Altrincham 1
(Mullarkey 30′)
United 2
(Lemonheigh-Evans 6′, Wearne 49′)
United’s excellent form continued on Saturday, as Gary Johnson’s side ran out 2-1 winners at Altrincham.
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans gave his side an early advantage, and although Toby Mullarkey drew the hosts level, Stephen Wearne’s first goal for the Club shortly after the break saw The Gulls emerge from Greater Manchester with all three points.
The Gaffer named four changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Dagenham & Redbridge at Plainmoor a fortnight ago, with Chiori Johnson, Ali Omar, Armani Little and new signing Stephen Duke-McKenna starting in the place of Joe Lewis, Dean Moxey, Keelan O’Connell and Harry Perritt, who has since returned to Accrington.
The game began with plenty of end-to-end play, before United capitalised from their first chance in the 6th minute. Danny Wright played an advancing Lemonheigh-Evans through on goal, who was able to run around the keeper to slot home.
In the 11th minute, back-to-back corners for United ended with Omar’s header rattling the crossbar. Moments later down the other end, a great block by Ben Wynter denied the hosts an equaliser.
Johnson’s men went close to doubling the advantage in the 19th minute when a low driven effort by Lemonheigh-Evans from the edge of the box deflected low and into the hands of home stopper Thompson.
The home side nearly restored parity in the 22nd minute when a low-driven effort by Dan Mooney from just inside the box went just wide of the left-hand post.
Two minutes later the action reverted to the other end. A Wynter free kick from halfway was half-cleared by Altrincham, before falling for Hall, who played the ball out wide for Lemonheigh-Evans to chip the ball up for Little, but his header was just over.
Ryan Colclough tried his luck from the edge of the box in the 27th minute, and although his low-driven effort was safely held by Shaun MacDonald, three minutes later, the hosts equalised.
Mullarkey, who had stormed upfield to aid the attack, took aim and let fly from just outside the box, with the ball just tucking into the bottom left corner to make it 1-1.
Despite the equaliser, Torquay continued to press high, however in the 41st minute it was the Robins who went close. A long cross found Colclough beyond the far post, but his header was wide.
Just before the interval, a long cross deep into the Altrincham box found Lemonheigh-Evans at the far post, with his header header fumbled away by Thompson.
Moments later United’s number 7 went close again, this time with a shot from the edge of the box that went narrowly over.
Following the restart, United began the second half just as they’d started the first by putting the home side under pressure, and it wasn’t long before they profited from a gift-wrapped defensive lapse.
Looking to get his side back on the attack by playing out from the back, home defender Kennedy Digie’s ball across the face of the 18-yard box was painfully short, with Sunderland loanee Wearne gleefully picking up the loose ball before calmly waltzing into the area and firing into the net from twelve yards.
Six minutes later, the home side went close to levelling the scores once more as Colclough’s free kick from just outside the left edge of the United box rattled the bar.
Just short of the hour-mark, MacDonald sprung into action to deny the hosts an equaliser, with United’s number 37 getting down well to make the save from Josh Hancock’s low-drilled effort.
Duke-McKenna, who enjoyed a promising debut, nearly extended his new side’s lead at the second half’s midway point. After some fine footwork, the QPR loanee drove through the Altrincham half before his drilled effort forced Thompson to make an acrobatic save.
With The Gulls determined to put the game to bed, Dan Holman went close seconds after entering the fray from the bench, with his low-driven effort from outside the area forcing the ‘keeper to parry around the left-hand post.
With the scoreline remaining at 2-1 though, Altrincham pressed forward in hope of an equaliser.
In the dying stages, it took a number of last-gasp heroic interventions to keep the home side at bay, with United’s commitment to the cause being fully illustrated with some fervent celebrations at full-time.
A big three points worth celebrating, but plenty more tests to come.
In the meantime though, United’s rise up the table continues.
Altrincham: 1. Anthony Thompson, 6. Jake Moult (c), 7. Daniel Mooney (17. Ben Pringle, 69′), 8. Elliot Osborne, 10. Joshua Hancock (32. Isaac Marriott 78′), 11. Ryan Colclough, 18. Kennedy Digie, 19. Jamie Morgan, 24. Kevin Berkoe, 25. Toby Mullarkey, 29. Jordan Hulme (27. A-Jay Leitch-Smith, 69′).
SUBS NOT USED: 2. Shaun Densmore, 30. Steven Drench.
United: 37. Shaun MacDonald, 2. Ben Wynter, 3. Dan Martin, 5. Ali Omar, 7. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, 8. Asa Hall (c), 9. Danny Wright (30. Dan Holman 77′), 10. Armani Little, 12. Stephen Wearne (16. Keelan O’Connell 89′), 14. Chiori Johnson, 15. Stephen Duke-McKenna (29. Joe Felix 86′).
SUBS NOT USED: 1. Mark Halstead, 19. Klaidi Lolos.
Attendance: 1,744 (316 away)