Two goals by defender Jordan Dyer and one by striker Cody Cooke earned Torquay United a 3-1 home win against Welling United to keep them top of the National League South table - but it wasn't all plain sailing for the Gulls, who had to get over a bad start to the second half.

After Dyer's first goal for the Gulls, in just the third minute, gave them a 1-0 lead until half-time, Torquay were put under pressure by Welling from the start of the second half, and the visitors made it 1-1 through TJ Bramble in the 56th minute.
But a second goal by Dyer in the 76th minute was followed by a third by Cooke, who was gifted the ball in a good position when a defender slipped.

The three points mean Torquay have now reached 50 points - and with that half century they are dead-on two points a game, usually a good measure for a team on its way to promotion.

READ MORE: Wetherspoons customers furious as budget pub chain axes favourite dish from 40 menus

READ MORE: Exeter City win race to sign Joel Colwill on loan

After the 5-1 FA Trophy defeat at Worthing last weekend there were five changes. Dyer, Cooke and Jordan Young were all back in the starting line up, alongside Dylan Morgan, who was cup-tied, and left back Dean Moxey, who made his first start of the season.

In the Welling team were former Torquay players Chiori Johnson and Dan Martin, but last season's No 2 goalkeeper Rhys Lovett is injured, so didn't get the chance of a Plainmoor return. Inside the first minute, Young was past his defender and bearing down on goal but pushed. It looked like a definite foul just outside of the area - but the referee wasn't interested. A minute later though, Torquay were 1-0 ahead. The referee gave what looked like a soft free kick for a foul on Will Jenkins Davies. Young sent in a great inswinging cross, and Dyer ran onto the ball at the back post to head it home.

Young shot way over and Dylan Berry made a decent save from a Sam Dreyer shot. Young shot wide after taking the ball too far wide in the 20th minute. In the 35th minute, Young tried to beat the goalkeeper from a tight angle instead of passing to Cooke.

Dan Hayfield shot over after a short corner. Morgan had a shot blocked in the 42nd minute after some great possession football from the Gulls. Morgan had another shot blocked and Cooke headed over in the two minutes that were added on.
Welling were better from the start of the second half. Gene Kennedy's shot in the 52nd minute was tipped over the top by James Hamon. Kennedy had another shot blocked. They were getting forward well and creating chances.

In the 56th minute it was all too easy for the visitors to find the net. With Moxey beaten as the ball was knocked about on the right, Kennedy put in a great cross and TJ Bramble rose above Torquay's defenders to head the ball home. Carson came on for a tired Moxey in the 61st minute, as Welling continued to be a threat. Cooke was hauled over in the box a minute later but the referee said he was offside. It would have been a penalty if not. As Torquay began to improve, Wotton sent on Omar Mussa for Jenkins Davies and Jack Wood for Morgan.

Some good build-up play in the 76th minute led to Dyer's second goal of the afternoon. The centre back was still forward after a short corner was broken down by the Welling defence. The ball ended up with Mussa on the left, he found Young with a good pass, and Dyer stabbed the ball past the goalkeeper from Young's cross. Ed Palmer came on for Young as Torquay waited to take a corner in the 86th minute.

Two minutes later it was 3-1 when Ticcardo Di Trollo slipped as he chased the ball back and Cooke was able to shoot through the gap between goalkeeper and post. Five minutes added on, were added on, but after that ropey start to the second half, those final minutes were plain sailing.