Dover 1
(Goodman 26′)
United 3
(Hall 2′, Lewis 78′, Duke-McKenna, 90+3′)
United’s impressive form continued on Saturday, as they came away from Dover with all three points.
A stunning strike from skipper Asa Hall once again saw his team make a perfect start, however that was cancelled out by Dover’s Jake Goodman before the break. The second half belonged to Torquay though, and after regaining the lead late on from Joe Lewis, a late strike from Stephen Duke-McKenna sealed their fifth away win of the campaign.
Gary Johnson made one change to the side that started last weekend’s 1-0 victory over Wrexham at Plainmoor, with Dan Holman coming in for Duke-McKenna, who dropped to the bench, where Danny Wright also made a welcome return from injury.
The game was just two minutes old when last weekend’s goal hero struck.
After starting the game well, The Gulls set about making the home backline work, and after a high ball was only half-cleared to their captain on the edge of the box, he took a touch before launching a sublime volley into the roof of the net.
On 11 minutes, some neat work down the left-wing from Dan Martin and Stephen Wearne led to another chance just outside the area, however on this occasion, Holman drilled his shot well over.
Moments later, and a right-wing ball from Armani Little was robbed of the toes of Connor Lemonheigh-Evans at the near-post, just as Torquay looked like celebrating once more.
The attacks from Johnson’s men kept coming, although sadly the scoreline remained unaltered. Next up was a ball played towards Ben Wynter on the D, however his shot was too high to trouble Athletic goalkeeper Adam Parkes.
Despite dominating every area of the pitch, in the 26th minute Dover drew level.
A corner from the right drifted over the head of Lewis at the back post, and with the ball directed back into the six-yard box, home defender Goodman slid in to steer the ball past Shaun MacDonald and into the goal.
Just short of the hour, Lewis nearly restored his side’s advantage following a free kick into the 18-yard box, however he couldn’t connect fully with the ball, resulting in the shot giving the home stopper the chance to gather at the second attempt.
Five minutes prior to the interval, The Gulls went even closer to regaining their advantage.
A determined run into the right of the box by Holman was followed by the awareness to supply a perfect ball into the path of Wearne eight yards out, however a combination of defender and ‘keeper kept the ball out, before Hall’s follow-up was scuffed over.
It remained all-square at the break, despite the territorial play being distinctly in favour of Johnson’s men.
Once the second period got underway, it was the hosts who made the early running, with Michael Gyasi latching onto a loose ball from an overhit corner, before driving a low right-footer just past the post on 53 minutes.
There were penalty appeals at the opposite end three minutes later, as Holman went down in a heap after breaking into the penalty box – the referee though, remained unmoved.
As the hour-mark approached, Torquay went within a whisker of going back in front. Holman’s ball from the right picked out a rampaging Hall deep in enemy territory, and although he was crowded out when trying to get his shot away, Wynter’s long-range shot left a few hearts-in-mouths amongst the home home contingent.
In the 62nd minute, a United free-kick found Lewis in space at the back post, but after taking the ball down, he could only direct his effort wide of the woodwork.
As the match entered its latter stages, Johnson’s men remained the dominant side, yet the were struggling to test Parkes in between the sticks.
The introduction of Wright in place of Holman nearly paid dividends on 74 minutes, with the striker connecting with Little’s cross in towards him. Sadly though, his looping header cleared the bar.
Little’s superb free-kick from 22 yards out forced an excellent diving save from Parkes, however this time there was to be no escape from the resultant corner, as the same player produced a delivery that begged to be finished.
After a couple of flag-kicks shortly beforehand had provided little in the way of threat, this time the direction was to perfection – straight onto the head of Lewis, who directed his glancing header in to the back of the net.
With Dover committed to salvaging something in the dying stages, Torquay’s backline were forced to soak up some sustained pressure for the first time.
They stood up to the task manfully though, and in the third minute of stoppage time, they put the result beyond doubt.
A swift counter saw the men in Hyper Turqouise make progress upfield, with Duke-McKenna crowning his emergence from the bench with a confident finish from the edge of the box to make it 3-1.
Another three points in the bag, and plenty of happy faces travelling back from Kent on Saturday evening.
DOVER: 20. Adam Parkes, 6. Jake Goodman, 16. Harry Ransom, 18. Henry Woods, 22. Koby Arthur, 23. Danny Collinge, 25. Ryan Hanson (c), 26. Alfie Pavey, 28. George Wilkinson (4. Thomas James Bramble, 63′), 32. Arjanit Krasniqi, 33. Michael Gyasi.
SUBS NOT USED: 2. Will Moses, 15. Nana Ofori-Twumasi, 24. Harrison Byford, 44. Alexis André Jr.
UNITED: 37. Shaun MacDonald, 2. Ben Wynter, 3. Dan Martin, 4. Tom Lapslie, 7. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, 8. Asa Hall (c), 10. Armani Little, 12. Stephen Wearne (15. Stephen Duke-McKenna, 68′), 21. Dean Moxey, 30. Dan Holman (9. Danny Wright, 71′), 31. Joe Lewis.
SUBS NOT USED: 1. Mark Halstead, 5. Ali Omar, 19. Klaidi Lolos.
Yellow Card: Lewis 42’, Martin 89’