United 2
(Jarvis 18′, Fadahunsi 47′)
Barnet 1
(De Havilland 78′)
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United avenged last week’s FA Trophy defeat in style on Saturday, as The Gulls ran out 2-1 winners over Barnet at Plainmoor.
Leading scorer Aaron Jarvis got things underway with his first-half strike, before strike partner Tope Fadahunsi followed suit just after the restart, and although Ryan De Havilland reduced the arrears late on, Torquay held on for three well-earned, and hugely valuable three points.
United manager Gary Johnson made two changes to the side that lost out to the same opponents in FA Trophy last weekend, with Ross Marshall and Tope Fadahunsi replacing Ben Wyatt and Lewis Collins in the starting line-up.
An open start to proceedings saw both sides build some neat attacking moves, although neither goalkeeper was forced into early action.
When the first clear-cut chance arose in the 18th minute, Johnson’s men took the opportunity to break the deadlock.
A mazy central run from Kieron Evans took him the very edge of the 18-yard box, and after spotting Jarvis in space to his left, the Cardiff loanee delivered the ball on a plate for United’s No.9, who calmly stroked the ball past visiting glovesman Laurie Walker to make it 1-0.
Torquay nearly doubled their advantage five minutes later.
Another attacking move saw the ball worked centrally to Brett McGavin on the edge of the D, where the Gulls midfielder took a moment to set his sights and send a firm low drive which Walker did well to parry past his left-hand post.
Despite stamping their authority on the game, The Bees nearly found a pathway to parity shortly after, as a deep ball to the back stick found Sam Beard unmarked, however his header was thankfully straight into Mark Halstead’s midriff.
Normal service resumed on 35 minutes.
A delightful crossfield ball saw Dillon De Silva do remarkably well to ride a rash sliding challenge from Beard, before delivering an excellent right-wing cross onto the boot of the onrushing Jarvis, who could only steer his near-post volley wide of the upright.
Six minutes before the break, the men in yellow were at it again.
De Silva – clearly enjoying himself down the right – sent in another dangerous cross which Jarvis directed into the path of Evans, who could only direct his on-the-turn half-volley over the crossbar.
Barnet aren’t amongst the National league pacesetters without merit though, and just before the interval a dangerous ball from the left gave Harry Smith a chance to replicate last week’s opener, however this time around, his header went wide of – rather than into – the Torquay net.
A goal to the good, and top marks all round at the change of ends.
The second period was less than two minutes old when things got even better.
With Evans darting into space down the left, his unchallenged foray into the box found Fadahunsi poised to profit inside the six-yard box, and although his initial effort was blocked at source, the on-loan Sutton man gleefully poked home the rebound to double his side’s lead.
The Gulls were now in full-flight.
In the 52nd minute, a slick passing move saw Torquay’s confidence illustrated in fine style, as the ball worked its way from one side of the pitch to the other, as a Evans-Fadhunsi-Jarvis-De Silva move ended with the latter flashing a fierce right-footer across the face of goal.
It must be said that the visitors responded by enjoying plenty of possession in United territory for a period thereafter – but it was testament to how well Johnson’s men defended, that Halstead remained untroubled.
Those in yellow remained composed in possession too, and they created another opening in the 76th minute, with another confident move culminating in Jarvis drilling low towards goal, with the ever-willing Tom Lapslie nearly deflecting the ball home.
Barnet still weren’t really threatening, but they threw themselves a lifeline with twelve minutes left on the clock.
With De Silva pulled up for a foul 25 yards from goal, De Havilland took aim and curled a precise effort into the top-right corner, leaving Halstead clutching at air, despite his best attempts to keep it out.
The result was suddenly now back in the balance.
Jarvis, from a similar range nearly reproduced De Havilland’s effort at the other end, yet it sadly dipped wide.
The visitors, desperate for a point, applied plenty of pressure – primarily by way of high balls into a congested box – in dying stages, but the warriors in yellow continued to hold firm.
The final whistle was greeted with some relief amongst the Yellow Army – no doubt about that – but in truth, the applause that accompanied it also signalled appreciation for a job well done.
Onto Dorking on Tuesday.
United: 1. Mark Halstead, 4. Tom Lapslie, 6. Ross Marshall, 9. Aaron Jarvis, 10. Tope Fadahunsi (12. Jacob Mensah 87′), 11. Kieron Evans, 14. Brett McGavin (15. Ben Wyatt, 64′), 16. Shaun Donnellan, 19. Nico Lawrence, 21. Dean Moxey (c), 27. Dillon De Silva (7.Ryan Hanson, 81′)
SUBS NOT USED: 3. Dan Martin, 22. Rhys Lovett.
Yellow Cards: Wyatt 71′, Donnellan 83′
Barnet: 1. Laurie Walker, 3. Finley Potter (20. David Moyo, 90′), 6. Jerome Okimo, 8. Dale Gorman(c) (5. Marvin Armstrong, 64′), 9. Nicke Kabamba, 11. Idris Kanu, 14. Harry Pritchard, 23. Sam Beard (25. Courtney Senior, HT), 27. Moussa Diarra, 30. Harry Smith, 33. Ryan De Havilland.
SUBS NOT USED: 28. Sam Woods, 31. Aymen Azaze.
Yellow Cards: Kanu 85′
Attendance: 2,135 (139 away)