With 2023 now nearly upon us, we take a look back at the past year on the pitch, beginning with the second half of the 2021/22 campaign.
January
Just as it ended, 2022 began with a National League encounter with United’s nearest rivals, Yeovil Town. The finale was not one for the faint-hearted, as United left it late to gain the Westcountry bragging rights.
It was The Glovers who struck first, as Jordan Barnett gave the hosts the lead midway through the second period, before Connor Lemonheigh-Evans equalised direct from a corner ten minutes later.
Then, in the dying stages, substitute Dan Holman pounced to snatch maximum points amid wild celebrations for the travelling Yellow Army.
Despite racing into a two-goal lead the following Saturday though, United had to settle for a point against Dagenham & Redbridge at Plainmoor.
After skipper Asa Hall gave his side the perfect start with a first-minute goal, Danny Wright followed that up by doubling that advantage shortly after. The visiting side responded through Josh Walker though, and after Angelo Balanta restored parity in the second half, the game finished honours-even.
United’s upturn in form continued apace thereafter, as Gary Johnson’s side ran out 2-1 winners at Altrincham.
Lemonheigh-Evans opened the scoring, and although Toby Mullarkey drew the hosts level, Stephen Wearne’s first goal for the Club shortly after the break saw The Gulls emerge from Greater Manchester with another victory.
There was a brief setback three days later however, as two late strikes undid The Gulls as United slipped to a home defeat against Solihull Moors.
In what was a closely-fought 90 minutes, a double strike in the last five minutes from Kyle Hudlin and Andrew Dallas eventually took all three points away from the men in yellow.
February
Johnson’s men responded to that reverse in fine style though, as United began the second month of the year by securing a superb 1-0 win over Wrexham at Plainmoor.
Things started perfectly as captain Hall gave his side the lead, and after producing an immaculate display of passion and desire, it proved to be enough to seal a wonderful win for those in yellow.
From the top-end of the table to the lower reaches, United’s impressive form continued the following weekend, as they came away from Dover with all three points.
A stunning strike from skipper Hall once again saw his team make a perfect start, however that was cancelled out by Dover’s Jake Goodman before the break. The second half belonged to Torquay though, and after regaining the lead late on from Joe Lewis, a late strike from Stephen Duke-McKenna sealed their fifth away win of the campaign.
Just as the play-off places were beginning to come into view, frustration reigned at Plainmoor as Barnet came back from two-goals down to salvage a draw.
There could be few complaints about the way Torquay started, as a double-strike from Connor Lemonheigh-Evans sent his side into a seemingly-comfortable advantage, however after Adam Marriott reduced the arrears in debatable circumstances, Ephron Mason-Clark levelled things up, leaving Gary Johnson’s side to settle for one point, rather than all three.
That was to be the case in both of Torquay’s next two encounters too, as United fought out a goalless draw with Boreham Wood at Plainmoor, before following that up with another stalemate in a behind-closed-doors match at Wealdstone. With safety concerns dictating that the host’s Grosvenor Vale ground could not accommodate supporters, United were forced to settle for a point after they battled out a 1-1 draw.
Wealdstone substitute Jaydn Bundle-Smith opened the scoring in the 72nd minute, before Ben Wynter got on the end of an Armani Little free kick ten minutes later to force a share of the points in Middlesex, after a late winner for The Gulls was ruled out, as February was brought to a controversial close.
March
Despite the spate of draws, there could be no faulting The Gulls’ desire, at that spirit was fully evident the following month.
Ten-man United showed spirit in abundance following Joe Lewis’ first-half red card, as they held play-off chasing Bromley to a goalless draw at Plainmoor.
Despite being a man down, Torquay continued to take the game to their opponents, and created the better chances in both halves of an absorbing encounter.
It was back to winning ways the following weekend, as Johnson’s men reigniting their mid-season surge up the table by claiming an important three points at The Walks against King’s Lynn.
Two goals from Danny Wright put United in control just past the half-hour, however a Malachi Linton reply before the change of ends left The Gulls with work to do. Stephen Duke-McKenna re-established the two-goal margin shortly after the restart, however an audacious from Lynn’s Brett McGavin not only saw the lead reduced once more, but also gave the traveling Yellow Army a glimpse of what was to come. Torquay worked hard to protect that advantage on the afternoon though, and did enough to hold on to clinch a fully-merited win.
Two second half goals from The Shaymen saw United slip to their first away defeat of 2022 in their next game though, leaving many to question whether a play-off push was really possible.
It was former United player Billy Waters who gave the hosts the lead in the 60th minute from close range before 11 minutes later substitute Gerry McDonagh doubled the lead which was enough for the home side to take the points.
