United 2
(Andrews, 13′, Lemonheigh-Evans, 23′)
Barnet 2
(Petrasso 36′ pen, Kefalas, 54′)
The Yellow Army’s return to Plainmoor saw United pegged back on Saturday, as Barnet came from behind to claim a 2-2 draw.
Jake Andrews gave Torquay the early lead they craved, with Connor Lemonheigh-Evans doubling it midway through the first period. However, a penalty from Mike Petrasso, followed a goal from Themis Kefalas, saw Barnet make things all-square, and despite huge efforts from all in yellow, that is the way it stayed.
Boss Gary Johnson made no changes to the starting line-up that secured a 2-2 draw at Stockport last time out, with the only amendment to the squad coming on the bench, where Josh Umerah replaced Ben Whitfield.
Despite clearly being hungry for goals in front of their beloved supporters, it was actually the visitors who nearly opened the scoring in the 4th minute. Ephron Mason-Clark eluded Andrews’ attentions in the left-back position before sliding the ball across the face of goal, forcing Adam Randell to hack the ball clear before a Barnet man could tap it home.
The Gulls went close themselves four minutes later though, as Andrews picked himself up after winning a free-kick on the edge of the D to fire the set-piece narrowly wide of the post.
The Bees were proving no sacrificial lambs though, and moments later, Tomi Adeloye’s trickery inside the box needed urgent intervention from the Torquay backline to prevent the men in yellow from falling behind.
After a slightly uncertain start though, everything clicked the 13th minute. Randell, just inside the box, fed Ben Wynter down the right flank, and the right-back’s cross was delivered to perfection to the back post, where Andrews steadied himself before slamming the ball into the net via his right boot to make it 1-0.
Despite falling behind, Simon Bassey’s side refused to lie down, and in the 17th minute it took a Randell header off the line to stop Kefalas levelling things up from a corner.
After having penalty appeals waved away, the visiting side looked to be upping the ante after winning a throw level with the Torquay penalty area in the 23rd minute, however, after winning possession back, Armani Little produced a world-class ball from distance that was only matched by the control of Lemonheigh-Evans, who took the ball down, avoided a dubious challenge from the onrushing Bees goalkeeper Adam Parkes, before round him a make it two.
The fact that the Welshman merely picked the ball out of the back of the net and ran with it back to the centre circle, rather than fully enjoying the acclaim his strike deserved, only served to further illustrate United’s determination to extract everything possible out of the match in front of them.
Another Kefelas header from a flag-kick on 33 minutes served as a reminder that defence remained as important as attack in the pursuit of narrowing down any goal difference deficit, however, in the 36th minute the pressure finally told as, Sam Sherring mistimed his challenge on Harry Taylor, resulting in a penalty.
Petrasso duly beat Lucas Covolan from the spot, with the result no longer appearing to be a foregone conclusion.
An Asa Hall back-post header, from a deep Little ball into the box, so nearly re-established the two-goal margin just before the break, however as half-time whistle sounded, Johnson’s men had to be content with just the single-goal lead at the break.
United’s returning supporters would have dearly loved an early strike to restore their side’s early momentum, however after going close twice earlier in proceedings, a third header from Kefalas – this time from a free-kick – saw him head home to restore parity.
Things were now much more even, and it took a marvellous save from Covolan to keep The Gulls level on the hour mark, as he got down smartly to palm Taylor’s volley away to safety, and he repeated that feat five minutes later, as the same player threatened to profit from a swift attack led by the livewire Ephron Mason-Clark.
The introduction of Billy Waters and Benji Kimpioka from the bench gave Johnson’s men a new dimension in attack, and it nearly paid off in the 68th minute as the former fired a shot from the corner of the box narrowly wide of the upright.
A win – any win – was becoming the overriding priority, and two minutes later, Lemonheigh-Evans so nearly put his side back in front, however his header at the back stick somehow crawled across the goalline without getting the touch it needed.
As time began to ebb away, Torquay’s players continued to push in search of a winner, however despite setting up camp in opposition territory during the final ten minutes, they just couldn’t find the vital goal, with every loose ball seeming to bounce in Barnet’s favour.
The final whistle may have signalled some frustration on the terraces at the result following an afternoon that began so well, however the appreciation shown towards Johnson’s players soon after was a welcome addition that has been so missed in recent times.
United’s position in the table means their season remains very much alive, and the ultimate dream of promotion in front of their beloved Yellow Army still very much on the agenda.
TUFC: 33. Lucas Covolan (GK), 2. Ben Wynter, 7. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, 8. Asa Hall (c), 10. Armani Little (28. Benji Kimpioka, 67′), 11. Jake Andrews, 12. Adam Randell, 16. Sam Sherring (4. Kyle Cameron, 40′), 19. Scott Boden (25. Billy Waters, 55′), 21. Dean Moxey, 31. Joe Lewis.
SUBS NOT USED: 1. Shaun MacDonald (GK), 35. Josh Umerah.
Yellow Card: Hall 26′, Lewis 40′
BARNET: 28. Adam Parkes (GK), 10. Mike Petrasso (22. Josh Walker, 75′), 15. Themis Kefalas, 16. Harry Taylor, 17. Ben Richards-Everton, 21. Tom Adeloye, 23. Sam Beard, 25. Sam Skeffington, 27. Ephron Mason-Clark (19. Xander McBurnie, 81′), 30. Lee Vaughan (c), 31. Ben Nugent.
SUBS NOT USED: 12. James Callan (GK), 33. Antonis Vasiliou.
Yellow Card: 17. Ben Richards-Everton, 45′
Attendance: 1,561