Following a poor second half performance at home to Grimsby Town on Saturday, Welling United hope to have the chance to bounce back immediately when they visit Torquay United on Tuesday night.

After their Boxing Day defeat at home to Dover Athletic, they bounced back with a much better performance in the reverse fixture, and they were much the better team before the game at the Crabble was abandoned.

Should they show a similar response in Devon, they will have a great chance of beating one of the two teams below them in the Vanarama National league.

Torquay have not played as recently as their home game with Braintree Town was postponed on Saturday. Management, officials, players and travelling supporters of Welling will be watching weather news keenly as further rain may cause another postponement.

Ben Jefford was absent on Saturday with illness however Head Coach Matt McEntegart stated “You hope that t’s just a kind of 24/48 hour kind of bug and he’s available for Tuesday.” He suggested that Jefford would make an immediate return despite the strong showing by deputy Nortei Nortey against Grimsby.

However, they will be without Kevin Lokko for another estimated 5/6 weeks, and Zach Fagan for 10 days to two weeks.

Some better news came with the confirmation that Harry Lee has signed for Welling United on a free transfer from Leyton Orient and will be available to play at Torquay.

Welling will be up against one of their former players for the third time since Christmas. Toby Ajala came on as a substitute for Dover against the Wings on Boxing Day before starting on 2^nd January in the return fixture. He has now re-joined Torquay and will be expected to start.

Another former Wing, Tyrone Marsh, should also be in their starting line-up. He is the Gulls’ leading scorer with seven goals although he also has a red card to his name.

When the sides met earlier in the season, Xavier Vidal gave Welling the perfect start when opening the scoring after just seven minutes. Torquay equalised, however, when a Daniel Butler free kick deceived everyone and sneaked inside the far post.

Gulls’ goalkeeper Fabien Spiess  was sent off on the half hour and Torquay adapted by looking to defend but hit Welling on the break.

Although Welling had the majority of the possession and territory, they did not create enough chances and Torquay might have nicked all three points at the end.

Last season’s game at Plainmoor was the first midweek fixture of the season and Torquay coasted to a comfortable 3-0 win, with the third goal scored by the afore-mentioned Ajala.

Since then, they have suffered serious financial problems which, in part, has left them in peril of relegation.

McEntegart is in no doubt about the importance of the match. “It’s a game that we certainly cannot lose. We always give ourselves the platform of going out and being solid to start with.”

“For me, if you can’t beat the teams in that position, at the end of the season you’re judged on results against teams in and around you.”

“We go into every game looking to win it, we honestly do. That’s a game you certainly have to go into with a positive mindset. You’ve got to go out there and be strong and go and win the game in my eyes.”