Any hopes that Welling Town had of a money spinning F.A. Cup run were dashed in a four-nil defeat against Cobham.

Kevin Oakes’s Boots probably felt a bit hard done by when they went in one down at the break despite having had the better of the first half. However, after a contentious decision when Joe Smith was dismissed early in the second period, the complexion of the game changed.

Chander Kasai had a great opportunity early on when sent clear but it didn’t roll kindly on the lush surface and he /was unable to get his shot away. At the other end Jamie Di Giuseppe slung in a left footed free kick which Ben Senior met at the near post,, having lost his marker but he couldn’t direct it goalwards.

Jacob De Sa headed over from another Di Giuseppe cross and Arlie Talboys drew a regulation save out of Boots’ goalkeeper Jack Rankin. He had to work harder to complete a good low save from Laolu Daranijo before Welling caused problems for the visitors.

Rankin’s quick accurate kick picked out Vinnie Medhurst and he played it behind the Cobham defence for Kasai to chase. He sized up his shot but blasted it just too high and it crashed against the bar and over.

Seb Rowland was thwarted by an excellent save by Rourke Pickford from his clean volley then the central striker hooked over after Bacon flicked on Todd Brand’s throw in.

Stanislaus broke through for Cobham but Luqman Adesina got back to make a brilliant last ditch tackle but the visitors went ahead in their next foray three minutes before half time. A misdirected Town clearance fell nicely for De Sa to finish.

Looking for an immediate response, Damian Ransamy let fly but his shot was deflected wide.

After five second half minutes, the big moment of the game occurred. Derick Hayford tried to break free but was pulled back by Smith. Although there were other defenders around, and he wasn’t bearing directly down on goal, referee Matthew Charles deemed it a goalscoring opportunity and showed the Boots’ skipper the red card. To rub salt into the wound, Di Giuseppe took the free kick and found the top corner to double the visitors’ lead.

De Sa then sent Daranijo through who looked to be offside but he was allowed to continue and his hook came back off the far post.

Kasai did well to create a chance out of nothing but couldn’t finish before Cobham added a third with seventeen minutes remaining. Senior burst down the left and pulled it back for Daranijo to sweep home.

Bacon found substitute Maxx Manketlow well placed but he snatched wide of the near post before Rankin made a great save from Daranijo.

In injury time Cobham added a fourth. Pickford’s long punt sent Senior away and he finished comfortably.

Welling Town: Rankin, Brand, Vincent, Ikudehinbu, Smith, Adesina, Kasai (Hearn 76), Bacon, Rowland, Medhurst (Omogbai 53), Ramsamy (Manktelow 53). Subs not used: Awokere, Pierre, Samwell, White.

Goal scorers: None

Yellow cards:  Omogbai

Red card: Smith (50)

Cobham: Pickford, Talboys, Di Giuseppe, Sims, King, Connely, Daranijo (Charles 85), De Sa (Stilwell 70), Stanislaus (Peart 85), Hayford, Senior. Unused subs: Moseley, Lewington, Westphal.

Goalscorers: De Sa (42), Di Giuseppe (51), Daranijo (73), Senior (90+2)

Yellow cards: None

Referee: Matthew Charles

Assistants: Rodney Davies and Wassim Ben Salem

Attendance: 104

Images courtesy of Dave Budden