King’s Lynn 0
United 0
It was Asa Hall’s red card eleven minutes from time that provided the game’s main talking point, however a gritty display from The Gulls saw them return from Norfolk with a hard-earned point.
With United manager Gary Johnson naming the same squad for the third successive game following home wins over Wrexham and Maidenhead over the past week, it was the hosts who made the first in-road into the opposition penalty area, with Shaun MacDonald having to make an alert block inside 20 seconds.
It didn’t take Torquay long to get going though, with Ben Whitfield producing a typically penetrating run down the left in the fourth minute, before cutting inside on the edge of the box and firing a right-footed effort wide of the far post.
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans was next to try his luck six minutes later, when after Hall flicked on a deep Jake Andrews free-kick into his path on the left of the box, the United midfielder let fly with a fine curling effort that Linnets’ goalkeeper Archie Mair did well to parry to safety.
The sticky surface was making it tough for Johnson’s side to display their usual slickness in attack, whilst the Gulls’ backline had to remain resolute in the face of some determined attacks from the home side.
Chances were few and far between during the game’s quarter, and although Andrews’ 24th minute cross from the left found Danny Wright’s head eight yards out, he could only direct his header straight at ‘keeper Main.
Town were visibly enjoying their role as underdogs, and a couple of moments later, some neat passing from Dayle Southwell and Michael Gash ended with Jordan Richards hooking a right-footer narrowly wide of MacDonald’s right upright.
The action moved up the other end on 38 minutes, with a trademark Lemonheigh-Evans burst upfield ending with a delicious cross into the area, although Whitfield could only send his cushioned volley wide of the near-post.
The best chance of the half came just before the interval.
With Lemonheigh-Evans winning a free-kick on the halfway line, Andrews sent another quality delivery into the 18-yard box which appeared to beat everyone bar Kyle Cameron, who seemed well placed to open the scoring. However Mair did well to palm away the near-post effort from close-range, to send the match into the halfway point all-square.
As things got back underway, the worsening weather wasn’t doing United’s passing game any favours, but there was no doubting the players’ commitment to the cause in difficult conditions. Sam Sherring’s return to the field of play, only moments after a nasty looking knock, typified the spirit shown throughout the side.
In the 63rd minute, a moment of hesitation from the Torquay defenders led to Aaron Jones sending in a dangerous cross which Southwell met on the volley eight yards out, however the ball thankfully cleared the bar.
King’s Lynn were beginning to gain an advantage in the territorial stakes, as they began to apply some sustained pressure to The Gulls’ rearguard, with a series of long balls forward forcing United’s back four to remain alert. It was to their credit that MacDonald was only called into action sporadically though, and Johnson’s men continued to pose a threat when in possession themselves.
Whitfield, so often a focal point going forward, proved his worth in defence in the 73rd minute, as Jamal Loza’s low ball across the face of goal seemed destined for Southwell to poke the ball home, before the United winger arrived in the nick of time to divert the ball over his own crossbar.
The same man was back in attack four minutes later to fire in another effort at Mair, before the match took a controversial twist eleven minutes from time.
It initially appeared Hall had done well to win the ball in the left-back spot, however dismay at the hosts being awarded a free-kick was soon compounded, as the referee pointed a red card in the direction of The Gulls’ skipper, leaving Torquay to contest the closing stages with ten men.
With the numerical advantage in their favour, the hosts began to sense their opportunity, with MacDonald displaying some fine handling under pressure, whilst some brave defending just in front of him saw a number of probing left-wing crosses steered away from danger.
As the game entered stoppage time, United were back on the front foot again though, as they went in search of another late winner.
Andrews’ 25-yard free-kick just lacked the direction required to force Mair into anything more than a comfortable save, however Whitfield’s jinking run and shot after coming in from the right caused more alarm, before the looping effort sailed wide of the post.
A point in the circumstances may well prove to be a good one during the final assessment in May, with a number of postponements assisting The Gulls in stretching their lead at the National League summit to six points.
A return to Plainmoor is next on the cards for Johnson’s table-topping Gulls, with Dagenham & Redbridge the visitors on Tuesday night. Ticketing details are available here.
KING’s LYNN TOWN: 21. Archie Mair, 2. Aaron Jones, 4. Kyle Callan-McFadden, 5. Chris Smith, 8. Jordan Richards, 9. Michael Gash (19. Kairo Mitchell, 75′), 14. Ryan Jarvis (c), 16. Jamal Loza (24. Sonny Carey, 84′), 20. Dayle Southwell (10. Adam Marriott, 77′), 22. Ross Barrows, 25. Simon Power.
SUBS NOT USED: 7. Michael Clunan, 15. Tai Fleming.
TUFC: 1. Shaun MacDonald, 4. Kyle Cameron, 5. Fraser Kerr, 7. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, 8. Asa Hall, 9. Danny Wright (35. Josh Umerah, 70′), 11. Jake Andrews, 12. Adam Randell (25. Billy Waters, 70′), 16. Sam Sherring (6. Gary Warren, 72′), 23. Aaron Nemane, 34. Ben Whitfield.
SUBS NOT USED: 15. Matt Buse, 33. Lucas Covolan (GK).
Yellow Card: Kerr (30′)
Red Card: Hall (79′)