What was hoped to be a party occasion for Welling Town went flat as Cobham knocked them out of the F.A. Cup.

Kevin Oakes’s Boots were playing their first cup game back in the borough of Bexley for two years following their exile to Dartford and Chatham. They have agreed a ground share arrangement at Phoenix Sports and had hoped to start with a victory. However, there was a degree of controversy about their loss when reduced to ten men early in the second half.

Chander Kasai had a great opportunity early on but was unable to get his shot away and was crowded out. At the other end Ben Senior might have done better from Jamie Di Giuseppe’s free kick when unmarked at the near post but he couldn’t direct it goalwards.

Boots’ goalkeeper Jack Rankin made a good low save from Laolu Daranijo before Welling had chances at the other end. An arrowed kick out by Rankin found Vinnie Medhurst and he sent Kasai clear. Again he couldn’t get his shot away immediately, but when he did. it clattered the bar before going over.

Rourke Pickford made an excellent save from Seb Rowland’s volley before the visitors went ahead three minutes before half time. A poor headed clearance fell nicely for Jacob De Sa and he made no mistake when slotting it home.

Controversy struck in the fifth minute of the second half. Derick Hayford was pulled back by Joe Smith and the referee deemed it a goal scoring opportunity despite there were other defenders in the vicinity. Smith was dismissed and Di Giuseppe exacted further punishment by placing the free kick into the top corner.

Daranijo then got behind and his hook came back off the far post before Cobham added a third with just over quarter of an hour remaining. Senior burst down the left and pulled it back for Daranijo to finish well.

Ten man Welling conceded a fourth in stoppage time. Pickford’s long punt sent Senior away and he finished comfortably.

Welling Town: Rankin, Brand, Vincent, Ikudehinbu, Smith, Adesina, Kasai (Hearn 76), Bacon, Rowland, Medhurst (Omogbai 53), Ramsamy (Manktelow 53). Subs not used: Awokere, Pierre, Samwell, White.