TUFC 4
(Holman 8′, 34′, Omar 43′, Lapslie 74′)
AFC Bournemouth U23s 0
United finished off their pre-season campaign in style on Tuesday evening, following a 4-0 victory over AFC Bournemouth U23s at Plainmoor.
Dan Holman continued his rich vein of pre-season form with two first-half goals, before Ali Omar enhanced his growing status with Torquay fans with his side’s third just before the interval. Tom Lapslie then added further gloss in the second period to round off a pleasing evening for the home contingent.
In his last selection call before the season proper, manager Gary Johnson included new signing Gabby Rogers in the starting XI, with the former Yeovil Town man’s deal confirmed just before kick-off.
Johnson’s side began on the front foot, however it was the visitors who nearly broke the deadlock on five minutes, with Cherries forward Connor Kurran-Browne threatening to profit from a swift break. Gulls goalkeeper Mark Halstead got down with minimal fuss though, to smother his low strike.
Three minutes later, Holman showed the young Bournemouth striker how to do it.
After receiving the ball from the right deep inside the penalty area, the United striker saw his initial shot blocked, however at the second attempt he made absolutely no mistake, firing high into the net to make it 1-0.
The same man nearly doubled his tally shortly after, following Danny Wright’s break into the 18-yard box. Wright’s low ball across the face of goal proved just too elusive for Holman though, who could only steer his effort wide of the target.
Bournemouth were still proving a handful on the break though, with striker Euan Pollock twice going close to finishing off moves around the 15-minute mark. After sending his initial effort into the side netting from the left-hand side of the box, he went much closer from the opposite side moments later, as his rising drive rattled the Torquay crossbar.
Attention soon switched to the other end, with Holman again looking the most likely man to round off some promising moves from the men in yellow, with Wright also threatening to get in on the act with a low drive from 20 yards that sailed narrowly wide of the upright.
If the Yellow Army had any concerns regarding the outcome of proceedings following that nip-and-tuck first half-hour, they were soon dispelled soon, following two goals in nine minutes.
In the 34th minute, a poor clearance from the visiting backline resulted in the ball falling to Holman, with the in-form hitman increasing his chances of an opening-day start with his fifth goal in just eight days.
Then, two minutes before the break, a corner towards the back-post met the rising figure of Omar, whose downward header bounced down and into the net despite the ‘keeper Billy Terrell’s best efforts.
Upon the resumption, it was more of the same from Johnson’s men, despite a raft of changes at half-time.
One of those replacements, Klaidi Lolos, went agonisingly close on 53 minutes, when, after receiving a pass from Armani Little just inside the box, he jigged this way then that, before slamming a thunderous shot against the woodwork. Despite ample protestations that the ball had bounced down and over the line, no amendment to the scoreline was declared.
Five minutes later, and Bournemouth’s brave passing game in the face of adversity nearly paid off, as a slick move found right-back Brooklyn Genesini in space twelve yards out, however his tricky footwork wasn’t quite matched by his shot, which curled wide of goal.
Lapslie, not known for being a prolific scorer, twice nearly got in on the act with strikes from the edge of the box, with new boy Rogers also going close with a sumptuous volley from slightly further out just past the hour mark.
Despite the score remaining comfortably in The Gulls’ favour, the match remained an entertaining one, with substitute Louie Slough coming up with an excellent point-blank block to prevent Halstead’s goal being breached in the 65th minute.
Lapslie, whose competitive nature belied the game’s status as a friendly, wouldn’t be denied though, and in the 74th minute he coolly beat Terrell in a one-on-one to make it 4-0.
The glovesman produced a marvellous save to deny Omar his second of the evening ten minutes from time, however he was left stranded seconds later, as Jake Andrews’ delicious effort from 22 yards out curled past him, with only the back stick preventing the winning margin being extended even further.
When the final whistle sounded, the Yellow Army signalled their appreciation, no doubt before almost immediately thinking ahead to the real action beginning very soon. With all the warm-up fixtures now complete, the clock now begins to tick down towards United’s opening National League game of the 2021/22 season against Altrincham at Plainmoor in just eleven days.
See you then!
TUFC: 1. Mark Halstead (23. Marcin Brzozowski, 72′), 2. Ben Wynter (14. Chiori Johnson, HT), 4. Tom Lapslie, 5. Ali Omar, 9. Danny Wright (19. Klaidi Lolos, HT), 10. Armani Little (c) (22. Alex Moyse, 72′), 15. Dan Holman (20. Scott Piper, 60′), 16. Keelan O’Connell (11. Jake Andrews,, HT), 17. Gabby Rogers, 21. Dean Moxey (3. Dan Martin, HT), 31. Joe Lewis (26. Louie Slough, 61′).
Attendance: 659