United 0
Tonbridge Angels 0
It ended scoreless on Saturday, as United and Tonbridge shared the points at Plainmoor.
There were four changes to the side that won 1-0 away at Salisbury, with Finley Craske, Jordan Dyer, Will Jenkins Davies and Brad Ash all following up their substitute appearances in that victory with recalls to the starting line-up, with Finn Tonks, Ed Palmer and Oscar Threlkeld all dropping down to the bench, whilst Tuesday’s matchwinner Cody Cooke missed out through suspension.
In what was a tight opening to the game, there wasn’t much to report in the way of clear-cut chances.
Although United had the better of the possession stakes, it was a Tonbridge corner on the half-hour that brought about the first opening, as Jamie Fielding rose highest to meet the ball before sending his header just wide of the post.
As the match headed towards the break, Torquay only really had a 40-yarder from Matt Carson show for their combined efforts, with the Northern Irishman’s ambitious strike clearing the crossbar ten minutes before the interval.
Unsurprisingly, it was goalless as the players made their way to the tunnels.
The second half was only five minutes old when Wotton’s men produced the best move – and chance – of the game.
A typically productive sprint down the left flank by Carson ended with a teasing delivery into the box, and although Omar Mussa met the ball well, he couldn’t quite force his shot inside the post from eight yards out.
A sustained period of pressure from The Gulls saw the visiting backline being called into action to block a couple of goalbound efforts, whilst Dan Hayfield’s low drive just past the hour was unfortunately too close to Angels goalkeeper Matthew Rowley to prevent anything other than a comfortable gather.
As the game entered its final stages, it was Torquay that looked likelier to score by some margin, and the result appeared to hinge more and more on whether the well-drilled Tonbridge backline could keep them out.
The introduction of new signing Keke Jeffers gave the Yellow Army their first glimpse of the Stoke City loanee, and in the 88th minute, it looked like he’d crowned his debut with a late, late winner.
Jordan Young’s free-kick from the left edge of the was delivered to the back-post, where a diving Jeffers appeared to lose his marker and steer a diving header into the back of the net.
Offside was the decision that brought the celebrations to a premature conclusion, however.
The final stages saw those in yellow and blue continue to lay siege in search of a winner, but unfortunately the final whistle beat them to it.
Onto Tuesday at home to Maidstone.
UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 2. Finley Craske (17. Finn Tonks, 58′), 3. Jay Foulston, 4. Jordan Dyer (16. Ed Palmer, 26′), 5. Sam Dreyer (c), 8. Jordan Young, 10. Omar Mussa (7. Lirak Hasani, 54′), 11. Brad Ash (48. Keke Jeffers 78′), 14. Matt Carson, 20. Dan Hayfield, 22. Will Jenkins Davies.
SUBS NOT USED: 18. Oscar Threlkeld.
Yellow Card: Ash 51′, Jeffers 90+4′
TONBRIDGE: 1. Matthew Rowley, 2. Crossley Lema, 4. Ryan Hanson, 6. Ronny Nelson, 7. Mo Dabre, 9. Treven Robinson (10. Noel Leighton, 70′), 14. Jamie Fielding, 17. Liam Vincent, 18. Nazir Bakrin, 22. Scott Wagstaff (8. Taylor Maloney, 70′), 23. Sean Shields (c).
SUBS NOT USED: 5. Joe Tyrie, 13. Andrew Noburn, 19. Deondre Date
Yellow Card: Robinson, 66′, Fielding 88′, Leighton 90+3′
Attendance: 3,250 (44 away)