Hopes of a cup double were ended for Welling United as they succumbed to a very late goal at home to Brentford B in their London Senior Cup Quarter Final tie.
Having won the final of the Kent version six days earlier they were thwarted by a goal by Kaya Halil in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
Although only a minimum of five minutes had been signalled, a yellow card for time wasting caused the referee to extend it and, ironically, the miscreant was also the goalscorer. What made it even worse for the Wings was that the goal came from a break after they had made a mess of their own short corner.
Max Dickov had the first chance for the Bees when Emeka Peters sent him through but Welling goalkeeper Rhys Lovett made a good save with his leg to deflect it wide. Sam Cornish had a shot for Welling from long range and Lovett’s counterpart, Marley Tavaziva dived and did well to hold it low down.
Gene Kennedy then created an opening for Deon Moore whose shot from twenty yards flew wide. However, it was the visitors who opened the scoring when they moved it quickly from a free kick. Although Lovett saved well from Dickov, it fell kindly to Peters who finished from close range.
Lovett saved twice from Adam Poliakov before Welling levelled in first half stoppage time. Cornish threaded it through to Martell Taylor-Crossdale and he fired home clinically from twelve yards out.
There was still time for Sahid Kamara to draw a good save out of Tavaziva before the first period ended.
Five minutes after the restart, Brentford went back ahead when Welling failed to clear a corner and Poliakov hooked it home.
Kamara shot wide and both Moore and Taylor-Crossdale fired over before Welling levelled again five minutes after going behind. Tavaziva made a brilliant save from Taylor-Crossdale but it fell into the path Moore who smashed it home from inside the six yard box.
Another Kamara shot flew just beyond the far post before Finn Ballard-McBride’s shot was blocked high into the air and Tavaziva claimed it just ahead of Taylor-Crossdale.
Peters had a shot blocked wide by Maxwell Statham before another effort by the Bees’ winger was deflected beyond the far post.
Riccardo Di Trolio did superbly to create a further opportunity for Moore and his shot was tipped over brilliantly by Tavaziva before Caelan Avenell headed wide for Brentford as the game became more stretched and end to end. Substitute Michael Boni fired over for the Bees from eight yards out then Ballard-McBride had a deflected shot saved.
It appeared that the outcome would be decided on a penalty shoot-out until Brentford broke, Poliakov crossed and Halil poked it home.
Brian Statham’s side return to league action on Saturday with a visit to Hampton and Richmond Borough with the aim of keeping alive their slim chances of escaping relegation.
Welling United: Lovett, Statham, H. Walker (Bramble 29), Cornish, Quick, Di Trolio, Kamara, Kennedy (Davies 66), Ballard-McBride, Moore (Redfearn 84), Taylor-Crossdale (Kashket 84).
Sub not used: Briscoe.
Goalscorers: Taylor-Crossdale (45+3), Moore (55)
Yellow cards: Moore (33 ungentlemanly conduct)
Brentford B: Tavaziva, Shield, Williams, Avenell, Headman (Boni 65), Klimas, Peters, Honor (Halil 68), Dickov, Grey, Poliakov.
Subs not used: Wolfheimer, Golding, Ivanov.
Goalscorer: Peters (34), Poliakov (50)
Yellow cards: Headman (33 ungentlemanly conduct), Williams (47 persistent fouling), Halil (90+1 time wasting)
Referee: Tommy Breen
Assistants: Ronnie McGibbon and Bedri Karayaka
Fourth Official: Robert Maris
Attendance: TBC