AFTER shading the first half, Welling United’s F.A. Cup campaign was ended by two goals in the second period at high flying Dover Athletic.

Andy Ford again rang the changes making four apterations from the Welling team which had disappointed in their previous game against Bishop’s Stortford.

This resulted in their two leading goal scorers, Tommy Whitnell and Jake Hobbs, losing their starting places.

Dover goalkeeper Lee Hook was called into early action by gathering a Sam Hurrell free-kick and Steffan Gaisie, making his full debut, was thwarted by a last ditch Tom Davis tackle.

Gaisie and Adrian Stone both failed to get a shot away in Welling’s next attack as the visitors took the game to their hosts.

Against the run of play Shaun Welford had an opportunity to put Dover ahead.

In a warning of what was to come, he was allowed a free header from a long free-kick but he was only able to find the side netting.

Anthony Finn nut-megged the experienced Nicky Southall twice in quick succession but was unable to find a telling pass on either occasion.

Jon Wallis earned the first yellow card of the afternoon for a nasty challenge on Ryan Johnson as Dover became more and more frustrated by struggling to match their opponents.

As half-time approached, a long lick by Charlie Mitten put Stone away but he was unable to find the target with a difficult shot as the ball dropped over his shoulder.

Early in the second half, Finn cut in from the wing but couldn’t find the pace in his shot to trouble Hook.

Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler brought on Jerahl Hughes on the hour and the hosts went ahead a minute later.

Hughes was scythed down by a Hurrell tackle that earned the Welling player a yellow card.

From the free-kick, Southall was able to pick out an unmarked Olly Schulz and his header gave Mitten no chance.

This proved to be a fatal blow and the body language of the Welling players was evident for all to see.

From this point onwards, Dover took control and it was only a series of substitutions that broke up play delaying the inevitable.

Wallis made the result certain sweeping the ball home as Dover carved Welling open with the best passing move of the entire 90 minutes.

Welling had a late opportunity to reduce the arrears when substitute Hobbs was brought down by Jake Leberl for a penalty, but Hobbs saw his spot kick pushed away by Hook, who then needed treatment on a sore wrist.

Ford now has a week to lift his deflated team as they need to start concentrating on picking up league points to lift themselves clear of the lower regions of the Blue Square South.

Welling United: Mitten, Protheroe, Bakare (Sambrook 80), Parkinson, Andrews, King, Gaisie (Hobbs 68), Johnson, Stone, Finn, Hurrell (Blackburn 73). Subs not used: Bennett, Whitnell.