Having returned to winning ways on Tuesday evening, Welling United travel to Torquay United for a Vanarama National League South match on Saturday.

Rod Stringer, the Welling manager, knows just how tough the task will be. The Gulls are top of the division having been defeated on just three occasions so far this season.

On Tuesday evening, the Wings defeated Weymouth to end their run of three consecutive defeats. They went ahead in the eighth minute through Riccardo Di Trolio’s header and would have been out of sight by half time but for a combination of missed chances and good goalkeeping.

However, they weren’t made to pay and Zain Walker put them two up midway through the second half. Although the visitors pulled one back with one minute remaining, it was only a consolation and Welling were able to climb two places up the league.

There was a surprise result for Torquay on Saturday when they were hammered at Worthing in the F.A. Trophy. Former Maidstone United striker Muhammadu Faal scored a first half hat-trick as the Sussex side went in four up at the break. Although Jordan Young pulled one back with seventeen minutes remaining, Worthing added a fifth to complete a resounding victory.

It will be the second meeting between Welling and Torquay this season as they met at Park View Road in early September. That game looked to be heading for a stalemate until Charlie Pegrum put the Wings ahead with eight minutes left on the clock. Gene Kennedy added a second goal deep into stoppage time to seal the win. 

All three of Torquay’s league defeats have been away from home. At Plainmoor, they have won eight and drawn five. Welling’s away form is not great with two wins, two draws and eight losses. Whilst Welling have not been beaten at home in five meetings with the Gulls, they are yet to claim their first point in games with them on the English Riviera.

Last season, it was a particularly tough afternoon for the Wings despite going ahead through Kain Adom’s brilliant strike in the eighteenth minute. The Gulls levelled with a controversial goal when debutant goalkeeper, James Holden, appeared to have committed a foul outside the area but a penalty was awarded. Aaron Jarvis took the responsibility and levelled from the spot. Soon afterwards, Brett McGavin added a second.

Shaun Donnellan made it three-nil just shy of the hour mark before Jarvis converted another penalty. Jack Stobbs scored a fifth directly from a corner and Holden, believing that he had been impeded, shared his feelings with the referee and was shown a second yellow card. Despite being down to ten men, and having an outfield player in goal, there was no further scoring.

Although, current form and history mean the odds are stacked against the Wings, there were similar circumstances when they visited Yeovil Town last season and they came away with a win, so it is far from a foregone conclusion.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.