Welling tumble out of the cup (From News Shopper)

Welling United 1-3 Bishop's Stortford

11:54pm Saturday 20th October 2012 in Non-League Football By Mark Doig

DESPITE recent impressive league displays, Welling United had struggled in the F.A. Cup and their luck ran out when they stumbled to a 3-1 home defeat against a hard working Bishop’s Stortford team.

Jack Obersteller’s injury at Bromley one week earlier caused Jamie Day to re-shuffle his back four and the reorganisation appeared to unsettle the whole team.

Had the Wings converted one of their opportunities when the scores were level, it may have been different, but they did not and the Hertfordshire team had a far easier afternoon than they would have expected.

Theo-Fairweather was first to come close when chasing a long ball, he stabbed the ball over the out-rushing Luke Chambers, but also over the crossbar.

After Reneil Sappleton shot at Sam Mott, Loui Fazakerley saw an effort saved by Chambers then Joe Healy fired over.

Sappleton headed a Matt Johnson free kick too high then a Phil Anderson shot was deflected over.

Jesse Waller-Lassen made a vital interception to cut out a Ross Lafayette cross field pass that would have presented Fairweather-Johnson with a clear cut opening. Healy teed up a short free kick to Fraser Franks whose effort flew high and wide then Lafayette flicked on Mott’s long clearance into the path of Kiernan Hughes-Mason but he shot over when well placed.

After hitting the post, Waller-Lassen was cautioned for a foul on Fazakerley but the Blues went ahead soon after.

Anthony Acheampong looked to have made a clean tackle on the edge of the penalty area but referee Paul Harris thought otherwise, awarded a spot kick and cautioned the unfortunate Wings defender. Sappleton stepped up and drilled the ball home straight down the middle.

A powerful Healy drive was pushed wide by Chambers at the cost of a corner before Lafayette was cautioned as Chambers made a meal of minimal contact.

The visitors claimed the killer second goal just before half time when Anthony Sinclair-Furlonge, on loan from Stevenage Borough, headed in off the crossbar unopposed from a corner.

Harry Baker replaced Fairweather-Johnson after the interval but the first opportunity of the half fell to the visitors as Mott saved from Sappleton.

On the hour, Jon Main replaced Hughes-Mason as Welling tried to claw their back into the tie and Baker twice gave Lafayette shooting opportunities. The first effort went wide however the second looked to be heading just inside the post until deflected away for a corner. Healy found Franks with his far post delivery but the defender headed wide.

Franks’ next involvement was to prove to be his last of the game as he blocked a goalbound Sappleton shot with his hand at the cost of a red card and another penalty. Sappleton stepped up and converted as Mott went the wrong way.

Barney Williams replaced Healy on 70 minutes but the visitors looked comfortable and restricted Welling to few opportunities as Chambers made comfortable saves from Lafayette and Fazakerley.

Four minutes into injury time, Welling claimed a consolation goal when Main demonstrated his goalscoring ability with a fine finish at the near post.

Welling United: Mott, Franks, Fazakerley, Gallagher, Acheampong, Martin, Hughes-Mason (Main 60), Clarke, Fairweather-Johnson (Baker 46), Lafayette, Healy (Williams 70). Unused substitutes: Turner, Kinch, Hudson, Obersteller.