Farnborough 1
(Bingham 75′ pen)
United 3
(Dennis 2′, 11′, Dyer 73′)
Torquay United produced an excellent performance on the road on Wednesday evening, as they ran out clear winners at Farnborough.
An early two-goal burst from Louis Dennis set The Gulls on their way, before Jordan Dyer added a third in the second period. Rakish Bingham’s late penalty couldn’t dampen the travelling Yellow Army’s spirits, as United secured their second away win of the season.
Boss Paul Wotton opted to name the same side that lost out to Hornchurch on Saturday, and it wasn’t long before his faith was rewarded.
Having pinned the hosts back against their own goal from kick-off, Callum Dolan’s ball across the face of goal was laid on a plate for Dennis, who gleefully stabbed home from six yards out with just two minutes on the clock.
In the 11th minute, it was 2-0.
Dennis was again in the right place at the right time, as he reacted quickest to a low ball from the right to apply another close-range finish to bring more early joy for his side.
Although United’s two-goal hero was forced to leave the field shortly after, Wotton’s men remained in full charge of proceedings, with his replacement Sonny Fish going close to extending Torquay’s lead on a couple of occasions prior to the break.
2-0 at the change of ends.
Rather than just defend their lead, The Gulls continued in much the same vein following the restart, as time and again, their slick passing moves proved too much for the home backline.
The only surprise was that their continued superiority didn’t amount to any further reward until the 73rd minute.
On this occasion, it was a corner to the back-post that brought about United’s third goal, as Dyer rose highest to head the ball home through a crowd of players.
Although the three-goal margin effectively ended the match as a contest, it did spark something of a mini-revival from Farnborough thereafter.
A somewhat-harsh looking handball decision from a corner resulted in Boro being awarded a penalty just two minutes later, with the spot-kick being confidently dispatched high into the net by Bingham to reduce the arrears.
Chances came and went for both teams in the final stages, but there could be no doubting Wotton’s side thoroughly deserved the three points, following what was their most complete performance of the season so far.
Onto Maidenhead.
FARNBOROUGH: 1. Jack Turner, 5. Oliver Robinson (c), 6. Lachlan Byrd, 7. Jack Young (12. Connor Harris, HT), 9. Rakish Bingham, 11. Amir Hadi, 14. Dominic Poleon (21. Ryan Huke, 74′), 19. Toby Bower, 24. Hakeem Sandah (10. Tommy-Lee Higgs, 66′), 29. Teddy Tarbotton, 30. Louie Holzman (16. Renny Smith, HT).
SUBS NOT USED: 25. Josh Oyenuga, 26. Mason Bloomfield.
Yellow Card: Bower 40′
UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 3. Jay Foulston, 4. Jordan Dyer, 5. Sam Dreyer, 7. Louis Dennis (Sonny Fish, 34′ (16. Ed Palmer, 88′)), 8. Jordan Young, 10. Callum Dolan (11. Dylan Morgan, 80′), 18. Matt Worthington (c), 24. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 26. Jordan Thomas, 27. Matt Jay.
SUBS NOT USED: 2. Denzel Akyeampong, 13. Matt Wonnacott (GK), 20. Hayfield, 29. Edwards.
Attendance: 768
