Timid Welling United threw away almost any hopes of escaping relegation from the Vanarama National League South when they slumped to a heavy defeat at Hampton and Richmond Borough.

They were two done in just five minutes and showed no fight to get back into the game after that. Zanda Siziba shot wide after Alfie Williams had got down the left wing far too easily. Welling did not heed their warning, though, Harry Gardner was sent clear through the middle and drew out goalkeeper Rhys Lovett before squaring for Siziba to roll it into the empty net.

One minute later, Siziba returned the favour when he worked his way into the penalty area and pulled it back for Gardner to fire home.

Looking for a quick response, Sahid Kamara hit a swirling shot that was tipped over brilliantly by Hampton goalkeeper Max Merrick, on loan from Chelsea. Sam Cornish delivered the corner to the far post and Riccardo Di Trolio was stretching when he met it and couldn’t keep his header down.

Lovett saved from Gardner before a Mauro Vilhete shot hit his strike partner and came back to him. He prodded the follow up over Lovett and onto the roof of the net.

On the half hour mark, the Beavers went three up. Gardner robbed Jez Davies and cracked an unstoppable shot into the top corner from twenty yards.

As half time approached, Merrick made an unorthodox star jump save to keep out an effort from Finn Ballard-McBride.

Brian Statham made a treble change at the break and came close to pulling one back early in the second period. One of the replacements, Dan Martin, surged down the wing and crossed to Josh Redfearn. He pulled it back to Davies who squared to Cornish, and the midfielder drilled his shot just beyond the far post.

Any hopes that Welling had of getting back into the match ended when a fierce shot by James Roberts was saved by Lovett but came out to Gardner who headed into the empty net to complete his hat-trick.

Mike Atkinson blasted an effort high and wide and Roberts fired over the near post before Welling went close. Deon Moore’s effort was blocked on the line by Atkinson and it ricocheted onto the post and out. Moments later, the Wings were denied a goal when Redfearn’s shot hit the post and rebounded across the goal and hit the framework behind the other post before Merrick clawed it out. Neither the referee, nor his assistant, indicated that it had crossed the line and Martin was so vociferous about their shortcomings that he was shown a yellow card.

Davies had a shot saved comfortably by Merrick before the hosts again went close. Lovett saved from Siziba and with both Gardner and Atkinson following up, Martin did brilliantly to make a challenge and hurry the latter into shooting wide.

Tyrese Briscoe had a shot deflected wide for the Wings before the hosts scored their fifth with fifteen minutes remaining. Jonathan Page burst through and although Lovett did well to save, it fell kindly to Vilhete to slot it home.

Scott Kashket had a cross shot pushed out to safety by Merrick before Valhete went round Lovett but ran out of space and could only square it and none of his team-mates read his intentions allowing Welling to clear.

Having been cautioned in the first half, Archy Taylor was deemed to be taking too long to take a corner resulting in a second yellow card and a dismissal.

In the closing minutes, Kashket thought that he had scored when netting from Briscoe’s pass but was dismayed to see the assistant referee’s flag raised indicating offside.

Gianni Crichlow and Williams both had attempts saved by Lovett in stoppage time before the match drew to a close.

Incredibly results elsewhere meant that Welling are not yet relegated mathematically, ahead of two difficult matches over the Easter weekend.

Hampton and Richmond Borough: Merrick, Taylor, Williams, Keeya (Jalloh 90), Revan, Wiltshire, Roberts (Crichlow 83), Atkinson (Gray 70), Vilhete, Gardner, Siziba (Page 74). Sub not used: Jeffcott.

Goalscorers: Siziba (4), Gardner (5), (30), (52), Vilhete (75)

Yellow card: Taylor (18 foul)

Red card: Taylor (79 delay of restart)

Welling United: Lovett, Statham (Burchell 46), Di Trolio, Cornish, Quick, Bramble, Kamara (Briscoe 69), Davies, Redfearn (Kashket 69), Ballard-McBride (Moore 46), Taylor-Crossdale (Martin 46). Subs not used: None.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Taylor-Crossdale (22 foul), Di Trolio (42 foul), Martin (60 dissent), Burchell (90+2 foul)

Referee: Lewis Sandoe

Assistants: David Payne and Karl Parker

Fourth Official: Daniel Austin

Attendance: 654