In the second qualifying round of the F.A. Cup, Chatham Town put on an almost perfect away performance to dump out higher rated Welling United.

Both teams were missing players but it was the Chats who made the best use of what they had available and deserved to progress.

Early on, Welling looked to be in control and a Gene Kennedy corner to the far post was headed back across goal by Dave Winfield to Jack Burchell whose overhead effort flew wide. Elliot Long then played a one-two with TJ Bramble then flashed his shot beyond the far post.

Showing that they weren’t just there to make up the numbers, the visitors demonstrated that they could be a threat and Jamie Yila sent Freddie Sears through only for Welling goalkeeper Rhys Lovett to come out quickly to smother.

Anointed Chukwu tried to be cheeky with a free kick when shooting under the defensive wall as it jumped but Brad House was alert and made a comfortable save.

Midway through the first half, Chatham scored the goal the all important opening goal and it was the Yila / Sears combination that did the damage. The powerful Chats wide man forced his way down the right hand side and pulled it back for former West Ham United striker Sears to fire home.

Charlie Peagrum had a low shot saved before a Burchell volley from the edge of the penalty area flew wide.

Yila caused further problems with a low cross that Jack Evans laid back to Jordy Robins but Lovett wasn’t worried unduly when making the save. At the other end Chukwu had another low shot that was saved comfortably before Kwaku Donkor cut in but blasted well wide.

After the half time break Sam Sene-Richardson almost took advantage of some slack Welling defending but shot wide before Welling went close to levelling. Kennedy’s free kick picked out Burchell and his close range effort was saved brilliantly by House. It came back out to Reece Grant, who had replaced the injured Bramble, but House recovered to hold the follow up.

Pegrum then delivered a corner that found Winfield at the far post but he was unable to hit the target with his header before Sears almost took advantage of further sloppy Welling football when he intercepted a pass along the back line and hit it first time, but straight at Lovett.

Just after the hour mark, Kevin Hake was forced into making a goalkeeping substitution when House limped off to be replaced by Ben Bridle-Card.

As the Wings struggled to break down the obstinate Chatham defence, the visitors attempted to pick their opponents off on the break and Kian Garlinge came close when meeting Yila’s deep cross and heading it back across goal but narrowly wide of the far post. Sears then got in behind only for his attempted slot home to miss the far upright.

Kennedy had a free kick saved comfortably and as Welling threw players forward, Chatham looked the most likely to score again. Sears tried to make the most of Lovett being out of his goal but his shot from wide clipped the bar on the way over.

Sears was again sent through and hit his shot early but Lovett was out to block with his chest. Then Yila tried his luck from a tight angle but the Welling goalkeeper made an easy save.

When the referee blew his final whistle, Chatham were able to start their celebrations while Rod Stringer’s team were left to lick their wounds.

Welling United: Lovett, Burchell, Wells (Donkor 36), A. Grant (Cornish 75), Perkins (Mensah 83), Winfield, Pegrum, Kennedy, Chukwu (Carty 75), Long, Bramble (R. Grant 51). Subs not used: Munns, Andrews.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: None

Chatham Town: House (Bridle-Card 61), Cooper, Akehurst, Robins, Naylor, O’Keefe, Yila, Evans (Garlinge 66), Sene-Richardson Sears, Aidoo. Sub not used: Scarlett, Sangare, Rowe, Burgess, Maciocia.

Goalscorers: Sears (23)

Yellow cards: Evans, O’Keefe, Naylor, Yila

Referee: George Laflin

Assistants: Simon Parberry and Adam Shimmin

Fourth Official: Charles Nicholas

Attendance: 661

Images courtesy of Dave Budden