair was well off target at the other end.

Three minutes remained when Braintree added a fourth. A short free kick allowed Ward to let fly and hit a worldie into the far corner.

Anderson Pinto had a shot saved by Pitterson at the near post, Odusanya had a shot deflected wide at the other end, and Tanga set up Wood who fired well over before the match was brought to an end.

Danny Bloor will now have to pick his team up ahead of their FA Trophy game with Taunton Town on Saturday.

Braintree Town: Blunkell, Mason, Davies, Watt (Pinto 61), Grimwood, Tompkins. Crichlow (White 69), Payne, Blair (Herschel 88), Coulthirst, Ward.

Subs not used: Blackwell, Sims.

Goalscorers: Coulthirst (7), Blair (16), Ward (24), (82)

Yellow cards: Watt, Blair, Pinto

Welling United: Pitterson, Papadopoulos, Green, Kassarate, Curran (Wood 69), Byrd, Tanga, Odusanya, Abrahams, Chambers (Burchell 30), Adom (Sekajja 76).

Subs not used: White, Muwonge.

Goalscorers: Odusanya (49)

Yellow cards: Abrahams 

Referee: Robert Claussen

Assistants: Lee Markwick and Daniel Baines

Attendance: 604

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.