It was a disappointing afternoon for Welling United in the West Country as they were well beaten at Torquay United.

For twenty-five to thirty minutes, Welling were the better side but after a controversial penalty was awarded to the hosts, from which they scored, Torquay were the only side in it.

Brad Ash had an early chance for the Gulls when a route one clearance evaded the Welling defence and he had a sight of goal but he lifted his effort wide.

Jephte Tanga then created an opening for Welling when finding Antony Papadopoulos and running around behind him but Papadopoulos chose to shoot rather than passing back to his team-mate in space, only for his effort to be blocked.

In the eighteenth minute, Welling went ahead. Kain Adom burst forward and the defence dropped off inviting him to shoot and he took full advantage with a low effort that gave Mark Halstead no chance.

At that stage, the Wings looked well in control and played some good football without creating chances but then they succumbed to a controversial equaliser.

Debutant goalkeeper James Holden slipped in the penalty area and tried to atone by chasing Aaron Jarvis.

He made a reckless challenge that looked to be just outside the penalty area, however, referee Tom Ellsmore thought otherwise and awarded a spot kick after cautioning the Welling keeper. Jarvis stepped up and gave him no chance.

Jarvis then shot high before his movement created space to allow him a free header from a short corner, only to send it over.

It didn’t take much longer for Torquay to go ahead. A cross was punched out by Holden as far as Brett McGavin and he volleyed it cleanly into the top corner from twenty yards.

Ash burst beyond Holden but the angle was against him and he fired into the side netting and Lewis Collins shot over from twenty-five yards before the first half ended.

Any hopes that Welling supporters might have had of their team re-grouping and getting back into the game were ill founded as Torquay continued to press and they extended their lead just shy of the hour mark. Jack Stobbs delivered a long free kick over the Welling defence and Shaun Donnellan met it with an excellent first time volley. 

Five minutes later, Torquay added to their tally when Lachlan Byrd shoved Jarvis in the penalty area and the Gulls front man scored his second penalty.

Fifteen minutes remained when the hosts further extended their lead when Stobbs delivered a corner that appeared to hit the far post and go in, although Ross Marshall might have got the last touch.

Holden thought that he had been impeded and raced out to remonstrate with the referee despite having already been booked and he was shown a second yellow for dissent, followed by the red card. Even had they had a goalkeeper on the bench, Welling had already used all three of their substitutes and striker Tristan Abrahams donned the goalkeepers jersey.

Dean Moxey spotted Abrahams out of position and tried a shot from his own half that floated just wide before Welling had a rare effort when Byrd headed wide from a Dominic Odusanya free kick.

McGavin had a shot from outside the penalty area that Abrahams held, then Ash got in but his shot was blocked by Jack Burchell. McGavin had another shot held by the emergency goalkeeper before the referee put Welling out of their misery by bringing proceedings to an end.

Danny Bloor, Welling’s manager, will be looking for an immediate response when his team entertains Maidstone United on Tuesday evening.

Torquay United: Halstead, Donnellan, Moxey (Hanson 81), Craske, McGavin, Tomlinson (Marshall 71), Stobbs, Lapslie (Hall 71), Ash, Jarvis, Collins.

Subs not used: Crowe, Lovett.

Goalscorers: Jarvis pen (35), pen (64), McGavin (39), Donnellan (59), Stobbs (75)

Yellow cards: Donnellan, Stobbs

Welling United: Holden, Lema, Green (Curran 46), Odusanya, Byrd, Burchell, Tanga, Bramble (Kassarate 66), Abrahams, Papadopoulos (|Muwonge 60), Adom.

Sub not used: White, Kamara.

Goalscorers: Adom (18)

Yellow cards: Holden, Bramble, Odusanya, Lema, Muwonge

Red card: Holden 

Referee: Tom Ellsmore

Assistants: James Long and Mark King

Attendance: 2,510

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.