United 3
(Dyer 3′, 76′, Cooke 89′)
Welling 1
(Bramble 57′)
Table-topping United’s unbeaten home run continues, as they secured victory over Welling at Plainmoor on Saturday.
Jordan Dyer’s early goal gave The Gulls a dream start, however after failing to capitalise on their first-half superiority, TJ Bramble punished them with a second half equaliser. Paul Wotton’s side regrouped, and Dyer was the man who restored Torquay’s advantage in the latter stages, before Cody Cooke eventually adding the finishing touch to make it 3-1.
United boss Wotton made two changes to the side that triumphed over Truro on Boxing Day, with Matt Carson and the suspended Jordan Thomas making way for Dean Moxey and Finley Craske.
It didn’t take the men in yellow long to get their noses in front.
After seeing initial appeals for a foul in a similar position fall on deaf ears, Will Jenkins Davies’ trickery on the left edge of the Welling box moments later left the referee in doubt, and after Jordan Young’s ball was whipped into the box with precision, Dyer was perfectly placed to power home his header at the back-post to make it 1-0 with less than three minutes on the clock.
Wotton’s men remained on the front foot for the rest of the half, but despite the likes of Young and Morgan leading the Wings backline a merry dance, The Gulls were unable to add to their single-goal advantage.
The visitors had largely been consigned to a supporting role in the first 45 minutes, but they looked much more of a threat following the restart.
James Hamon – a spectator before the break – came up with a strong hand to divert Gene Kennedy’s 20 yarder over the crossbar in the 51st minute, as the Wings went in search of a leveller.
Parity was restored just short of the hour mark, as a right-wing cross into the six yard box found the head of Bramble, who gleefully headed home from point-blank range.
In truth, the goal seemed to wake United up from their relative slumber.
Without enjoying the level of authority they did earlier, they began to make some in-roads down the flanks, and with fourteen minutes remaining, they found a way through.
A left wing cross again did the trick, and after staying up following a half-cleared corner, Dyer was on hand again to see the ball into the net from close range.
Although United had to survive a near-miss shortly after, as a Wings corner was headed over from close range, they duly secured all three points with a minute left, as Cooke slotted into an empty net, after a defensive mix-up allowed sub Omar Mussa to raid into the Welling box, with Cooke taking on the responsibility of slotting home to seal the deal.
Fortress Plainmoor marches on!
UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 2. Finley Craske, 4. Jordan Dyer, 5. Sam Dreyer, 8. Jordan Young (16. Ed Palmer, 86′), 18. Oscar Threlkeld (c), 19. Cody Cooke, 20. Dan Hayfield, 21. Dean Moxey (14. Matt Carson, 60′), 22. Will Jenkins Davies (10. Omar Mussa,, 68′), 29. Dylan Morgan (28. Jack Wood, 68′).
SUBS NOT USED: 7. Lirak Hasani.
Yellow Card: Hayfield 81′
WELLING: 31. Dylan Berry, 2. Chiori Johnson, 5. Dave Winfield (c), 8. Gene Kennedy, 12. Sam Cornish (7. Zain Walker, 7′), 18. Anthony Grant (3. Sahid Kamara, 83′), 20. TJ Bramble, 21. Dan Martin, 22. Riccardo Di Trolio, 23. Josh Redfearn, 28. Maxwell Statham (9. Theo Alexandrou, 83′).
SUBS NOT USED; 6. Jack Burchell, 11. Martell Taylor-Crossdale.
Yellow Card: Kennedy 30′, Walker 41′
Attendance: 3,794 (29 away)