Weymouth 3-0 Welling United: Brad Ash scores twice in Weymouth win

Ash 23, 35 pen, Bearwish 56

WELLING UNITED 0

WEYMOUTH cast aside their league struggles with a magnificent performance to beat a physical Welling United 3-0 in the FA Cup third qualifying round.

Brad Ash’s first-half double, including a penalty, set the Bob Lucas Stadium into raptures before Tom Bearwish added a fierce third on 56 minutes.

Welling’s Ade Azeez missed a penalty for Welling to compound a miserable afternoon for the Wings.

Chasing a second win in his tenure, Weymouth boss Bobby Wilkinson made two changes to the starting XI that began the 2-0 loss to Havant on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Weymouth 3-0 Welling United - how it happened

Out went goalkeeper Ryan Sandford and the injured Cameron Murray, with new keeper signing Zaki Oualah and Luke Nippard replacing them.

Zaki Oualah kept a clean sheet on his Weymouth debut Picture: MARK PROBIN (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Weymouth could only name five of the permitted seven substitutes with Noa Boutin and Claudio Ofosu both absent from the squad.

Sandford was benched, joining new signing Tyler Forbes, while under-23s Matty Burrows and Frankie Monk made up the five.

Weymouth, as they had done against Havant, made a positive start as Ahkeem Rose headed a Keelan O’Connell corner behind after Tom Blair’s cross was needlessly palmed out by Kai McKenzie-Lyle.

O’Connell was next to test McKenzie-Lyle with a bobbling shot from distance and the creative midfielder caused more problems for Welling as skipper James Dunne chopped the ex-Torquay man down for a cynical foul, earning the game’s first booking.

Welling took an overly physical approach to several tackles, a tactic mostly allowed to slide by referee Alex Blake.

Weymouth were zipping the ball about with freedom in the first half and Rose spread play to Harry Kyprianou, who promptly blasted over from 25 yards to end an attractive move.

Weymouth’s passing earned them another corner midway through the half, which was only half cleared by Jamie White and enabled the Terras to win a second corner.

O’Connell caught Welling fast asleep, taking it short to Tom Bearwish who clattered a shot at Rose. He laid off to Ash, who spun to fire home from six yards and give Weymouth a rare lead this season.

Brad Ash, right, opens the scoring for Weymouth MARK PROBIN (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Weymouth had to contend with more heavy challenges, the latest grounding Teddy Howe, but the Terras exploited Welling’s penchant for a tackle on their way to making it 2-0.

O’Connell’s shot was blasted at Ash and the striker drew a foul from Manny Parry with a clever turn, earning a clear penalty that Ash stuck away onto the bottom right with McKenzie-Lyle sent the wrong way.

At 2-0 after 35 minutes, Weymouth were in uncharted territory this season but Welling forced Oualah into an excellent fingertip save just before the break.

Stefan Payne smuggled the ball into the area and his snapshot was pushed clear by the Algerian debutant.

And there was an adverse send-off for ex-Weymouth defender Taofiq Olomowewe as he was subbed off for Anthony Papadopoulos on 44 minutes, the Terras’ faithful showing their delight at the change.

Wilkinson subbed Rose for Gifford at half-time and five minutes later needed to bring on Forbes for his debut after Luke Nippard sustained an injury in a collision with Oualah.

Tyler Forbes also made his Weymouth debut Picture: MARK PROBIN (Image: MARK PROBIN)

And Forbes was able to show his pace on the break as Blair picked him out, although McKenzie-Lyle did well to block the winger’s effort.

Matsuzaka headed O’Connell’s corner behind but the Terras grabbed their third goal seconds later.

Blair’s volleyed cross came off Ash and fell perfectly for captain-on-the-day Bearwish, who lashed a daisy-cutter at goal, McKenzie-Lyle only able to push it into the far corner as Weymouth set off on jubilant celebrations.

Captain-for-the-day Tom Bearwish, left, scored Weymouth's third goal Picture: MARK PROBIN (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Welling continued with their aggressive approach in tackles, flattening Matsuzaka and then Blair, the latter seeing yellow for Chi Ezennolim.

White was booked for dissent as the Wings’ ill-discipline showed no sign of abating, before Blair somehow missed from 12 yards after Ash’s low cross found him in acres of space.

Gifford tested McKenzie-Lyle as Weymouth sensed a fourth, but the Terras were nearly caught out at the other end as Aaron Barnes fired at Oualah on a tight angle.

Gifford became the latest Terra to sustain an injury, Burrows coming on to replace him, and there was late drama as Welling won a penalty for Nathan Carlyle’s handball during seven added minutes.

However, Welling could not convert as Azeez rattled the near post with Oualah sent the wrong way, sparking loud cheers from the home crowd.

Weymouth could have had a fourth as Blair’s deep cross was headed to Ash by Forbes, although the striker hooked over on the stretch.

That was the final action as Weymouth sealed their place in the fourth qualifying round, winning £5,625 in the process ahead of Monday’s draw.

Terras: Oualah, Howe, Kyprianou, Carlyle, Matsuzaka, Nippard (Forbes 51), Bearwish, O'Connell, Blair, Rose (Gifford 46, Burrows 90), Ash. Subs not used: Monk, Sandford.

Welling: McKenzie-Lyle, Ezennolim, Parry, Olomowewe (Papadopoulos 44), Azeez, Payne, Kassarate (Hyde 59), Dunne, White, Barnes, Maloney (Francis 59). Subs not used: Roberts, Cox, Howard, Dickens.

Referee: Alex Blake

Attendance: 528