United 0
Taunton 3
(Jarvis 22′, Evans 26′, Stearn 59′)
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Taunton Town took the points on Tuesday evening, as United went down to defeat at Plainmoor.
After Nat Jarvis and Cameron Evans netted to give the visitors a two-goal advantage at the break, Ross Stearn added a third just short of the hour mark to seal a memorable away victory for The Peacocks.
After dispatching of Dartford in such a confident manner on Saturday, it was little surprise that Interim Manager Aaron Downes made no changes to the starting line-up that secured that emphatic 4-1 win, with the only change to the squad coming on the bench, where Ross Marshall replaced Ronny Nelson.
The Gulls certainly enjoyed the better of the opening stages, as Downes’ men bossed the territorial stakes, although their only real effort at goal was a firmly-hit 25-yarder from Brett McGavin that cleared the JMV Family Stand by a fair margin in the 6th minute.
It was therefore a bit of a shock when Taunton took the lead midway through the half.
A through ball into the path of Nat Jarvis saw the Antigua & Barbuda turn his man well before sending a low drive past the advancing Mark Halstead.
Things got worse quickly after.
This time a long throw undid Torquay in the 26th minute, as a close-range header from former Gulls trialist Evans saw the ball drift into the back of the net, leaving Plainmoor stunned.
Visiting skipper Nick Grimes nearly repeated the trick six minutes later from another deep throw into the box, however on this occasion the ball – thankfully – only flashed into the side-netting.
Arkell Jude-Boyd, fresh from two goals in goals nearly extended that scoring run moments later with a venomous strike from just outside the box, with the slightest of deflections seeing it past the post.
It took a committed parry from Halstead to prevent another ex-Gull, Lloyd James, celebrating seven minutes before the break, as the Welshman let fly with a ferocious volley from 20 yards out.
There was no doubt the tide had turned, and the men in yellow were desperately seeking a foothold in proceedings at that point.
The Gulls certainly went about their business in the right manner following the restart, but they were unable to get a clear sight of goal thanks to a determined Taunton backline.
Time and again, crosses and shots were blocked in the nick of time, and in the 59th minute, the side from Somerset made it three.
Former Eastleigh man Stearn made only just come off the bench, however he made up for lost time as he picked up possession and ran at a retreating defence, before producing a marvellous strike from 25 yards that found the top corner of the net.
Still United plugged away, and they came within a whisker of reducing the arrears with twenty minutes remaining, however the stretching frame of substitute Duane Ofori-Acheampong just couldn’t reach Jack Stobbs’ tempting right-wing cross.
Another chance went begging with twelve minutes left, as Jude-Boyd’s cross prompted Aaron Jarvis to head wide.
As you’d expect from a side chasing the game, a few gaps began to appear at the other end, and Torquay were fortunate not to concede a fourth on 81 minutes, as Ollie Chamberlain saw his strike cannon off the crossbar from 20 yards.
The remaining minutes saw United continue to give their all, but sadly it was not enough to put the result in any doubt.
A bad day at the office, but there will be more important battles to be won – off the field – before the season is out.
UNITED: 1. Mark Halstead, 2. Arkell Jude-Boyd, 5. Austen Booth (19. Duane Ofori-Acheampong, 68′), 9. Aaron Jarvis, 10 Lewis Collins ( Tom Lapslie, 57′), 11. Brad Ash, 14. Brett McGavin, 21. Dean Moxey (c), 23. Ollie Tomlinson, 27. Jack Stobbs, 28. Kevin Dawson (18. Will Jenkins Davies, 68′).
SUBS NOT USED: 6. Ross Marshall, 22. Rhys Lovett.
Yellow Card: McGavin 83′, Jude-Boyd 88′
TAUNTON: 1. Dan Lavercombe, 2. Zac Bell, 4. Nick Grimes (c), 5. Dan Ball, 7. Ollie Chamberlain, 8. Lloyd James, 9. Nat Jarvis (32. Evander Grubb, 90+5′), 16. Zac Smith, 17. Cameron Evans, 18. Marcus Day, 27. Seb Bolton (13. Ross Stearn, 57′).
SUBS NOT USED: 12. Rabby Tabu-Minzamba, 23. Louie Slough, 31. Jaden Brown.
Yellow Card: Ball 51′, Lavercombe 86′
Attendance: 2,238 (90 away)