It was another disappointing evening for Welling United as they crashed out of the F.A. Trophy at the hands of Oxford City.

Missing cup-tied Ryan Blackman and Lyle Della-Verde, Welling had a very youthful midfield and although they moved the ball around nicely, they didn’t create as many clear cut chances as they had in their previous two matches. Their defensive woes were also to the fore as they are still yet record a clean sheet this season, and once again conceded from a dead ball situation.

Oxford came out quickly and Lewis Hobbs made a great block from Elliott Benyon. Welling’s problems with corners almost cost them when Joe Oaster blasted over having been given time to bring it down, then Reise Charles-Cook had to save from Josh Ashby.

After that, Welling came more into the game and the next thirty minutes were pretty even. Lionel Ainsworth turned well and drew a good save out of Ben Dudzinski then, at the other end, Daniel Matsuzaka got on the end of a deep Ashby free kick but ran out of space and was unable to pull it back.

Dudzinski was again called into action to make a low save from Matt Everitt after Chiori Johnson’s dangerous cross was knocked out to him before a Benyon header was saved comfortably by Charles-Cook.

Ainsworth had a corner that was half cleared and it came out to Brad Ryan whose first time effort went just over but it was Oxford who broke the deadlock. Nana Owusu was allowed to cut in from the left and he had space and time to pick his spot and fire into the bottom corner. Owusu might have scored again before the break but his free kick was saved superbly by Charles-Cook.

Early in the second half Dipo Akinyemi headed wide from an Everitt cross before Ryan went good run but didn’t have enough power to bother Dudzinski.

Just short of the hour mark, Oxford finished the game as a contest. Pablo Martinez delivered a corner that Welling couldn’t clear and Owusu was on hand to knock home from close range.

Lexus Beeden went close for Welling from an Ainsworth free kick before Oxford substitute Alfie Potter shot well wide after a free kick was half cleared.

As much as they huffed and puffed, the Wings could not find a way through Oxford’s well organised back four until late on when Kareem Isiaka tried to glance a header home from Nathan Green’s angled cross but Dudzinski made a good save.

Welling United: Charles-Cook, Johnson, Green, Ryan (Azeez 90), Beeden, Hobbs, Shokunbi, Everitt (Ilic 81), Barrington (Isiaka 72),  Akinyemi, Ainsworth.

Subs not used: Olagunju, Roberts, Liburd, Cook.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Green

Red cards: None

Oxford City: Dudzinski, Drewe, Hall, Ashby (McEachran 79), Matsuzaka, Oastler, Martinez, Fleet, Benyon, Bancroft (Potter 70), Owusu (Coyle 90).

Subs not used: Grantham, Bradbury, Fernandez.

Goalscorers: Owusu (34, 57)

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None

Referee: Aji Ajibola

Assistants: Joe Gray, Rhys Battye

Attendance: 231

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.