Although they didn’t make it easy for themselves, Welling United defeated Gosport Borough in their F.A. Cup Third Qualifying replay.

Once again they had to come from behind to secure their place in the fourth qualifying round, and a visit to Boreham Wood.

Lachlan Byrd met an early James Vaughan free kick but couldn’t get enough on his header and it went wide.

Dave Tarpey then had an opportunity for Gosport when given far too much time but his strike was beaten out by Ben Winterbottom.

However, there was nothing that the Welling goalkeeper could do to stop the visitors from going ahead shortly after. Rory Williams slung in a free kick, it got flicked on, and Harvey Rew arrived late to fire home.

Lewis White crossed low for Welling and although Toby Steward couldn’t hold it, Williams was on hand to knock it out. Vaughan delivered the corner deep and Jack Burchell met it with a volley that flew beyond the far post.

Rew drilled a shot that was deflected wide but nothing came of the corner. However, when Cameron Green also had a shot that hit a defender and went out for a corner, Welling made it count.

Vaughan found Crossley Lema whose header floated over a defender and Steward and found its way into the net.

Byrd headed over from another Vaughan corner before Steward made a stunning save to keep out a shot from an Antony Papadopoulos shot that was destined for the top corner.

Gosport’s let off was short lived though as Welling went ahead from Vaughan’s corner. Jack Burchell headed back into the middle and Tristan Abrahams knocked it home from close range.

Papadopoulos had another low shot well saved before Welling added a third. Lema chased a long pass down the right and although there were two defenders ahead of him, his speed and strength were too much for them and he powered through before hitting a low shot into the bottom corner.

There was no further scoring before half time despite Abrahams firing over and Papadopoulos shooting straight at Steward.

Immediately after the break, Tarpey shot wide for Gosport before they pulled one back nine minutes in. This time it was Welling who failed to clear a corner and Rafael Ramos smashed it into the roof of the net.

Hopes for Gosport of getting something from the game then took a serious blow when they were reduced to ten men. Having already been cautioned, Alexander Barsa committed a needless handball in the Welling penalty area and was shown a second yellow card followed by a red.

Abrahams added his second goal, and Welling’s fourth, when Vaughan threaded a clever through ball between the centre backs and the Wings’ hitman gave Steward no chance.

Steward made another brilliant save to spare Bradley Tarbuck’s blushes when he diverted Cameron Green’s shot towards his own goal. Enoch Muwonge might then have put the cherry on the cake with a thrilling run that ended with a shot that flew over. 

Now, Welling manager Danny Bloor will need to get the players’ cup excitement out of their system and prepare them for their league match with Farnborough on Saturday.

Welling United: Winterbottom, Lema, Green, Vaughan (Bayford 90+2), Byrd, Burchell, Tanga, Odusanya, Abrahams, Papadopoulos (Muwonge 90), White (Bramble 81).

Sub not used: Pitterson, MacAllister, Adom, Kassarate.

Goalscorers: Steward o.g. (28), Abrahams (32), (66), Lema (36)

Yellow cards: Papadopoulos, Winterbottom

Gosport Borough: Steward, Sharp, Williams, Hollands, Medway, Barsa, Tarbuck, Rew (Hookey 69), Tarpey (Cumberbatch 64), Efedje (Davis-Stephenson 69), Ramos.

Subs not used: Smart, Kavanagh.

Goalscorers: Rew (12), Ramos (54)

Yellow cards: Sharp, Tarbuck, Barsa

Red card: Barsa

Referee: Matthew Norton

Assistants: Andrew Tregoning and Fabio Roque

Attendance: 443

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.