Any hopes that Welling United had of an F.A. Cup run were dashed when they crashed out at home to Haringey Borough.

Despite a two league advantage, Welling were second best for most of the match and could not begrudge the visitors their win.

They could look at weak refereeing, how Haringey still had eleven players on at the end is a mystery, but that would be a smokescreen. Haringey had the greater desire and a game plan that Welling could not counter.

After just eight minutes they went ahead with an out and out route one goal. A very long ball forward was not cut out and Ralstoh Gabriel went round the onrushing Dillon Barnes easily before slotting home.

Ruaridh Kay was cautioned immediately after for a foul that might have been shown greater punishment by other officials.

Joe Healy found Eli Phipps from a free kick but his header went wide before some more wild tackles flew in.

If Kay could have been dismissed for his wild challenge, Gabriel should have gone for a tackle on Christian Nanetti that could have caused a serious injury. Somehow, he also escaped with a yellow card.

David Olufemi was the next Borough player booked as he scythed Nanetti down with the ball not in the vicinity.

As half time approached, Jeffrey Monakana crossed but Phipps headed just wide. This proved to be Phipps’ last taste of the action as Welling sacrificed him at the break in a formation change, with Jack Jebb replacing him.

Eleven minutes into the second half, Welling levelled. Haringey goalkeeper Valery Pajetat missed Monakana’s cross and Healy brought it down before finishing calmly.

After that, Welling had a couple of half chances before they had a great chance to go ahead. Nanetti wriggled his way into the area and was brought down by Gabriel. Nanetti took the kick himself but Pajetat made up for his earlier mistake by reading the penalty and saving comfortably.

That gave the visitors some momentum and Olufemi was brought down by a rash challenge by Ben Jefford in the other area. Gabriel made no mistake from the spot sending Barnes the wrong way.

Deflated Welling didn’t look close to getting back into the match and crashed out of the cup meekly.

Welling United: Barnes, Dymond, Jefford, Durojaiye, Coyle, Parkinson (Gayle 85), Monakana, Healy, Bojaj (Pattisson 72), Phipps E (Jebb 46), Nanetti. Subs not used: Francis, Milton, Manpmo, Brown.

Haringey Borough: Pajetat, Olufemi, O’Donoghue M, Yiga, Richards, Sheriff, M, Dtassi-Sambu, Kay (Benjamin 71), Gabriel, O’Donoghue J (Luke 59), McDonald (Ademiluyi 59). Subs not used: Byfield, Mitchell, Arisitdou, Coley.

Welling United:

Goalscorers: Healy (56)

Yellow cards: Parkinson

Red cards: None

 

Haringey Borough:

Goalscorers: Gabriel (8), Gabriel pen (78)

Yellow cards: Kay, Gabriel, Olufemi, Pajetat, Yiga

Red cards: None

 

Referee: Jonathan Cheswick

Assistants: James Hurst and James Killen

 

Attendance: 329

 

Welling star player: Joe Healy

Images courtesy of Dave Budden