Struggling Welling United lose 5-1 at Torquay United in National League South

BY MARK DOIG

In many National League South games this season, Welling United have not got what they deserved and they should have more points than the nine that they have totted up.

However, at Torquay, despite a good opening 25 minutes in which they scored to take a warranted lead, they were second best for the remaining hour plus, and they took a trouncing.

TJ Bramble returned from international duty to replace Amadou Kassarate in the Welling midfield while goalkeeper James Holden was brought in on loan from Cambridge United to take over from Ben Winterbottom, who was not allowed to play following the concussion he sustained at Boreham Wood seven days earlier.

Brad Ash might have put the Gulls ahead in the opening exchanges when the Welling defence failed to deal with a long ball out allowing the Torquay striker a shot on goal. Fortunately for the visitors he lifted it wide.

Welling then started to move it around nicely without creating too much before they went ahead in the 18th minute. Kain Adom was invited to shoot by a back-pedalling Torquay defence and he took full advantage by firing into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

As the home fans started to get on their players’ backs, Torquay struggled to contain the Wings and their controversial equaliser came out of the blue. Holden slipped over in the penalty area but got up quickly as Aaron Jarvis collected the loose ball. Looking for an angle to shoot, he appeared to have taken it out of the penalty area when Holden fouled him. However, the referee saw it differently and awarded a penalty, and booked Holden for good measure. Jarvis took the penalty and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Visibly lifted, Torquay looked far more threatening and Jarvis twice missed when he should probably have done better before they went ahead. Under heavy pressure, Holden thought that he had cleared the danger when punching out but it fell for Brett McGavin who hit his 20-yard volley sweetly into the top corner.

Ash missed another good chance when bursting past Holden but hitting the side-netting before Cameron Green blocked Dean Moxey’s shot, injuring himself in the process.

During the half-time break, it became clear that Green would not be able to continue, and that he might be out for a spell, so with no left-back on the bench, Taylor Curran was brought on with a change of shape to best utilise the players on the pitch.

Struggling to replicate the football that they played in the first 25 minutes, it came as no surprise when Welling conceded just shy of the hour mark. Jack Stobbs launched a long diagonal free=kick and Shaun Donnellan showed great technique with his volley to dip it over Holden and inside the far post.

Bloor then introduced Enoch Muwonge in place of Antony Papadopoulos, but to no effect and Torquay scored again. Lachlan Byrd’s foul on Jarvis saw another penalty awarded and again the man who had been fouled made no mistake from the spot.

Things went from bad to worse for Welling with 15 minutes remaining when they conceded again and were reduced to 10 men.

Stobbs launched a deep corner that evaded everyone and went in off the far post. Holden felt that he had been impeded and chased the referee to give him his point of view. Tom Ellsmore was having none of it and showed him a second yellow card and dismissed him. Welling did not have a substitute goalkeeper on the bench but it would have been irrelevant anyway, as they had already used all of their permitted replacements. Therefore, an outfield player had to take the gloves, and striker Tristan Abrahams went between the posts.

He was caught well out of position when Dean Moxey tried his luck from his own half with an effort that floated wide before McGavin twice drew saves out of him, holding on well on each occasion.

Defeat left the Wings in 23rd place in the National League South table, five points adrift of the safety zone, and with a tough game against another full-time team, Maidstone United, ahead of them on Tuesday.

PICTURES: DAVE BUDDEN

Main Pic: Kain Adom strikes the Wings into the lead