United 2
(Jarvis 28′, Ash 35′)
Aveley 2
(Odelusi pen 45+2′, Vaz 51′)
United were forced to settle for a point on Saturday, as Aveley battled back on an emotional afternoon at a packed and passionate Plainmoor.
Aaron Jarvis’ tenth goal of the season got Aaron Downes’ side off to the perfect start, and things got even better shortly after, as striker partner Brad ash matched him in the scoring charts. Siju Odelusi’s spot-kick on the stroke of half-time pulled Aveley back into the match though, before Eduino Vaz levelled things up just after the restart. That was the way it stayed, as the points were shared.
Ahead of his first match as Interim Manager, Downes named one change to the side that drew 0-0 at Farnborough in midweek, with Ash recalled to the starting line-up in place of the suspended Tom Lapslie.
In front of a boisterous and bumper crowd, it was actually Aveley who started the stronger, although The Gulls defence dealt with the threat with the minimum of fuss.
Although it wouldn’t be long before United gained a foothold in proceedings, neither set of players were able to muster anything in the way of clear-cut chances, as the match edged towards the half-hour mark.
It wouldn’t be until the 28th minute that the men in yellow won their first corner, however when they did, they made it count.
Brett McGavin’s corner was drifted towards the back post, and with Jarvis rising, there was only one destination for the ball after it met the United forward’s head… the back of the net, and The Gulls were 1-0 up.
That breakthrough certainly seemed to settle a few nerves, and seven minutes later, the advantage was doubled.
A McGavin free-kick just short of the corner flag saw Ronny Nelson glance his header wide, however with the move kept alive on the opposite flank, a spot of pinball inside the box ended with ash rifling his shot through a crowd of bodies and into the net from six yards.
The Yellow Army roared with approval, and for most of the remaining ten minutes, Torquay looked in full charge.
Football has a habit of keeping you on your toes though, and in the final minute of time added on, Aveley were awarded a pathway back into the game.
After a brief moment of hesitation left Vaz in space inside the box, Austen Booth was forced to act, and with the visiting attacker going down under the United defender’s challenge, the referee wasted little time in pointing to the penalty spot.
Odelusi duly stepped up and sent Mark Halstead the wrong way to reduce the arrears, with the destination of the points suddenly back in the balance.
When things got back underway following the interval, it was Torquay who were back on top.
Twice in the opening four minutes Jarvis nearly doubled his tally, with a back-header and low strike from the edge of the box both calling visiting goalkeeper Jonathan North into action.
On 51 minutes though, The Millers were level.
There initially seemed little danger as Vaz picked up possession 25 yards from goal, bit after taking a moment to size up his option, Aveley’s No.3 let fly with a fine strike that found its way past Halstead and into the roof of the net. 2-2.
United were nearly back in front just short of the hour mark.
With Jarvis picking up on Arkell Jude-Boyd’s drilled pass 20 yards from goal, his ball over the top of the Aveley backline found substitute Dan Martin in space on the left-hand side of the penalty area. Possibly caught in two minds, Martin’s ball across the face of goal missed the target by some distance, with the advancing Will Jenkins Davies just a little too far away to prod the loose ball home.
Three minutes later, some tricky footwork from Ash down the right flank was followed up by a delightful cross to the back post, where Martin was again found – however this time it was his header that went wide of the mark.
With thirteen minutes remaining, the introduction of Jack Stobbs saw his deflected cross find Jude-Boyd in space six yards out, but despite his header being goalbound, it was directed too close to North, who gathered on his goalline at the second attempt.
Ash’s near-post header, from a McGavin corner, cleared the crossbar with two minutes remaining as Downes’ side continued to go in search of a late winner, however it took resolute defending at the other end to keep out a number of long-range Aveley strikes.
United’s aerial prowess seemed to be their best bet in the dying stages, with Ross Marshall next to try his luck – this time North scrambled across goal to make a smothering parry.
The final whistle may have signalled a point – two less than the majority of Plainmoor wanted, however after a turbulent week behind the scenes, today was more about the Club than any single result.
It’s been said many times this week, but it’ll never be said too much – thank you, one and all, Yellow Army.
On the pitch, and off it, we owe it to you all to keep battling on.
UNITED: 1. Mark Halstead, 2. Arkell Jude-Boyd, 5. Austen Booth, 6. Ross Marshall, 9. Aaron Jarvis (19. Duane Ofori-Acheampong, 82′), 11. Brad Ash, 14. Brett McGavin, 16. Ronny Nelson, 18. Will Jenkins Davies, 21. Dean Moxey (c) (3. Dan Martin, 52′), 28. Kevin Dawson (27. Jack Stobbs, 70′).
SUBS NOT USED: 22. Rhys Lovett, 30. Ethon Archer.
Yellow Card: Jenkins Davies 70′, Nelson 74′
AVELEY: 13. Jonathan North, 2. Jason Ring, 3. Eduino Vaz, 4. Siju Odelusi, 5. Frankie Terry, 6. Harry Gibbs (c), 7. Arjanit Krasniqi (19. Garrett Kelly, 80′), 8. Ryan Carr, 10. Rassaq De-Graft, 11. Manny Ogrunrinde, 18. Charlee Hughes.
SUBS NOT USED: 1. Dougie Yates, 12. Nana Kyei, 15. Jalen Jones, 17. Ikechi Eze.
Yellow Card: Hughes 66′, Kelly 85′
Attendance: 3,642 (33 away)