Although last season was hard for Welling United, they did have some joy in knock-out competitions.

This time around, their league campaign is far more exciting for their supporters but their cup form has been disastrous. They have tumbled out of all four of the competitions at the first time of asking, three of which were on home soil.

Their final hopes of a run were ended when they were beaten at Park View Road by Weston-super-Mare.

After Connor Dymond had fired over in the opening minutes, Welling were pinned back by a Weston team whose passing game gave them a lot of suspension.

Ryan Sandford made his Welling debut on loan from Millwall and was the only goalkeeper called into action in the first half. He saved cross shots from Jake Lee and Danny Greenslade before Lee failed to convert at the far post from a Dayle Grubb free kick.

Jeffrey Monakana tried his luck from out wide with an impudent chip that landed on the roof of the net but Grubb was soon causing more problems with a shot that was deflected wide.

Just before half time Welling almost went ahead. Jack Jebb made himself space before playing in Bradley Goldberg whose shot beat Luke Purnell but hit the foot of the post and went wide.

Immediately after the break, the Seagulls broke the deadlock when Grubb found Gethyn Hill who burst through before firing home from the edge of the penalty area.

Sandford then saved a Coyle header back at the second attempt before making a more comfortable one from Naby Diallo.

Eli Phipps fired wide from distance as Welling started to cause a few more problems.

Tom Bradbrook appeared to have been pulled down in the area then Goldberg fired a shot that needed an excellent save from Purnell.

Next, Bradbrook came even closer with a header from a Monakana cross that came back off the crossbar.

At the other end, former Wing Jake Reid was just wide from a Greenslade free kick.

Grubb, always probing and looking for a shot, had one blocked before Welling did have the ball in the net but to no avail.

Christian Nanetti fired in an effort that struck Bradbrook. Although the tall striker was able to spin and fire home he did so from an offside position.

Bradbrook headed wide from a Jebb corner at one end and Lee did likewise from Greenslade’s delivery at the other.

Lee shot across the face of goal and Grubb had two more efforts blocked as Welling pushed men forward.

The final chance came and went when Goldberg’s shot was saved superbly by Purnell in injury time.

 

Welling United: Sandford, Dymond, Johnson (Nanetti 74), Durojaiye, Coyle, Parkinson (Gayle 46), Monakana, Jebb, Bradbrook, Goldberg, Phipps.

Subs not used: Francis, Jefford, Milton.

 

Weston-super-Mare: Purnell, Harper, Greenslade, Cane, Pope, Smith, Reid, Diallo, Hill, Grubb, Lee.

Subs not used: Laird, Kington, Welch, Plummer, Rapai.

 

Welling United:

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards:  Dymond, Phipps

Red cards: None

 

Weston-super-Mare:

Goalscorers:  Hill (46)

Yellow cards: Diallo

Red cards: None

 

Referee: David Spain

Assistants: Peter Cruise and Ollie Butcher

 

Attendance: 322

 

Welling star player: Olumide Durojaiye

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.