New look Welling United will be going home wondering how they left Truro City empty handed.

Having done well to come back from two down, they fell to the sucker punch of a late goal that was totally against the run of play.

Even in the early stages they had looked bright yet went behind from Truro’s first attack when Aaron Lamont tricked his way through some half hearted challenges before firing home with the aid of a deflection.

Christian Nanetti might have equalised immediately but probably hit his shot too sweetly and Tom McHale was able to save.

McHale was a relieved spectator soon afterwards when Joe Healy’s shot flashed just the wrong side of the post after Nanetti had again been too hot for the right side of the Truro defence.

Defensive frailties then came to the fore when short centre forward Niall Thompson was allowed to bring a long ball down unchallenged before turning and looking at his options. His shot that went wide may not have been the best choice.

Chris Lewington then had to be watchful as a River Allen shot took a nasty bobble in front of him and he had to see it out for a corner.

Healy had a shot blocked, Ben Jefford had a cross that was caught in the wind and had to be taken by McHale, and Tom Bradbrook headed over from Connor Dymond’s cross as Welling looked for an equaliser.

Having failed to level, they went further behind just before the break when they again allowed Thompson to bring a long ball down unopposed. This time he did not waste the opportunity and found Allen whose crisp first time pass sent Cody Cooke free to finish with aplomb.

Stunned Welling could have conceded again when Lamont fired over from the edge of the area.

At half time, player-manager Jamie Coyle made a substitution that allowed Dymond more freedom and as a result, Welling bossed the second period.

Almost immediately, McHale made a stunning save from Bradbrook who had redirected Bradley Goldberg’s shot.

Coyle then pulled one back five minutes into the second half when heading home Nanetti’s corner. Nine minutes later, he equalised with another header from Nanetti’s long free kick.

Although chances were few and far between, Welling enjoyed more of the possession and substitute Alfie Pavey caused a threat every time it came to him.

Ian Gayle was disappointed not to hit the target with a header from a Dymond corner but that paled into insignificance when Truro went ahead in stoppage time with a bizarre goal. Allen’s hopeful deep cross caught in the wind and held up enough to clip the top of the far post and go in.

There was no time for a response and the final whistle blew consigning Welling with a long journey home with nothing to show for it.

 

Truro City: McHale, Palfrey, Hartridge, Todd, Gerring, Richards, Lamont (Neal 67), Allen, Thompson (Yetton 67), Cooke (Copp 67), Harding.

Subs not used: Booth, Riley-Lowe.

 

Welling United: Lewington, Dymond, Jefford, Parkinson, Coyle, Gayle, Nanetti (Pattisson 80), Healy, Bradbrook (Pavey 66), Goldberg, Ajala (Durojaiye 46).

Subs not used: Joseph-Dubois, Francis.

 

Truro City:

Goalscorers: Lamont 10, Cooke 45, Allen 90

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None

 

Welling United:

Goalscorers: Coyle 50, 59

Yellow cards: Parkinson, Durojaiye, Healy

Red cards: None

 

Referee: Tom Reeves

Assistants: Ciaran Barlow and  Scott Robertson

 

Attendance: 506

 

Welling star player: Connor Dymond

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.