United 5
(Jarvis 35′ (pen), 65′ (pen), McGavin 40′, Donnellan 59′, Stobbs 76′)
Welling 1
(Adom 18′)
Match Sponsor:
Lisa Hambly
United produced a wonderful performance on Community Day to defeat Welling 5-1 at Plainmoor.
Things didn’t start well, as it was Kain Adom who opened the scoring for The Wings, however The Gulls responded in style with penalty-specialist Aaron Jarvis levelling things up from the spot, before Brett McGavin produced another show-stopper to put his side ahead at the change of ends. The second period saw Torquay run clear, with Shaun Donnellan, Jarvis – another penalty – and Jack Stobbs sealing a handsome victory.
Manager Gary Johnson made no changes to the side that went down to Maidstone in the FA Cup last weekend, although there were some amendments on the bench, where the previously on-loan Dylan Crowe and back-from-suspension Ross Marshall took their places amongst the potential player replacements.
It took United less than 90 seconds to create the first gilt-edged chance. A long ball forward caught out the advancing Welling backline, and after timing his run perfectly to get on the end of the bouncing ball, Brad Ash flicked the ball over visiting goalkeeper James Holden – only to see his effort drift wide of goal.
The early stages saw the men in yellow enjoying the territorial advantage, however the visitors always looked a threat on the break, and on 18 minutes they made it count.
Adom was allowed to progress a little too far inside the Torquay half, and after deciding to make the most of the invite offered to him, his low drive from 22 yards beat Mark Halstead before nestling into the back of the net.
For a moment, Johnson’s men looked stunned, however ten minutes before the break, parity was restored via a familiar source.
With glovesman Holden getting into a mix-up whilst dealing with a loose ball, Ash and Jarvis made enough of a nuisance of themselves to force the Welling No.1 into fouling the latter on the edge of the area, with the referee taking a moment before pointing to the spot.
It almost goes without saying these days that The Gulls’ ever-reliable centre-forward picked himself, and the ball up, before confidently sending the ‘keeper the wrong way to level things up.
If that lifted spirits somewhat, what happened five minutes later raised the roof.
McGavin, who has already won one Goal of the Month award, decided to set the standard for October with a sublime shot from 22 yards out that soared into the top-corner, leaving the despairing Welling backline and goalkeeper helpless.
Johnson’s men looked revitalised after that, as they went in search for a third – and they nearly found it.
Ash chased a ball into the 18-yard box, and having rounded the stranded Holden, it was only the angle that prevented him from adding to United’s tally, with the ball eventually ending up in the side-netting.
As it was, The Gulls had to be content with a 2-1 lead at the change of ends.
United restarted the second-half where they left off, with Welling spending large periods backed up against the community-filled Wollens Terrace.
Following a few near-misses, Johnson’s attack-minded approach paid dividends.
Having won a free-kick in the centre-circle on 65 minutes, a pinpoint delivery found Donnellan in space on the right of the penalty area, and having taking a moment to evaluate the situation, The Gulls’ right-back produced a delightful chip that looped over Holden and into its final destination in the back of the net.
It wasn’t long before three became four.
Another free-kick, this time from just outside the box, once again proved to be the catalyst.
Stobbs’ 20-yard ball into the area certainly looked intended for Jarvis, and with the referee quick to spot the shove that saw him miss out on an effort at goal, Johnson’s men were soon awarded their second spot-kick of the game.
Jarvis did just as before, coolly rolling the ball the opposite way of Holden’s dive to make it four.
The floodgates were now well and truly open, and with 14 minutes to go, Torquay’s performance was given a five-star rating.
After winning a corner, Stobbs’ delivery towards Marshall at the back-post went one better and appeared to go straight in. The celebrations acclaimed the fifth goal regardless of the individual scorer, whilst Welling’s afternoon got even worse as Holden received his marching orders in the immediate aftermath.
A sixth, although it was much-sought after failed to materialise thereafter, but Community Day 2023 will take some beating!
Onwards together we march to Weston-super-Mare on Tuesday.
UNITED: 1. Mark Halstead, 4. Tom Lapslie (8. Asa Hall, 71′), 9. Aaron Jarvis, 10. Lewis Collins, 11. Brad Ash, 14. Brett McGavin, 15. Finley Craske, 16. Shaun Donnellan (6. Ross Marshall, 71′), 21. Dean Moxey (c), 23. Ollie Tomlinson, 27. Jack Stobbs.
SUBS NOT USED: 2. Dylan Crowe, 7. Ryan Hanson, 22. Rhys Lovett.
Yellow Cards: Donnellan 53′
WELLING: 1. James Holden, 2. Crossley Lema, 3. Cameron Green (4. Taylor Curran, HT), 10. Dominic Odusanya (c), 12. Kain Adom, 14. Antony Papadopoulos (23. Enoch Muwonge, 66′), 16. Thomas Bramble (17. Amadou Kassarate, 66′), 18. Jack Burchell, 20. Jephte Tanga, 22. Tristan Abrahams, 24. Lachlan Byrd.
SUBS NOT USED: 11. Lewis White, 21. David Kamara.
Yellow Card / Red Card: Holden 35′, 76′
Yellow Card: Bramble 52′, Odusanya 58′, Lema 64′, Muwonge 85′
Attendance: 2,510 (50 away)