Despite having the majority of the possession and territorial advantage, Welling United fell to defeat at Taunton Town.

One mistake at the back and failing to convert from the penalty spot meant that Welling are yet to claim their first point of the season.

Just ten minutes were on the clock when Taunton profited from disappointing defending. Nick McCootie saw off his man far too easily before tucking home from close range.

Cameron Green got on the end of a good Welling move but fired over and Antony Papadopoulos was also high with a long range effort.

Ross Stearn scuffed a shot wide of the post before Welling had a great chance to level. Nick Grimes bundled Taofiq Olomowewe over in the penalty area and a spot kick was awarded. Papadopoulos took the responsibility but Dan Lavercombe guessed correctly and got down to save.

Papadopoulos almost atoned soon after when his shot from twenty yards clattered the bar before the first half drew to a close.

Lee Lucas launched a shot high into the sky for Taunton early in the second half then Papadopoulos shot over at the other end. Jack Burchell then went on a marauding run and played a couple of reverse passes before getting a clean shot at goal but his effort, destined for the top corner was turned away brilliantly by Lavercombe.

Another outstanding Lavercombe save thwarted seventeen year old David Kamara. Papadopoulos played him in and he looked certain to score as he slotted it towards the bottom corner but the Peacocks’ goalkeeper got down to make a sensational low stop.

Substitutes Lewis White and Kain Adom caused the Taunton defence further issues when they came on. The former hit a shot that Lavercombe saved well low down before the latter squirted a shot beyond the far post.

They then combined well when Adom sent White through and his first time shot flew over, and he was again unable to keep his shot down after his excellent first touch created space. In the final minute of stoppage time Welling won a corner and even goalkeeper Ben Winterbottom went up but the delivery was short and it was cleared easily before the final whistle was blown.

That consigned Welling to no points from four games, and bottom of the league table, a situation which they will look to redress when they entertain Havant and Waterlooville in their next game.

Taunton Town: Lavercombe, Booth, Chamberlain, James, Grimes, Evans, Day, Morgan (Grubb 79), McCootie (Guest 63), Stearn, Smith. Sub not used: Irish, Sims-Burgess, Tabu-Minzamba.

Goalscorers: McCootie (10)

Yellow cards: Stearn, Taunton coach, Smith, Grimes, James, Booth

Welling United: Winterbottom, Byrd, Green, Vaughan, Olomowewe (Lema 46), Burchell, Tanga, Odusanya, Kamara (White 68), Papadopoulos, Wood (Adom 58). Sub not used: Andrews, Isiaka.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: Odusanya

Referee: Liam Corbett

Assistants: Said Ouchene and John Duffy

Attendance: 727

Images courtesy of Dave Budden