Altrincham 0
United 0
United’s final match of the regular season saw the points shared, after The Gulls came away with a scoreless draw at Altrincham.
The Gaffer made one change to the starting line-up that drew 2-2 with Barnet last weekend, with Kyle Cameron replacing Scott Boden in a surprise move in attack.
Cameron wasted little time in making his presence known, as he linked up well with Adam Randell just outside the box, with the on-loan Argyle man striking his left-footed curler over the bar.
On 17 minutes, The Gulls’ converted centre-forward fashioned a chance for himself on the edge of the box, however after setting his sights on goal, he dragged his low drive wide of the post.
It was the hosts who threatened next, with a ball from the right in the 20th minute picking out Matty Kosylo unmarked ten yards out, only for the Alty man to make inadequate contact with the ball, resulting in the corner flag being more threatened than Lucas Covolan’s goal.
Torquay were starting to boss possession by now though, and six minutes later, they went close to breaking the deadlock.
Randell showed determination and fine close control in equal measure, and with his opponents continuing to back off, he eventually made progress into the 18-yard box. The ball was delivered to Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, and with his back to goal, the Welshman’s opportunist back-heel forced an instinctive point-blank block from home stopper Tony Thompson to maintain parity.
Covolan was called into action for the first time ten minutes before the break, when, with United defenders blocking Alistair Smith’s route to goal, the Robins man took aim and curled a right-footer towards the top corner of the net. The big Brazilian was equal to it though, as he dived to his left to claim the ball.
It became a slightly scrappy affair thereafter, although Covolan had to react smartly to deny Dan Mooney inside the box as the first half entered injury time, after a ball inbetween the centre of the Torquay backline caught them out.
It remained scoreless at the break, with the Yellow Army watching on at home eager for more goalmouth action in the second 45.
Following the restart, the men in yellow were full of intent, as they went in search of the game’s opening goal.
In the 55th minute, Moxey’s cross towards the far post picked out Randell rising highest, although his header went wide of the far upright.
Moments later, and it was action on the other flank that saw Ben Wynter pick out Cameron six yards out, however United’s defender-turned-striker could only stretch to divert the ball over the crossbar.
Johnson’s men were clearly in the ascendancy by the time the match had reached the hour mark, however the home side were calling for a penalty on 65 minutes, as a coming together between Dean Moxey and Tom Peers ended with the latter hitting the deck. The officials though, remained uninterested.
Three minutes later, and pinball inside the Altrincham penalty area ended with Cameron seeing his looping header cleared off the line, as The Gulls remained on top. The Robins began to impose themselves more as the match began to edge towards its conclusion, although Covolan remained a spectator for large periods.
With ten minutes remaining, Billy Waters tried his luck from outside the box in an effort to end the stalemate, but his effort didn’t quite curl enough to trouble Thompson, and as time began to ebb away, a draw began to look the more likely result.
Sure enough, the final whistle sounded with neither defence breached, and with the 42 regulation fixtures now behind Johnson’s side, all attention now turns to the play-offs, as United face their first – of possibly two – dates with destiny in two week’s time.
ALTRINCHAM: 1. Tony Thompson, 5. Tom Hannigan, 6. Jake Moult, 7. Dan Mooney (32. James Hardy, 62’), 10. Josh Hancock (36. Connor Kirby, 74’), 15. Matty Kosylo (23. Tom Peers, 57’), 20. Shaun Densmore, 24. Joel Senior, 25. Toby Mullarkey, 29. Alistair Smith, 34. Ryan Colclough.
SUBS NOT USED: 19. Reagan Ogle, 26. Fisayo Adarabioyoy.
Yellow Card: Hannigan, 11′
TUFC: 33. Lucas Covolan (GK), 2. Ben Wynter, 4. Kyle Cameron (35. Josh Umerah, 73’), 7. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, 8. Asa Hall (c) (25. Billy Waters, HT), 10. Armani Little, 11. Jake Andrews (15. Matt Buse, HT), 12. Adam Randell, 16. Sam Sherring, 21. Dean Moxey, 31. Joe Lewis.
SUBS NOT USED: 1. Shaun MacDonald (GK), 19. Scott Boden.
Yellow Card: Andrews, 20′, Lewis, 90’
Attendance: 1,032