WELLING were sent crashing out of the FA Cup second round at Plymouth on Saturday after an erratic eight-minute first half spell saw them ship three goals.

News Shopper: Andres Gurrieri (27) opens the scoring for the Pilgrims

With it went any hope the non-league battlers from Park View Road had of reaching round three.

In fairness to the Wings, they improved greatly in the second half and saw Ross Lafayette reduce the deficit but it was nothing more than a consolation in the end.

News Shopper: Curtis Nelson (left) scores in the bottom corner

Reuben Reid went close early on but his shot was straight at Wings stopper Lee Butcher.

But Plymouth took the lead with their next attack after Andres Gurrieri was slipped through by Reid.

The winger still had work to do but he twisted and turned his way past Jake Gallagher and poked his shot effortlessly past Butcher in off the far post.

One became two five minutes later as Plymouth captain Conor Hourihane sent in a delicious set piece which caused panic in the Wings box.

News Shopper: Lewis Alessandra sees his header go in from close range to make it 3-0

Fraser Franks’ attempted clearance only found its way to Curtis Nelson on the edge of the box and he stroked his effort home into the corner for his first goal of the season.

The game was put beyond all doubt three minutes later when the Pilgrims added a decisive third.

Hourihane whipped in another cross and this time Lewis Alessandra got to the delivery before Butcher and guided his header into the roof of the net.

A shell-shocked Welling tried to rally and Baily Cargill blasted in a free-kick right on the 18-yard box after Guthrie was fouled in what could have easily been inside the area.

Plymouth nearly hit Welling on the break as Jamie Reckord slipped Alessandra through before cutting the ball back for Reid, but fortunately Blaine Hudson was on hand to clear off the line.

Alex Dyer drew a great save from Jake Cole after turning and hitting a rising shot which was heading in.

Welling looked a different side in the second half and got off to a great start by pulling a goal back in the 53rd minute.

De’Reece Vanderhyde played a pass through to Ross Lafayette and with Plymouth defender Neal Trotman stumbling, it allowed Lafayette to have a clear path to goal.

News Shopper: Kurtis Guthrie runs into the box

Despite hesitating slightly, the Wings ace coolly composed himself and struck a low drive past Cole.

Hourihane saw Hudson block his powerful shot with his chest and at the other end Lee Clarke almost cheekily chipped Cole but the ball just failed to dip in time and landed on the top of the net.

The impressive Hourihane then saw his shot fumbled behind the post by Butcher.

Kurtis Guthrie was played through with 20 minutes remaining but with Cole rushing out to close the ball down, the Welling player seemingly managed to get to the ball in a 50-50 challenge.

News Shopper: Skipper Lee Clarke applauds the travelling supporters

Harshly, though, Guthrie was booked for his challenge, with the winger having every right to challenge for the ball and getting to it before Cole.

Unfortunately for the Plymouth keeper he was injured in the collision and was replaced by Luke McCormick.

One shining light on a day of not too many positives was the return from injury of Harry Beautyman and also Luis Cumbers, making his first appearance from a serious knee injury in over 16 months, as they both joined the game with nine minutes to go.

Despite not for the want of trying from Welling, Plymouth closed the game out, leaving the Wings to concentrate on building on a good start to the first half of the Conference season.

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Welling United: Butcher, Vanderhyde, Franks, Hudson, Cargill , Gallagher (Beautyman 81), Dyer, Clarke , Healy (Cumbers 81), Guthrie , Lafayette. Subs not used: Bergqvist, Turner, Webb, Corne, Ekim. Att: 4,706 (215 from Welling).