Defeat at Braintree Town ended Welling United’s unbeaten five game run in the National League South.

Having beaten Slough Town on Saturday it was a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Show’ as they had a twenty minute first half horror show in Essex.

Danny Bloor was hampered by an injury to Crossley Lema in the warm up and Antony Papadopoulos replaced him at right back. Taylor Curran continued to deputise for Jack Burchell who took the place on the bench vacated by Papadopoulos.

Josh Chambers had the first shot for Welling as they started brightly, however, it all fell apart in the seventh minute when the hosts went ahead. Gio Chrichlow’s shot was blocked out to Shaquille Coulthirst and his follow up effort somehow found its way past Javarn Pitterson and into the net.

Smelling blood, the Braintree front three pushed forward. Coulthirst and Aaron Blair had shots saved before the Iron extended their lead. Crichlow sent Blair through and he made no mistake when slotting it inside the post.

Matthew Ward shot beyond the far post when making it three shortly after when Blair again got behind far too easily and crossed low for Ward to tuck home.

Tristan Abrahams hooked over for Welling before Welling manager Danny Bloor took a risk in bringing on Jack Burchell, recovering from injury and not in the original sixteen, to help to shore up the defence. This appeared to have an effect as the Wings started to get some joy.

Jephte Tanga thought that he had been thwarted by a brilliant save by Blunkell but had he netted, the strike would have been chalked off for offside. As the first half came to a close, Abrahams fired a free kick just over.

During the half time break, stern words were said before the Welling team were sent out early to wait for their hosts.

When the game restarted, Welling pulled one back with an excellent strike by Dominic Odusanya that gave Blunkell no chance. They came close to a second when Kain Adom sent Antony Papadopoulos clear down the right and his angled shot came back out off the far post.

They continued to press and Papadopoulos shot wide from distance before Blunkell made a brilliant save to deny Will Wood

However, with three minutes remaining, Ward added a fourth for Braintree with a brilliant shot from twenty-five yards.

Bloor will have to assess the fitness of his squad, ahead of their FA trophy match against Taunton Town on Saturday. Adom limped off in the second half to join Lema as a cause for concern.

Welling United: Pitterson, Papadopoulos, Green, Kassarate, Curran (Wood 69), Byrd, Tanga, Odusanya, Abrahams, Chambers (Burchell 30), Adom (Sekajja 76). Sub not used: White, Muwonge.