United 0
Hampton & Richmond 1
(Vilhete ’56)
United’s unbeaten home record was brought to an end on Saturday, as Hampton & Richmond emerged as winners at Plainmoor.
After a goalless first half, Mauro Vilhete fired the visitors in front to break the deadlock, and despite their best efforts, that was the way it stayed.
Boss Paul Wotton made three changes to the starting eleven that drew 2-2 at Slough, with Finley Craske, Ed Palmer and new signing Matt Jay coming into the side, whilst United’s other new addition, Emmanuel Ilesanmi, was named amongst the substitutes.
The first 45 minutes may have been scoreless, however The Gulls enjoying some lengthy spells of possession that often left their opponents chasing shadows.
Hampton raised their game prior to the break though, although James Hamon was still largely unemployed.
The second half was only eleven minutes old when the Beavers took the lead.
A diagonal ball over the top allowed Vilhete to get in behind The Gulls’ backline, and with Hamon out to narrow his sight of goal, the Hampton forward’s flick found the back of the net from the edge of the box.
With a proud unbeaten record to defend, Torquay responded as you’d expect, as they set about restoring parity, with Dan Hayfield going close with a firm header that was palmed off the line following a corner.
Away ‘keeper Max Merrick was becoming a key figure, and in the 67th minute came to his side’s rescue again with a double-save from Jordan Young.
He was at it again to deny substitute Will Jenkins Davies from the edge of the box with twelve minutes remaining, as time began to go against the men in yellow.
When Merrick saved from Young again in the final minute, and then from Hasani’s glancing header in injury time, you began to fear the worst.
Even when he was beaten – by Jordan Thomas’ point-blank back-hell in the dying stages, Torquay were again denied, as the effort went agonisingly wide of the far post.
Despite pinning their opponents back in the closing stages, it wasn’t to be United’s day, as Hampton became the first away side to emerge from Plainmoor victorious in 2024/25.
UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 2. Finley Craske, 5. Sam Dreyer, 8. Jordan Young, 16. Ed Palmer, 18. Oscar Threlkeld (c) (22. Will Jenkins Davies, 59′), 19. Cody Cooke (25. Emmanuel Ilesanmi, 70′), 20. Dan Hayfield (Lirak Hasani, 82′), 26. Jordan Thomas, 27. Matt Jay, 29. Dylan Morgan (10. Omar Mussa, 57′).
SUBS NOT USED: 21. Dean Moxey.
Yellow Card: Young 57′
HAMPTON & RICHMOND: 1. Max Merrick, 3. Kristian Campbell, 4. Mike Atkinson, 6. Lachlan Byrd, 8. Josh Keeya, 9. James Roberts (47. Makise Evans, 76′), 12. George Hunt, 20. Mauro Vilhete 24. Dominic Revan, 26. Jerry Wiltshire, 31. Alfie Williams
SUBS NOT USED: 7.Alex Wall, 17. Bunmi Babajide, 18. Renedi Masampu, 19. Archy Taylor.
Yellow Card: Williams 65′
Attendance: 4,450 (21 away)