United 2
(Fish 36′, Hayfield 74′)
Chesham 1
(Oliyide 3′)
A gutsy performance from The Gulls saw United come from behind to clinch all three points at Plainmoor, in a match that saw both sides reduced to ten men.
Karl Oliyide’s opener gave The Generals an early lead, before Sonny Fish’s first goal for The Gulls levelled things up before the break, leaving Dan Hayfield to take centre stage in the second half, as his first strike of the season secured an important victory for Torquay.
There was one change to the side that triumphed over Salisbury in midweek, with Jordan Dyer making a welcome return to the starting line-up in place of Munashe Sundire.
There were only three minutes on the clock when Chesham took the lead.
After winning a corner, the ball was floated to the back post, and with The Gulls unable to clear their lines, it was left to Oliyide to tap the ball into the net and put the visitors in front.
Set-pieces aside, it was largely the home side who called the shots thereafter, with Sonny Blu Lo-Everton forcing a fine parry from Ben Goode in the 34th minute.
Two minutes later, the other Sonny had more success.
After being played into the box, Fish beat Goode to the ball before slotting into the net to spark personal and team celebrations that were warmly welcomed by the Yellow Army.
Parity at the break.
The second half began with more goalmouth action at both ends, before Chesham’s Alfie Young became the first of two players to receive his marching orders, as the referee brandished a red card following an after-the-ball incident.
Fish thought he’d scored again in the 65th minute before the award of a push brought celebrations to a premature conclusion, but the winning goal wasn’t too far away.
With 74 minutes on the clock, Dylan Morgan’s run down the left ended in with a low, driven cross inside the six-yard box, allowing Hayfield to flick the ball into the net at the near-post.
The drama wasn’t over though, as two bookings in a minute saw Torquay also reduced to ten men for the final thirteen minutes after Will Tizzard was penalised for two fouls.
United were forced to soak up a number of balls into the box in the dying stages, but players’ committed showing eventually won the day, with Hayfield, perhaps fittingly, coming up with a brave header off the line in the 98th minute to deny Chesham a late, late leveller.
Back-to-back wins have certainly lifted spirits around Plainmoor, ahead of a trip to Dagenham next Saturday.
UNITED: 15. Seb Stacey, 3. Jay Foulston, 4. Jordan Dyer, 8. Jordan Young, 11. Dylan Morgan, 16. Ed Palmer,17. Sonny Fish (23. Kieran Wilson, 77′), 20. Dan Hayfield, 24. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 27. Matt Jay, 28. Will Tizzard.
SUBS NOT USED: 21. Adam Seedhouse-Evans (GK), 29. Aidan Edwards, 38. Fin Herbert, 39. Jonah Shaw, 40. Coby White.
Yellow Card / Red Card: Tizzard 76′, 77′
CHESHAM: 1. Ben Goode, 3. Alex Lafleur, 6. Connor Stevens, 8. Giorgio Rasulo (28. Matt Lench, 70′), 10. Mitchell Weiss, 12. Karl Oliyide (5. Steve Brown, 64′), 15. Alfie Young, 17. Callum Adebiyi (c) (7. Samson Esan, 78′), 22. Josh Addae, 24. Kai Yearn, 27. Jayden Bennetts.
SUBS NOT USED: 18. Alex Babos, 19. Matt McClure, 20. Connor Roberts, 31. Alfie Williams.
Yellow Card: Rasulo 57′, Goode 66′
Red Card: Young 60′
Attendance: 3,260 (60 away)
