Ebbsfleet 0
Torquay United 1
Reid 63′
United summoned up a fantastic team performance to earn a valuable three points against Ebbsfleet Town. Jamie Reid capped the display with a classy strike to make it two goals in two games for the forward.
Gary Owers names an unchanged team to the one that earned a point away to FC Halifax Town on Saturday. He also kept the same formation, going with a 3-4-1-2 shape that served them so well in Yorkshire.
United approached the first half just like they did against the Shaymen. The energy was good from the off. If the Fleet thought that they were in for an easy night, the way the team pressed and cajoled would have set them right pretty quickly. Perhaps both sides were a little too hyped up. Both teams sent passes astray early in the first half.
The work rate was certainly there from United. However clear chances were hard to come by. United’s best opportunity came in the 28th minute when Liam Davis surged forward from the left side. He helped overload United’s attack and his ball to Reid allowed him to get a shot on goal. Reid was forced wide, but his shot was enough on target to force Ashmore to tip the ball wide. Higgins was steaming in at the far post, but the angle was too acute to allow him to get his shot on target. He did however, damage the side netting with his shot forcing a stop in play.
United’s new formation was serving them well. Ryan Higgins, and in particular, Liam Davis, was enjoying opportunities to get forward and keep the pressure on Ebbsfleet.
United started the second half full of intent, and they created a great chance to open the scoring soon after the break. A ball into the box was nodded on and found Rhys Murphy unmarked just outside the six-yard box. He didn’t have time to settle, and his snap shot went agonizingly wide of the near post.
United’s hard work cannot to overstated. It was everything that the Yellow Army have been wanting this season. It was to be rewarded.
Reid had gone close just before he opened the scoring. He cut in to the penalty area and his shot was deflected over the bar for a corner. A few minutes later he produced a moment of quality that lit up the ground. He turned inside his man and bent an unstoppable shot high into the net and past Ashmore. The celebration with the travelling Yellow Army was something to behold. It was a moment of sheer quality.
United had a scare in the 75th minute. Vincent Dorel didn’t collect a powerful low shot at the first attempt and the arms of the Ebbsfleet players were raised claiming that the ball had crossed the line.
They followed that up in the 79th minute when Aaron McLean collected a cutback, and his shot was blocked six or so yards from goal.
United contested everything and forced Ebbsfleet back and stopped them from building up too much pressure as the game entered its final moments.
The final whistle blew and United had their first three points on the road this season. A terrific effort from the team and the Yellow Army on the night. Thank you for your support!
Torquay United: 30 Vincent Dorel, 2 Michee Efete, 3 Liam Davis, 5 Sean McGinty, 6 Josh Gowling (c) , 8 Luke Young, 12 Callum Evans, 13 Josh McQuoid [24 George Dowling 83′], 19 Jamie Reid [27 Jennison Myrie-Williams 87′], 23 Ryan Higgins, 39 Rhys Murphy [10′ Ruairi Keating 80′] Subs Not Used: 1 Ryan Clarke, 5 Damon Lathrope,
Booked: Higgins, Davis
Ebbsfleet United: 1 Nathan Ashmore, 2 Marvin McCoy [24 Sam Magri 65′], 3 Jack Connors [25 Luke Coulson 65′], 4 Dean Rance, 6 Kenny Clark, 7 Jack Powell, 8 Andy Drury, 9 Danny Kedwell (c), 11 Myles Weston, 17 Sean Shields [10 Aaron McLean 46′], 26 Chris Bush Subs Not Used: 13 Jonathan Miles, 19 Danny Mills
Booked: Drury
Referee: Neil Hair
Attendance: 1,525