United 1
(Dennis 90+4′)
Tonbridge Angels 2
(Leahy 8′, Korbora 29′)
United slipped to defeat on Saturday, as Tonbridge brought The Gulls’ winning run to an end at Plainmoor.
Tomas Leahy fired the visitors in front early on, and that lead was doubled just short of the half-hour by Ricky Korbora. Despite laying siege to the away goal thereafter, a late Louis Dennis effort was to serve as nothing more than a consolation for the men in yellow.
Boss Paul Wotton unsurprisingly opted for the same side that has served The Gulls so well in recent weeks, although there was a welcome addition to the bench, where Ed Palmer returned from injury to take his place amongst the substitutes.
There was an early warning for United in the seventh minute, as a half-cleared ball fell kindly for Nazir Bakrin just outside the box, with only the woodwork sparing The Gulls from falling a goal behind.
Sadly, the let-off only lasted a minute.
Despite fervent appeals for offside, Leahy continued his journey towards the Torquay box without hesitation, before firing low past James Hamon to give his side the lead.
Things got worse in the 29th minute.
After launching an attack down their left, a ball into the Torquay box was latched onto by Korbora, who duly smashed a rising drive into the net from 15 yards.
Throughout the first period, Wotton’s men enjoyed plenty of the ball, and called visiting goalkeeper Lawrence Shala into plenty of action. It wasn’t until the 43rd minute that they really forced the glovesman into a serious save though, when a left-wing cross forced the Tonbridge No.1 to spill the ball, before he recovered swiftly to scoop up Matt Jay’s follow-up.
The second half served up more one-way traffic, with The Gulls pinning their opponents back for long periods.
Wotton’s men were largely left unrewarded though, with Shala regularly having to keep the Yellows at bay, with one low parry from Sonny Blu Lo-Everton the pick of the bunch.
By the time Torquay finally found a breakthrough – after Young’s right-wing cross was headed home from close-range by Dennis – the match was deep into stoppage time.
Although Young did wriggle into the penalty once more before time was up, this time the shot was too high, and United’s fate was sealed.
A setback, but if recent weeks are anything to go by, this side has more than enough talent and spirit to bounce back from it.
UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 3. Jay Foulston (22.Sonny Sharples-Ahmed, 74′), 4. Jordan Dyer, 5. Sam Dreyer (c), 7. Louis Dennis, 8. Jordan Young, 11. Dylan Morgan (23. Kieran Wilson, 64′), 20. Dan Hayfield (17. Sonny Fish, 64′), 24. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 26. Jordan Thomas, 27. Matt Jay (16. Ed Palmer, 88′)
SUBS NOT USED: 2. Denzel Akyeampong, 21. Adam Seedhouse-Evans (GK), 29. Aidan Edwards.
Yellow Card: Dreyer 20′
TONBRIDGE ANGELS: 1. Lawrence Shala, 2. Bradley Williams, 3. Matthew Warren, 5. Ethan Sutcliffe, 6. Arthur Penney (c), 7. Ricky Korbora (27. Bailey Akehurst, 88′), 14. Thomas Leahy (23. Sean Shields, 67′), 16. Tobi Omole, 18. Nazir Bakrin, 24. Kyle Smith, 29. Alfie Pavey (11. Oluwabumni Babajide, 51′).
SUBS NOT USED: 10. Marcus Sablier, 13. Mackenzie Foley (GK), 15. Franklin Domi.
Yellow Card: Pavey 31′
Attendance: 3,071 (31 away)
