United 1
(Collins 85′)
Southend 2
(Powell 27′, Miley 90+1)
A late goal saw Southend take all three points on Saturday, as the visitors ran out 2-1 winners at Plainmoor.
For a long time it appeared Callum Powell’s first-half goal may have decided the outcome alone, however despite Lewis Collins’ first strike for the Club appearing to salvage a point late on, it was an injury-time winner from Shrimpers skipper Cavaghn Miley that proved decisive.
Manager Gary Johnson made one change to the side that lost out to Dorking in midweek, with the suspended Kieron Evans replaced by Jacob Mensah, who was making his first start for The Gulls. In turn, Collins made a welcome return from injury to fill the spot vacated by the latter player on the bench.
Apart from full-debutant Mensah heading over from Dillon De Silva’s left-wing cross inside the first ten minutes, it was a relatively quiet start to proceedings, although plenty of vocal support from both sets of supporters seemed to give the match a additional edge, and somewhat mask the lack of early goalmouth action.
Jake Hyde – so often a thorn in Torquay’s recent past – was briefly provided with a chance to punish United again midway through the first period, however, after working a bit of space for himself at the near-post, the experienced striker could only blaze his shot well over the crossbar, following a deflected cross from the right.
The deadlock was broken with the first serious shot on target.
A determined central run towards the 18-yard box from Noor Husin went unhalted, and after the Southend sent an inviting low ball into the box, it was Powell who reacted quickest to evade the attentions of The Gulls’ backline and poke the ball past Mark Halstead in the 27th minute.
Halstead did well to parry Husin’s 20-yarder eight minutes later to prevent further damage, as The Shrimpers continued to enjoy the territorial advantage leading up to the break.
Work to do at the break.
The Gaffer’s team talk had visibly lifted his side following the restart, with the introduction of Collins – in place of Mensah – giving the yellows another dimension in attack.
United were still struggling to test the visiting goalkeeper by the hour-mark, and although Collins’ strike from the corner of the box didn’t lack in power, its direction sadly needed some fine-tuning.
A well-worked move on 68 minutes did force the previously underworked Blondy Nna Noukeu into action, but the Southend glovesman was well-placed to comfortably gather De Silva’s curling effort from the edge of the D.
A tidy run down the left saw the same player dash all the way into the 18-yard box, however with options limited in the centre, his off-target left-footer was a disappointing conclusion to a promising build-up.
Torquay were now in the ascendancy, with their opponents forced to feed off scraps on the break, yet the lack of genuine clear-cut openings continued to plague Johnson’s side as the match began to head towards the final ten minutes.
A Brett McGavin free-kick, initially fisted clear by Noukeu, saw Collins send in a firm half-volley into a packed goalmouth, but unfortunately the glovesman was ideally placed to gather the follow-up shot.
With the match clock entering the final five minutes, United were rewarded for their spell of pressure with an equalising goal.
With plenty of attacking and defensive players packing a crowded Southend box, Collins has little room to manoeuvre on the edge of the box as the ball fell to him, however after seizing upon the half-chance presented to him, the on-loan Newport man squeezed a shot through a crowd of players and under Noukeu to make it 1-1.
Torquay were now fully focused on all three points, and ultimately it may have proved their downfall.
Sensing the chance to snatch a vital victory, Johnson’s men were committed to attack when they were caught by a swift counter-attack.
Miley drove at a whole host of retreating defenders, and with options belated arriving to his right and left, Miley chose to go it along by jinking into shooting range and slot the ball past the onrushing Halstead.
That was sadly that.
A disappointing result, but a perfect opportunity to redress the balance comes in the shape of Bromley at home on Tuesday night.
United: 1. Mark Halstead, 4. Tom Lapslie, 6. Ross Marshall (7. Ryan Hanson, 82′), 9. Aaron Jarvis, 10. Tope Fadahunsi, 12. Jacob Mensah (31. Lewis Collins, HT), 14. Brett McGavin, 16. Shaun Donnellan, 19. Nico Lawrence, 21. Dean Moxey (c), 27. Dillon De Silva (15. Ben Wyatt, 69′).
SUBS NOT USED: 3. Dan Martin, 22. Rhys Lovett.
Yellow Cards: Lapslie 73′
Southend: 40. Blondy Nna Noukeu, 2. Gus Scott-Morriss (24. Jason Demetriou, 75′), 4. Louis Lomas, 5. Shaun Hobson, 6. Ollie Kensdale, 7. Jack Bridge, 8. Noor Husin, 11. Callum Powell (10. Dan Mooney, 69′), 16. Harry Taylor, 17. Cavaghn Miley (c), 39. Jake Hyde.
SUBS NOT USED: 18. Wesley Fonguck, 22. Kacper Lopata, 35. Hanry Sandat.
Yellow Cards: Powell 45+1′, Husin 88′, Lopata 90+2′, Demetriou 90+4′
Attendance: 2,417 (478 away)