Hopes of starting the season with a victory were dashed when Welling United were beaten heavily away to Truro City.

Danny Bloor started with a back five and they were breached in just the sixth minute. Adam Porter played Andrew Neal through and he clipped it confidently over Welling goalkeeper Ben Winterbottom and into the net.

Winterbottom saved from Tyler Harvey and Ryan Law before Truro increased their lead. Ed Palmer stole in at the far post and met a deep free kick with a low volley. Two minutes later, Truro added a third. Porter was given time and space at the edge of the area and his shot was too strong for Winterbottom to hold.

Bloor reacted by changing the shape to a flat back four and they pulled a goal back just before the half hour mark. Cameron Green exchanged passes with Will Wood before slotting his shot just inside the far post.

Any hopes of Welling holding on to regroup at half time were ended when they conceded twice more before the break. First, Connor Riley-Lowe squared to Porter who had time and space to finish. Then Harvey played a 1-2 with Neal before slotting beyond Winterbottom and into the net. It might have been worse had Winterbottom not parried out Harvey’s free kick in the final minute of stoppage time.

After a quick word in the changing room, Welling were sent back out early and had to wait for the Truro team to reappear. When play restarted, Will Wood had a shot deflected beyond the post before Kareem Isiaka headed wide after TJ Bramble hooked back across goal.

James Vaughan shot well over from thirty yards and Isiaka came close when meeting Green’s low cross but he couldn’t find the target. Porter shot over for Truro but Welling continued to search for a consolation and Taofiq Olomowewe headed over from Wood’s corner.

They finally pulled one back with three minutes remaining when Bramble was tripped in the penalty area. Antony Papadopoulos stepped up and smashed home from the spot.

Bramble had one last chance deep into injury time when meeting Jephite Tanga’s deep cross but he was unable to find the net with his effort.

Welling United: Winterbottom, Lema (Odusanya 46), Green, Vaughan, Dickenson (Olomowewe 61), Burchell, Bramble, Papadopoulos, MacAllister (Tanga 23), Isiaka, Wood. Sub not used: Andrews, Kamara.