Silencing the doubters in style, the men in yellow responded by producing arguably their best performances of the season.
On a night United remembered the great Frank O’Farrell, Gary Johnson’s side produced a stunning performance at Plainmoor, as they outclassed Aldershot by winning 4-0.
After Johnson’s side raced into a 3-0 lead courtesy of goals from Dean Moxey, Stephen Wearne and an own goal from Bradley Webb inside half an hour, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans extended that imposing lead just after the change of ends to seal a wonderful night for the Yellow Army to savour.
More was to come, as they completed a superb week at home, as United ran out 3-0 winners over Weymouth at Plainmoor.
Wearne gave The Gulls the perfect start, and that early advantage was increased shortly after through Armani Little’s penalty kick. Just after the interval, Danny Wright added further gloss to the scoreline with a third, to round-off an excellent week for the Yellow Army.
April
April couldn’t have started any better.
Gary Johnson’s side produced an unforgettable performance in front of a raucous Yellow Army to kick things off, as they thrashed much-fancied Notts County 5-1 at Plainmoor.
A stunning effort from captain Armani Little got The Gulls off to a flyer, and when Connor Lemonheigh-Evans doubled that advantage shortly after, Torquay’s devoted supporters were able to savour an almost faultless start. A second half goal from Kyle Wootton gave the The Magpies hope, however two more from Lemonheigh-Evans, and another from Little, sealed a stunning victory for the men in yellow.
At this point and in this form, few would have betted against Johnson’s men stealing a march against their play-off chasing adversaries.
When Little struck the decisive goal against his former club on Good Friday, as his side came out on top against Woking, things looked even rosier in the Gulls’ Garden.
In what was a closely-fought encounter against old rivals, it was Little who provided the only breakthrough in first-half, before his strike was backed up by a hearty defensive display to clinch four wins on the bounce for The Gulls.
Unfortunately though, just as a grandstand finish was beckoning with seven games remaining, United hit a bump in the road at just the wrong moment.
Amid a decidedly congested fixture list, there was frustration two days later at Plainmoor, as Johnson’s men were forced to settle for a point following a goalless draw with Eastleigh.
Despite bossing almost the entirety of proceedings, the men in yellow were unable to find the breakthrough that their endeavour deserved.
Torquay’s trip to Grimsby certainly had a do-or-die feel to it,
Sadly United slipped to defeat at Blundell Park in heart-breaking circumstances, as a converted stoppage-time penalty saw the home side snatch the points.
Asa Hall fired United into the lead just short of the half-hour, before the hosts levelled things up through Harry Clifton. Just as it looked United were at least going to gain a share the points, Tristan Abrahams’ late spot-kick in the second minute denied them.
Knowing time was now against them in their bid to make the top-seven, United showing plenty of fight, but couldn’t hide their disappointment as they came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Maidenhead United at Plainmoor in their next game.
Sam Barratt fired Maidenhead into the lead in the 56th minute, yet just when defeat seemed to be the only outcome, Joe Lewis levelled the scores in the final minute of normal time.
May
With their hopes of extending their season now requiring snookers, United secured a hard-fought point on their travels to kick May off, after battling it out in a goalless draw at Dagenham & Redbridge.
Despite both sides unable to break the deadlock, it was an action-packed encounter at Victoria Road, with plenty of chances for both sides, although the result finally put paid to The Gulls’ spirited late push to secure a play-off place.
If there was any frustration in missing out on the post-season action, Gary Johnson’s players certainly channelled those feelings in the best possible manner, as they produced a performance brim-full of class and composure in the final home match of the 2021/22 campaign to seal a 2-0 victory over Chesterfield at Plainmoor.
With the BT Sport cameras in attendance, it was Stephen Duke-McKenna who opened the scoring, before leading scorer Armani Little followed that up from the penalty spot shortly after.
There where more tasks for Torquay to face on their travels however.
In the penultimate game of the 2021/22 campaign, United slipped to a single-goal defeat against Stockport at Edgeley Park.
Having repelled everything the hosts could throw at them up until that point, it was Paddy Madden who eventually slotted home the only goal of the game just past the hour mark, as the eventual National League champions came out on top.
In the final game of the season, United battled out a 1-1 draw away at Southend.
Chiori Johnson’s first goal of the season gave Torquay the lead just before the break, before a second-half leveller from James Dunne earned his side with a share of the spoils on the last day.
That wrapped things up on the pitch, however the summer was certainly a busy one for Johnson and his backroom team, as they waved goodbye to a number of favourites, before instantly setting their sights on who would replace them.
No sooner had one season ended, than another seemed just around the corner!