Aveley 0
United 1
(Cooke 87′)
A last-gasp winner clinched a vital victory for United, as Cody Cooke’s late strike sealed a hard-fought win over Aveley.
With the hosts knowing defeat would consign them to relegation, it looked as though it would be a frustrating afternoon in Essex for The Gulls, until top scorer Cody Cooke leapt of the bench to turn one point into three in the dying stages.
Gulls boss Paul Wotton named an unchanged line-up for the trip to Aveley, as he kept faith with the side that had recorded back-to-back wins over Dorking and Bath City.
With the two sides needing a result for entirely different reasons, the first 45 minutes failed to produce the breakthrough, although there were chances for both teams.
Alfie Lewis’ low drive should probably have forced United goalkeeper James Hamon into action, whilst at the other end, The Gulls’ control over proceedings was nearly rewarded, as Matt Jay’s fizzing ball across the face of goal found Ozzy Zanzala at close-range, however the striker couldn’t quite adjust himself in time, as his effort went wide of the post.
Following the change of ends, things seemed to go up a gear, with both Aveley and United visibly upping the ante in pursuit of the opener.
Torquay’s cause looked to have been given a boost just past the hour mark when Jack McDowell received a second yellow card for a foul on Gulls substitute Omar Mussa.
Aveley, desperate for points to aid their unlikely survival bid, remained resolute in defence though, as Wotton’s side continued to probe for the opener.
Time and again Wotton’s men went within inches of finding the net, only to be denied at the last.
Jay saw an effort cleared off the line, but with the clock continuing to tick down, the threat of time beating the men in yellow began to become a distinct possibility.
But, just like last week, when it mattered most, The Gulls’ ever-reliable leading scorer delivered.
A classy touch from Jay pulled Aveley’s backline apart, and with Cooke in the right place at the right time, his low shot found the back of the net to spark delirium on and off the pitch in the away ranks.
That proved to be the difference, and whilst it gave United’s promotion aspirations a huge boost, it also spelt the end for Aveley’s remarkable two-year stay in NLS.
Nothing has been won yet, but one thing is for sure – it’s up for grabs now!
AVELEY: 1. James Holden, 2. Austin Nkwonta, 5. Brooklyn Kabongolo, 6. Tyrese Owen (c), 8. Alfie Lewis (18. Jason Ring, 79′), 9. Charlee Hughes (4. Imran Uche, 79′), 10. Luke Holness (15. Emmanuel Kwatchey, 90′), 11. David Kawa (7. Jaxon Brown, 65′), 12. Jake Leahy, 14. Jack McDowell, 16. Harry Beadle.
SUBS NOT USED: 17. Adam Leathers,
Yellow Card: Kabongolo 52′, Ring 90+7′
Yellow Card / Red Card: McDowell 20′, 63′
UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 2. Finley Craske (26. Jordan Thomas, 80′), 3. Jay Foulston, 4. Jordan Dyer, 5. Sam Dreyer, 8. Jordan Young, 17. Offrande Zanzala (19. Cody Cooke, 50′), 18. Oscar Threlkeld, 20. Dan Hayfield (10. Omar Mussa, 51′), 22. Will Jenkins Davies (7. Lirak Hasani, 59′), 27. Matt Jay.
SUBS NOT USED: 16. Ed Palmer.
Attendance: 661