WELLING United dished out a humiliating defeat to a young Arsenal side at Park View Road this afternoon.
The Gunners took the lead on 16 minutes through Gavin Hoyte but their advantage was short lived as Loick Pires drew the Wings back on terms from the penalty spot eight minutes later.
Luis Cumbers put Welling in front on 64 minutes and further goals from Loui Fazakerley and Daryl Robson ensured this was a day to forget for Liam Brady’s side, several of whom are expected play for Arsenal in next weekend’s Emirates Cup.
Benik Afobe went to ground a bit too easily under pressure from Andy Sambrook on five minutes and his penalty appeal rightly fell on deaf ears.
Tommy Whitnell had a shot for the Wings blocked five minutes later by Jernade Meade.
Welling keeper John Whitehouse did well to tip over Meade’s 16th minute drive but Arsenal went in front from the resultant corner when Mark Randall’s initial shot was blocked before Hoyte drilled home.
Fazakerley almost equalised four minutes later when his cross-shot hit the bar, while Jack Obersteller fired an ambitious 30-yard drive straight at Gunners keeper James Shea midway through the half.
Jamie Day’s attempted lob from the edge of the area was caught by Shea but Welling were awarded a penalty on 24 minutes when Pires was brought crashing down by Daniel Boating.
Pires promptly picked himself up to smash the spot kick past Shea and it was no less than the plucky hosts deserved after an impress start against their illustrious opponents.
Whitehouse did well to deny Rhys Murphy, while Fazakerley fired just wide at the other end.
Obersteller’s 40th minute free-kick into the danger zone wasn’t dealt with by Shea, who was relieved to see Tommy Whitnell blaze the loose ball over.
Day had two fantastic opportunities to put Welling in front on the stroke of half-time, first when his corner was headed off the line by Sanchez Watt and then when his chip from 20-yards cannoned back off the bar.
The player-boss was one of four Welling players not to appear in the second period as he was replaced by Lee Clarke.
Clarke had the first real opportunity of the second period when he shot straight at Shea following good build-up play from the Wings, while an unmarked Fazakerley headed over from a 53rd minute corner.
Welling took the lead on 64 minutes when Joe Healy got on the end of a quickly taken throw in before picking out a completely unmarked Cumbers at the back post, who tapped home from close range.
John’s powerful 69th minute shot from 20 yards was well-saved by Shea but there was nothing the Arsenal keeper could do to prevent an ideally placed Fazakerley from firing in the rebound.
And Arsenal’s afternoon went from bad to worse three minutes later when Welling made it four courtesy of a stunning 20-yard volley from Robson.
Welling: Whitehouse (Ming 60), Coyle (Omogbehin 60), Obersteller (Robson 62), Day (Clarke 46), Sambrook (Achampong 46), Parkinson, Fazakerley, Cracknell (John 62), Whitnell (Cumbers 46), Pugh (Healy 46), Pires (Johnson 57). Att: 1,803.
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