United 1
(Evans 46′)
Wealdstone 2
(Kretzchmar 41′, Obiero 90+1′)
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A late goal secured all three points for Wealdstone at Plainmoor on Saturday, despite a spirited display from ten-man United.
An early red card for Tom Lapslie was hardly the ideal start for The Gulls, and despite holding firm for the majority of the first half, a goal from Max Kretzschmar just before the break gave Gary Johnson’s side a mammoth challenge to overhaul. Keiron Evans’s equaliser just after the restart galvanised his team, but once again a late goal did for his side, as Micah Obiero’s strike sealed an away win for the visitors.
United’s boss made two changes to the side that went down 3-2 to Solihull on Tuesday, with Ali Omar and Aaron Jarvis replacing Ben Wyatt and Ryan Hanson, who both dropped down to the substitutes bench. There was also a timely boost for the Yellow Army amongst the replacements, with Club captain Asa Hall making a welcome return following injury.
Torquay began the game brightly, however with the game just seven minutes old, Lapslie’s mistimed challenge on Kretzschmar in the centre circle drew the ultimate sanction from the referee, who almost instantly produced a red card from his pocket, despite the slippery conditions undoubtedly playing its part in the incident.
The men in yellow responded well though, and on 11 minutes, Fadahunsi’s sheer persistence saw him barge his way between a retreating defender and goalkeeper Sam Howes to chase down a high ball and flick his boot onto the end of the loose ball, before seeing it dip just over the crossbar.
The Gulls continued to boss proceedings despite the numerical disadvantage, with a neat move down the right seeing home debutant Kevin Dawson exchange passes with Lewis Collins, before the latter fed Ali Omar to send a rising drive over the crossbar from just outside the box in the 19th minute.
Wealdstone roused themselves thereafter, with Mark Halstead doing well to parry Dom Hutchinson’s close-range strike two minutes later, before United’s No.1 producing a brave gather moments after at the feet of Ashley Charles, with the lengthy treatment the stopper received after only further illustrating his commitment to the cause.
The conditions dictated that the match degenerated into a rather scrappy affair thereafter, before Wealdstone’s additional personnel stretched United a little too far in the 41st minute.
Hutchinson’s run into the box saw him cut inside and force a fine low save from Halstead, however Kretzschmar was ideally placed to pick up on the rebound, and duly stabbed the ball into the net to put the visitors ahead.
Brooklyn Ilunga’s piledriver from 25 yards forced Halstead to act quickly to prevent further damage in stoppage time, however the deficit remained at a single goal at the halfway stage.
Looking down and out, Johnson’s men had no choice but to gamble, and with the second period only a few seconds old, parity was restored.
When visiting glovesman Sam Howes found himself caught in no-man’s land as he tried to retrieve a tricky situation at the back, Evans seized upon the moment of indecision by taking ownership of possession, however being 20 yards from goal wide on the right, there was still plenty to do. The Cardiff loanee delivered in style though, as he floated a delicious chip over the despairing defender on the goalline to level the scores.
Game on.
United had to work incredibly hard to continue posing a threat in attack whilst nullifying Wealdstone’s threat at the other end, yet it was a task they adapted to well, although a hanging cross from the left that eventually clipped Halstead’s crossbar was a little too close for comfort, with the same occurring from the opposite flank later.
Torquay had to absorb more and more pressure as the match wore on, however it was to their credit that clear-cut chances remained at a premium.
As the match headed into stoppage time, Johnson’s charges continued to contest the destination of the points, however in the first additional minute, they were robbed of the point they had worked so hard to retain.
A defence splitting ball found Obiero sprint into the left of the 18-yard box, allowing him the relatively simple task to slot the ball past the onrushing Halstead.
Heartbreak.
Still the continued to battle – Ali Omar had to efforts cleared off the line in the time that remained, but sadly the ball simply refused to go in.
Gateshead next weekend is the next task facing The Gulls, in what is now looking to be a pivotal match in the 2022/23 campaign.
UNITED: 1. Mark Halstead (c), 4. Tom Lapslie, 5. Ali Omar, 6. Ross Marshall (8. Asa Hall, 83′), 9. Aaron Jarvis, 10. Tope Fadahunsi, 11. Kieron Evans, 16. Shaun Donnellan, 19. Nico Lawrence, 28. Kevin Dawson, 31. Lewis Collins (15. Ben Wyatt, 21′).
SUBS NOT USED: 7. Ryan Hanson, 12. Jacob Mensah, 22. Rhys Lovett
Yellow Cards: Jarvis 72′
Red Card: Lapslie 7′
WEALDSTONE: 13. Sam Howes, 2. Jack Cook (c), 4. Ashley Charles, 10. Corie Andrews (9.Olufela Olomola, 71′), 14. Micah Obiero, 17.Dom Hutchinson (16. Sonny Lo-Everton, 71′)18. Alex Dyer, 21. Brooklyn Ilunga, 22. Max Kretzschmar (27. Tarrelle Whittaker, 66′), 24. Charlie Barker, 28. Sam Habergham.
SUBS NOT USED: 6. Mason Barrett, 8. Nathan Ferguson
Yellow Cards: Barker 75′, Olomola 90+6′
Attendance: 1,931 (92 away)