United 1
(Lemonheigh-Evans, 90′)
Southend 0
‘Gary Time’ made a welcome return to Plainmoor on Saturday, as Johnson’s men secured a richly deserved win over Southend.
After dominating the game from almost start to finish, it seemed as though United would have to settle for a point, until Connor Leomonheigh-Evans struck in the final minute of normal time to earn a vital victory.
Following the midweek defeat at Solihull, the Gaffer made three changes to the starting line-up that faced Phil Brown’s side, with the returning Shaun MacDonald replacing Mark Halstead in goal, whilst outfield, Keelan O’Connell and Klaidi Lolos took the places of Ali Omar and Dan Holman.
With the Yellow Army in full voice, their heroes out in front on them on the pitch began the match well.
Some wonderful trickery in the fourth minute from Lemonheigh-Evans saw him jink his way into the penalty area following a delicious flick from Gabby Rogers, however an outstretched opposition leg robbed the Welshman of an early shot on target. A dipping Rogers effort from 30 yards some five minutes later didn’t quite have the accuracy required, however it did confirm his side’s early superiority.
The lead that United’s territorial dominance demanded wouldn’t arrive though, and when Josh Coulson’s header from a corner had to be hacked off the goal line from a well-placed Lolos on 16 minutes, it served as a reminder of the danger that any momentary lack of concentration could bring.
The men in yellow were soon back on the front foot though, and with the game edging towards the halfway point, they twice went close to breaking the deadlock.
First, a short-corner paved the way for Rogers to turn this-way-and-that, before firing his left-footed strike narrowly over the bar. Shortly after, a swift break on a hesitant backline allowed Danny Wright to send in a low cross towards Lolos at the back post, however after several efforts to shake off the final covering defender, the Gulls’ striker saw his effort blocked, with Wright’s follow-up spinning well off-target.
Just short of the half-hour, a deflected left-footed cross from Chiori Johnson wide on the right eventually made its way across to O’Connell on the opposite flank, and despite visiting glovesman Steve Arnold appearing comfortable to watch the shot skim wide of his far-post, it appeared to be a little too close for comfort in the eyes of the Shrimpers’ fans behind him.
A debatable free-kick awarded to Southend five minutes before the break nearly saw an unjust punishment dished out, but thankfully Rhys Murphy’s curling shot had a too much on it, sailing narrowly past the rear upright. That near-miss sparked the Essex side from to come into proceedings a little more prior to the interval, however at the change of ends, it remained scoreless.
Despite plenty of action in and around both boxes in an entertaining first 45, neither ‘keeper had been forced into a save, and that may well have focused a few minds ahead of the second period.
Sure enough, it was only moments after the restart that Torquay tested the Southend stopper for the first time.
Lolos, showing purpose and poise in equal measure, drove at a retreating opposition backline, and after drawing defenders close to him, the ball was shifted out to the advancing Wright to his left, although the final shot was relatively comfortable for Arnold in between the posts to gather down in front of him.
Joe Lewis was next to try his luck, with his header from a corner raising hopes of an opener just short of the hour-mark, before dropping just wide of the post, as Johnson’s men began to turn the screw in search of the goal their display deserved.
As the game wore on, United’s dominance intensified.
On 70 minutes, a corner from Lemonheigh-Evans found Rogers in space on the edge of the penalty area, prompting some more fancy footwork before a shot which had plenty on it, but cleared the crossbar.
The flag-kick count continued to rise in The Gulls’ favour, however with Southend’s defenders now working overtime, the scoreline remained unmoved, as the afternoon headed towards injury time.
With the clock seeming certain to rob them of a thoroughly deserved victory, the decisive moment of the match arrived – just in time.
Dean Moxey, who had almost set up camp during a one-way second half, used all his experience by sending in a cross just where it needed to go, and with Lemonheigh-Evans gambling at point-blank range, he was left with the simplest of tasks by prodding the ball into the empty net.
Johnson’s players did what they needed to do in the final moments to see out the victory, sparking jubilant scenes on and off the pitch.
A first home win – and a first clean-sheet – certainly sees the side up and running, ahead of a testing trip to Chesterfield next weekend.
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TUFC: 37. Shaun MacDonald, 2. Ben Wynter, 7. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, 8. Asa Hall (c), 9. Danny Wright, 14. Chiori Johnson, 16. Keelan O’Connell (5. Ali Omar, 90+2′), 17. Gabby Rogers (24. Alex Addai, 71′), 19. Klaidi Lolos (30. Dan Holman, 82′), 21. Dean Moxey, 31. Joe Lewis.
SUBS NOT USED: 3. Dan Martin, 23. Marcin Brzozowski (GK).
Yellow Card: Lewis, 34′
Southend: 1. Steve Arnold, 3. Nathan Ralph, 4. Abu Ogogo, 6. Josh Coulson, 7. Jack Bridge (22. Hamzad Kargbo, 82′), 8. James Dunne, 9. Rhys Murphy (30. Matthew Dennis, 67′), 10. Sam Dalby, 11. Terrell Egbri, 20. Will Atkinson, 40. John White (c).
SUBS NOT USED: 5. Shaun Hobson, 13. Harry Seaden (GK), 24. Jason Demetriou.
Yellow Card: Ogogo, 10′, Atkinson, 32′, Ralph 90+2′
Attendance: 2,301 (466 away)