Welling United secured an excellent 2-0 victory over Torquay United at Park View Road on Saturday afternoon.
Two late goals courtesy of Charlie Pegrum on his full debut and Gene Kennedy ensured a deserved three points for the Wings, who put in a well-organised and gritty performance to inflict only a second defeat of the season on their opponents.
A cagey first half saw the home side more than hold their own against the high-flying Gulls.
In a half of very few chances, the bright Pegrum came close when he saw an initial shot blocked, before his follow-up deflected just wide.
At the other end, Rhys Lovett was at full stretch to keep out his former side as Cody Cooke tried his luck with a drive.
In truth, the home side were well looking well drilled against their visitors, leaving them frustrated in the first half, although Torquay did have the ball in the net through Cooke before the break, only to be denied by the linesman’s flag.
Just before the clock ticked over to the hour mark, the Gulls came inches away from the opener when Lirak Hasani’s low, curling effort bounced back off the right-hand post.
And shortly after, they hit the woodwork again, this time thanks to a fantastic save from Lovett, who tipped Oscar Threlkeld’s close-range header onto the bar.
Elliot Long forced James Hamon into a smart save with a well-struck shot in the 68th minute as the Wings started to turn the screw.
Kennedy and Bramble both saw decent efforts well blocked in the box in quick succession with the home side looking more likely and they finally broke the deadlock with eight minutes remaining courtesy of the excellent Pegrum.
Long, who had been a thorn in the Gulls’ side all afternoon, got down the right and crossed low for the Leyton Orient loanee, who caressed the ball into the back of the net with the side of his foot to send the park end into raptures.
Rod Stringer’s men had managed the game brilliantly and they continued to keep Torquay at bay, adding a gloss to the scoreline in injury-time by doubling the lead and sealing the points.
Sub Reece Grant did brilliantly do dispossess Dean Moxey in his own half before bounding towards the box with Kennedy in support.
Indeed, Grant fed Kennedy through one-on-one and he rounded it off with a delightful dink over the keeper for 2-0.
Welling United: Lovett, Burchell, Winfield, Perkins (Mensah 79), Wells, Pegrum, A Grant, Kennedy, Bramble, Long, Chukwu (Carty 73).
Subs (not used): Munns, Andrews, R Grant.
Booked: Winfield 41 (foul on Cooke), Perkins 77 (foul), Kennedy 90+5 (foul)
Goal: Pegrum 82
Torquay United: Hamon, Dreyer, Hasani (Mussa 84), Collins (Craske 70), Seymour (Ash 74), Carson, Palmer, Tonks, Threlkeld (Crosbie 87), Cooke, Moxey.
Subs (not used): Tomlinson.
Referee: Nicholas Dunn
Att: 893
