Famous five sends bumper Torquay United crowd home happy

Wins sends Gulls soaring up to fourth in the league

A famous five from Torquay United lifted them up to fourth place in the National League South table and sent another bumper crowd home smiling.

Gulls boss Gary Johnson had pledged to crank up the entertainment for a crowd which included hundreds of local sports club members on Community Day discount tickets.

And his players delivered in some style - despite conceding an early goal which briefly set the alarm bells ringing.

Johnson named an unchanged side from last Saturday’s disappointing defeat at home to Maidstone, with Ross Marshall having to be content with a place on the bench on his return from a one-game suspension.

Brad Ash and Jack Stobbs had already had chances to put United ahead when Welling shocked them with a goal of their own. The home defence backed off just a little too long, and Kain Adom lashed the ball in from outside the box.

But top scorer Aaron Jarvis steadied Torquay’s nerves with a goal from the penalty spot after he had been brought down by Welling keeper James Holden, whose yellow card would have repercussions later.

A trademark screamer from the ever-improving Brett McGavin gave United the lead before the break, and they went on to dominate the game.

Man of the match Shaun Donnellan made it 3-1 with a clever lob, and another foul on the ever-troublesome Jarvis gave him another chance from the spot, and he finished with aplomb to make it 4-1.

Ross Marshall applied the finishing touch to an excellent Stobbs cross to make it 5-1, and when Welling keeper Holden made his frustrations known to the referee, a second yellow card sent him trudging down the tunnel.

With all their substitutes used already, the visitors had no option but to hand the goalkeeper’s gloves to winger Tristan Abrahams, and he completed the game without allowing Torquay to add to their tally.