Welling fall to defeat at National League South leaders
BY MARK DOIG
Despite giving the league leaders a stern test, Welling United suffered another defeat on the road at Torquay United.
Rod Stringer only made one change to the Welling line-up from their Tuesday night victory over Weymouth, bringing in Anthony Grant in place of Theo Alexandrou. However, he did change the team’s shape with the intention of keeping the Torquay danger men quiet whilst hitting the hosts on the counter.
Hopes of keeping it tight were scuppered in just the third minute when Torquay went ahead. They were awarded a questionable free kick and made the most of it when Jordan Young delivered to the far post and Jordan Dyer headed home from close range.
Things got worse for the Wings four minutes later when defensive central midfielder Sam Cornish went down in the middle of the pitch and was unable to continue. Zain Walker replaced him.
Dylan Berry was called upon to make a good save from Sam Dreyer before the Wings started to settle. Their first opportunity came from a deep Danny Martin corner that picked out Riccardo Di Trolio and his header was claimed by Torquay goalkeeper James Hamon.
Corners continued to cause problems at both ends and Dan Hayfield fired over after being found from a training ground routine. Then just before half time Cody Cooke was unable to get over a looped cross and couldn’t keep his header down.
Stringer made some further tweaks to his team’s shape at the break which allowed Maxwell Statham more opportunity to get forward down the right hand side. Josh Redfearn crossed to him beyond the far post and he headed it back to Gene Kennedy. The former Colchester United midfielder hit his shot sweetly and Hamon was called into making an acrobatic tip over.
Twelve minutes later, the Wings levelled when Kennedy found Statham and he slung in a cross that TJ Bramble headed home from close range.
Although not able to create clear cut chances, Welling continued to look the more dangerous until Torquay scored against the run of play. Substitute Matt Carson returned it into the area after a corner was cleared, and it appeared to take a deflection to fall into the path of Dyer who finished from close range.
Di Trolio came close to equalising when heading over after Dave Winfield had nodded Daniel Martin’s corner into his path but it was the Gulls who scored again with one minute remaining. Di Trolio slipped as he attempted to head back to Berry and Cooke took full advantage when giving the exposed goalkeeper no chance.
Three-one was not a fair reflection on the game as Welling dropped down one place in the table but they remained nine points clear of the drop zone with another busy week ahead.
PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN