Maidenhead 1
(Dulson 90+3′)
United 2
(Dolan 41′, de Havilland o.g. 72′)
United made it back-to-back wins on the road on Saturday, as they produced another dominant performance to overcome Maidenhead.
A goal in each half – firstly from Callum Dolan, and then from Maidenhead’s Remi Clerima – put The Gulls in full charge, and although Liam Dulson’s late effort denied Torquay the clean sheet they deserved, it was to prove no more than a consolation for the home side.
Following the impressive 3-1 win at Farnborough, it was perhaps unsurprising that boss Paul Wotton named an unchanged line-up at York Road, with Louis Dennis declared fit to make the starting eleven , following his two-goal burst in midweek.
United nearly replicated their early goal in Hampshire, as Jordan Young beat the offside trap before rounding Magpies goalkeeper Jordi van Stappershoef, only to see his shot cleared off the goalline.
That set the tone for the majority of the first period as United bossed proceedings without finding the goal they deserved, with Dolan and Dennis coming closest to breaking the deadline, with van Stappershoef becoming busier and busier as the half wore on.
Just when it looked as though Torquay’s efforts were going to be left without reward, they found the breakthrough four minutes before the break.
After being frustrated on a number of previous occasions, Dolan responded by unleashing a powerful drive from 22 yards out, with the ball finding the back of the net to give Wotton’s men an interval advantage.
Following the restart, it was more of the same from Torquay, as they produced some lovely passing moves to pin their hosts back against their own goal.
Once again, it was only the final touch that prevented The Gulls strengthening their grip on the game, although it took a fine save from van Stappershoef to keep out Jordan Young’s piledriver in the 66th minute.
The same combination saw the single-goal lead remain in place moments later, before the second goal arrived – albeit with a slight element of luck – six minutes later.
A ball across the face of goal was inches away from being slammed home by Sonny Fish, however, with Cde Havilland forced to act, he only succeeded in doing Fish’s job for him by heading the ball into the net, beyond his stranded ‘keeper.
When Dulson pulled one back in the 93rd minute, a few nervous eyes began to fix themselves on stopwatches amongst the travelling contingent, but United wouldn’t be denied, as they held on for a second-successive win on the road in the space on the week.
Onwards we march.
MAIDENHEAD: 22. Jordi van Stappershoef, 3. Jordon Raguette (19. Owen Cochrane, 85′), 4. Will de Havilland (c), 5. Miles Welch-Hayes, 12. Matthew Robinson, 15. Josh Umerah, 17. Liam Dulson, 20. Remy Clerima, 23. Josh Popoola, 25. Sam Barratt ( 8. Asher Yearwood, 64′), 27. Kai Yearn (9. Corie Andrews, 80′).
SUBS NOT USED: 1. Harvey Collins, 2. Ryan Bartley, 29. Jadyn Dundas, 33. Noah Stewart.
Yellow Card: de Havilland 45+1′, Raguette 70′
UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 3. Jay Foulston, 4. Jordan Dyer, 5. Sam Dreyer, 7. Louis Dennis (17. Sonny Fish, 54′), 8. Jordan Young (16. Ed Palmer, 88′), 10. Callum Dolan (11. Dylan Morgan, 61′), 18. Matt Worthington (c) (20. Dan Hayfield, 11′), 24. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 26. Jordan Thomas (2. Denzel Akyeampong, 90+5′), 27. Matt Jay.
SUBS NOT USED: 13. Matt Wonnacott (GK), 29. Edwards.
Yellow Card: Dolan 6′, Dyer 45+2′, Hayfield 45+4′, Thomas 78′, Morgan 90+6′, Hamon 90+6′
Attendance: 1,581
