Aldershot Town 1
(Tanner 8′)
United 4
(Wynter 43′, Wright 47′, 90′ Whitfield 51′)
Craig Tanner gave the hosts an early lead, before a fortuitous strike from Ben Wynter saw the sides go in level at the break. A lightning-quick start to the restart saw goals from Danny Wright and Ben Whitfield put The Gulls in charge, before Wright wrapped up an excellent away victory with his second in the dying stages.
Having made a number of changes to the starting line-up for the FA Cup victory at Sholing FC on Saturday, manager Gary Johnson largely reverted back to the side that had disposed of Dover so well at Plainmoor ten days ago, with the only change seeing Josh Umerah recalled in the place of Louis Britton, who returned to Bristol City following the completion of his loan spell. Armani Little was once again a welcome addition to the substitutes bench, as The Gulls midfielder continues to regain match fitness following his return from injury.
As has become a familiar pattern this season, United began well, with a purposeful run from Aaron Nemane in the third minute forcing Shots defenders to take desperate action, leaving The Gulls with a tempting free-kick on the edge of the box, which Adam Randell curled narrowly wide.
Four minutes later another run at the centre of the home backline caused more panic, as Whitfield fired a low effort just off-target.
Just 60 seconds later though, Johnson’s men fell behind.
Having ably dealt with a counter down the right, a kind ricochet in the penalty box saw the ball fall directly into the path of Tanner, who lashed the ball home from eight yards out.
Having come against the run of play, that setback appeared to unsettle Torquay, as Aldershot began to take control of the game, with former United midfielder Josh Rees shaving the far post from close range on 13 minutes.
Lucas Covolan was called into action a couple of moments later, with some tidy close control from Chike Kandi giving The Shots man time and space to fire in a fine effort that United’s keeper did well to palm around the post.
A scrappy period thereafter did at least see the raids into Torquay’s box stiffled, however there was still precious little for their own frontmen to feed off, despite some spirited running from wingers Nemane and Whitfield.
A typically jinking run from the latter – the culmination of which was a blocked effort on 40 minutes – brought some brief respite, however a stroke of good fortune saw Johnson’s men level things up on 43 minutes.
With Wynter sizing up his options midway inside the opposition half, his deep cross from wide on the right appeared to be too close to the keeper, however with Umerah making his presence felt – legitimately – in front of Mitch Walker in The Shots goal, a momentary misjudgment from the goalkeeper saw the ball sail over his head and into the back of the net, for a gift-wrapped equaliser.
Spurred on by that, Whitfield’s curling shot from the edge of the box just evaded its intended target moments later, however a frantic moment at the other end served as a timely reminder of the still and present danger just before the break.
There was undoubtedly plenty of talking to be done in The Gulls’ dressing room at the interval, and it didn’t take long for those words to take effect.
The second half was barely two minutes old when a swift break down the left ended with an inviting cross into box, with the ball holding up long enough for Wright to pick his spot. That he did, by planting an emphatic header into the bottom corner from six yards out.
Having turned the game on its head with goals either side of the interval, Johnson’s side weren’t about to rest on their laurels.
Having broke up a home attack in the 51st minute, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans picked up the ball and drove towards a retreating defence, before picking out Whitfield to his left, who produced a superb finish to loop the ball up and over Walker to make it 3-1.
With the home side forced to gamble, the game began to open up, with The Shots seeking a goal to drag themselves back into proceedings, whilst Johnson’s side went on the hunt for the fourth to put the result beyond doubt.
That goal nearly came in the 68th minute, after a delicious long ball forward from substitute Asa Hall found the diving Wright, who just failed to send his header into the back of the net. Not for the first time in his United career, Hall was once again right at the heart of the team’s second-half resurgence.
Having struggled to impose themselves for long periods during the opening 45 minutes, United were now making the most of the gaps emerging all over the field, with a number of dangerous crosses into the box just failing to receive their reward.
The introduction of Little was once again giving his side added impetus, as he produced his full repertoire of skills when turning defence into attack.
Just as it looked as though the scoring had come to an end, a long ball forward from Wynter found Wright in space, and although his right-footed volley initially struck the far post, the rebound squirmed away from the grounded Walker, and straight back into the path of Torquay’s centre-forward, who gleefully tapped home in the final minute of normal time.
With previous leaders Stockport County playing out a goalless stalemate at home to Solihull Moors, United’s second spell at the National League summit will last significantly longer than it did previously, ahead of a visit to Victoria Park for Saturday evening’s live televised clash with Hartlepool United.
Aldershot Town: 1. Mitch Walker, 2. George Fowler, 4. Jamie Sendles-White (c), 6. Kodi Lyons-Foster, 7. James Rowe (20. Toby Edser, 60′), 8. Josh Rees (3. Alex Finney, 71′, 23. Killian Colombie, 81′), 9. Mo Bettamer, 10. Chike Kandi, 12. Alfy Whittingham, 25. Shadrach Ogie, 27. Craig Tanner. SUBS NOT USED: 13. Ryan Hall, 14. Joel Nouble.
Yellow Card: Sendles-White (19′), Rowe (58′), Kandi (86′)
UNITED: 33. Lucas Covolan, 2. Ben Wynter, 4. Kyle Cameron (c), 7. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, 9. Danny Wright , 12. Adam Randell (10. Armani Little, 73′), 16. Sam Sherring, 21. Dean Moxey (6. Gary Warren, 83′), 23. Aaron Nemane, 34. Ben Whitfield, 35. Josh Umerah (8. Asa Hall, HT). SUBS NOT USED: 1. Shaun MacDonald (GK), 11. Jake Andrews.
Yellow Card: Randell (45′)