Barnet 1
(Armstrong 10′)
United 0
United suffered defeat on Saturday, as Barnet came out on top at The Hive.
An early Marvin Armstrong was all there was to separate the two sides, and despite launching raid after raid on the home goal, The Gulls were unable to retrieve the game as they left the capital without any reward for their efforts.
Manager Gary Johnson named three changes in the starting eleven that were defeated in the Emirates FA Cup First Round Replay earlier in the week, with Ryan Hanson, Brett McGavin and Dean Moxey returning in the place of Dylan Crowe, Asa Hall and Dillon De Silva.
A cagey opening failed to produce much in the way of clear-cut chances until the 7th minute, when Idris Kanu’s left-wing cross fed Armstrong to head straight into the palms of Mark Halstead.
Three minutes later though, the same player opened the scoring.
Ryan De Havilland produced some excellent footwork before sending a ball to the back post, where Armstrong this time made no mistake, as he prodded into an unguarded net.
That goal sparked an extended period of dominance for the hosts, until Johnson’s men began to edge their way back into proceedings on the 20-minute mark.
Seemingly set on taking matters into his own hands, Aaron Jarvis forced a fine save from Laurie Walker from distance, before a spot of pinball inside the penalty area shortly after nearly presented the Torquay centre-forward with another opportunity from close-range. On this occasion however, Jarvis was unable to match his earlier connection and the deficit remained intact.
As the match clock headed towards the half-hour, Barnet threatened again though another aerial assault, as a ball into the penalty area found Nicke Kabamba challenging Mark Ellis, with the ball looking to get a final touch off the United defender, prompting Halstead to tip over.
A glorious chance for Johnson’s men to restore parity arose ten minutes before the break.
After Jarvis was crowded out, the ball found its way to Will Goodwin deep in enemy territory, however just as the Stoke loanee looked set to fire home, a despairing challenge from a Barnet defender saw the ball deflected over the crossbar.
Just before the half-time whistle, a long ball forward saw Stephen Wearne bearing down on goal, before a Barnet intervention once again saw the ball deflected away from goal in the nick of time.
Work to do at the change of ends, but plenty to draw comfort from in the next 45.
The Gulls were undoubtedly the quickest out of the traps following the restart, as they instantly set about restoring parity.
A number of Brett McGavin corners came and went, before his 54th minute flag-kick prompted Walker to punch clear. That decision was only semi-successful, as the ball fell to Wearne just inside the box, who sent a firm volley back to the Barnet glovesman, who just managed to repel the danger again.
On 61st minute, Torquay’s centre-back pairing nearly produced the finishing touch, as Lucas Ness’ ball into the box picked out Ellis, with Walker having to produce heroics to keep his side’s lead intact.
Barnet, struggling to get out of their own half, were now hanging on.
With three-quarters of the game gone, Keiron Evans made a welcome return to action from the bench, and the on-loan Cardiff man wasted little time in making an impact, as his cross towards the far post saw Goodwin direct his header into the path of Wearne, who was just unable to provide the finishing touch – Walker again proving to be The Bees’ saviour.
The one-way traffic continued in spite of a scoreline that was fast becoming a travesty, with Kanu’s dragged shot wide of goal providing a brief interlude with thirteen minutes remaining.
A minute later, normal service was resumed, as Shaun Donnellan’s delivery from the right-hand side just evaded Jarvis in the box.
The onslaught continued without reward, as the match entered stoppage time.
With Johnson’s men committed to attack in a bid to seal a deserved point, Kabamba nearly settled the matter as he forced a fine low stop from Halstead, but undeterred, back came United once more.
A long throw from Dean Moxey fell for Donnellan to line one up, yet despite hitting it perfectly, Walker again came to the rescue with another outstanding stop.
That was to prove the last act on an afternoon where Torquay gave so much, but ultimately gained so little.
Barnet: 1. Laurie Walker, 4. Danny Collinge, 5. Marvin Armstrong (7. Rob Hall, 56′), 6. Jerome Okimo, 8. Dale Gorman (c) (27. Moussa Diarra, 86′), 9. Nicke Kabamba (32. Sean Shields, 90′), 11. Idris Kanu, 14. Harry Pritchard, 21. Ben Wynter, 23. Sam Beard, 33. Ryan De Havilland.
SUBS NOT USED: 16. Kian Flanagan, 31. Aymen Azize (GK).
Yellow Card: Hall 82′
United: 1. Mark Halstead, 4. Tom Lapslie (8. Asa Hall, 66′), 7. Ryan Hanson (11. Kieron Evans, 66′), 9. Aaron Jarvis, 12. Stephen Wearne, 14. Brett McGavin, 16. Shaun Donnellan, 19. Will Goodwin, 21. Dean Moxey (c), 26. Lucas Ness, 35. Mark Ellis.
SUBS NOT USED: 2. Dylan Crowe, 5. Ali Omar, 22. Rhys Lovett (GK).
Yellow Cards: Goodwin 13′, Lapslie 44′, Hanson 59′, Ellis 80′
Attendance: 2,153 (244 away)