Hampton & Richmond 0
Torquay United 3
Kalala (16′, 49′), Janneh (70′)
Goals from Kalvin Lumbombo-Kalala and Saikou Janneh secured a 3-0 win over Hampton & Richmond, and mean Torquay United will remain top of the National League South for Christmas.
In a match largely dominated by United, Kalvin Lumbombo-Kalala scored in the 16th and 49th minute before the game was wrapped up Saikou Janneh in the 70th minute.
Gary Johnson kept a settled first eleven and was able to rotate personnel in the second half in a game that will have satisfied the 400+ travelling Yellow Army.
United were on the front foot from the first minute of the match and Lumbombo-Kalala was an effective out ball for United. He proved too difficult for Hampton to handles throughout the game.
United opened the scoring by overwhelming Hampton on their right hand side with Jamie Reid claiming the assist. It was a terrific team goal and a fluid move. Saikou Janneh found Jamie Reid and his through-ball put Lumbombo-Kalala away who picked his spot and pinged the ball inside the near post and high up into the net from just inside the penalty area. It was a classy strike, and it set United up for what was to come next.
United were giving Hampton the run-around with the front two of Jamie Reid and Saikou Janneh stretching their defence at every opportunity. United’s superior class was keeping them one step ahead.
Simon Downer and Hampton ‘keeper Tom Lovelock then offered United the chance to double their advantage when the referee judged that Lovelock had collected a back pass from Downer. As is often the case from such opportunities, United’s effort was charged down.
United had scored fairly early in the first half, and they scored their second even earlier in the second. Jake Andrews ball forward put Lumbombo-Kalala in once again. Kalala steadied himself and found the far corner.
United were looking forward to continuing their dominance, but then Hampton came back into the game. Substitute Oliyide broke United’s offside trap and found himself one-on-one with MacDonald. He did enough to keep Oliyide from having a clear opportunity of goal but United had the post to thank for keeping his effort from crossing the goal line.
Hampton & Richmond enjoyed their best part of the match during a fifteen minute spell before United put the game to rest. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans provided the assist for Saikou Janneh to score his eleventh goal of the season. It was a clinical finish.
TUFC manager Gary Johnson was able to rotate in the second half by bringing Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, Saikou Janneh, and Jean-Yves Koue Niate off for Samir Nabi, Olaf Koszela, and George Essuman respectively.
United thanked the fantastic support of the Yellow Army at the final whistle and look forward to facing Truro City at Plainmoor on Boxing Day.
Hampton & RB: Lovelock, Ruddock, Sprague (Oliyide HT), Cox (c), Bray, Downer (Wichelow 63), Sole (Murrell-Williamson 81), Miller-Rodney, Dundas, Dickson, Connors SUBS NOT USED: Corcran, Hill
Bookings: Downer (31), Sprague (43)
TUFC: Shaun MacDonald, Ben Wynter, Liam Davis, Asa Hall (c), Jean-Yves Koue Niate (George Essuman 81′), Jake Andrews, Jamie Reid, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans (Samir Nabi 76), Saikou Janneh (Olaf Koszela 76), Jamie Sendles-White, Kalvin Lumbombo-Kalala SUBS NOT USED: Burton
Bookings: Lemonheigh-Evans (39), Niate (75), Andrews (87)