United 2
(McGavin 72′, Donnellan 81′)
Hampton & Richmond 2
(Babalola 18′, Gray 71′)
United battled back from two goals behind to keep their FA Cup hopes alive at Plainmoor on Saturday.
Temi Babalola’s first-half effort gave The Beavers a first-half advantage, and when that was doubled in the latter stages by Jake Gray, things looked bleak on a sunny day in the English Riviera. Gary Johnson’s men summoned up all their reserves of spirit though, and eventually salvaged a replay thanks to goals from Brett McGavin and Shaun Donnellan.
Following last week’s reverse at York, the Gaffer rang the changes in the starting XI, with Dylan Crowe, Asa Hall, Ben Wyatt and Donnellan taking the places of Dan Martin, Ali Omar, Ryan Hanson and Scott Smith.
The men in yellow were on the front foot straight from kick-off, and although it took some time for the clear-cut chances to arise, the visitors spent most of the opening fifteen minutes pegged back inside their own 18-yard box.
Such was United’s early dominance, it therefore came as quite a shock as Hampton broke the deadlock on 18 minutes.
Although a deep free-kick from Liam Vincent caused some discomfort inside the box, Johnson’s side appeared well-covered to clear the danger, until a shot at close quarters was adjudged to have struck the hand of a United player, leaving the referee to point to the spot.
As seems befitting of Torquay’s luck right now, Tommy Block’s spot-kick was expertly saved down low by Mark Halstead, however, having produced heroics to keep the initial effort out, he was powerless to stop Babalola dinking home the rebound to give the National League South side the lead.
Despite the setback, the home side continued to take the game to their opponents.
On the half-hour, they came within a whisker of drawing level, as Ben Wyatt looked up and took aim from twenty yards, before sending a thunderous effort against the crossbar, aided by the merest of touches from goalkeeper Matteo Salamon.
Despite plenty of endeavour, that was as close as The Gulls came to parity before the break, with a number of last-ditch challenges denying United’s forwards a clear sight of goal.
A big response required in the second half, and following the restart, United were again in the ascendancy.
The Beavers were beginning to gain in confidence as the match clock ticked on though, with one rare foray into the Torquay half seeing Marcus Sablier allowed too much time to chest a cross down, before volleying straight at Halstead.
The introduction of QPR loanee Dillon De Silva in place of the injured Wyatt at the break did give Johnson’s men some fresh threat, with a couple of tricky runs down the left forcing the visiting backline to retreat with added urgency.
A promising run from Will Goodwin on 67 minutes saw a number of defenders throw themselves at the feet of on-loan Stoke attacker, with the final intervention seeing the ball loop up safely into Salamon’s grateful arms.
There was a near-miss at the other end in the 70th minute, as a quickly-taken corner saw Liam Vincent left with plenty of space to drill in a shot – thankfully though, it was over the bar.
A minute later though, there would be no let-off.
A kind bounce just outside the box was pounced upon by Gray, and when his low shot was placed into the back of the net, it looked as though Johnson’s men would be looking at an untimely cup exit.
Charged with turning the match – and who knows, perhaps their season – around, they responded in style.
An initial cross from the right may have lacked the required precision, however as it fell to McGavin at waist-height on the edge of the D, the former Ipswich schemer had only one thing on his mind, and he duly answered the SOS call by sending a sumptuous volley into the top corner of the net.
Game on.
Thrown a lifeline and with nothing to lose, The Gulls continued to pour forward, and with nine minutes remaining they pulled level.
De Silva had visibly lifted proceedings on the left flank, and it was therefore no surprise when it was his cross that met the onrushing Donnellan’s head at the back post – what a time to score your first goal for the Club.
There was suddenly only one team that was going to win it now, with all the nerves now found in the away camp.
A glorious chance presented itself with two minutes left, as De Silva found himself with a practically open goal at his mercy, however on this occasion, the winger mishit his effort, as it spun way off-target.
A remarkable off-the-line clearance from Chin Okoli – just as Alfy Whittingham seemed set to steal it – certainly raised a few heart rates in injury time, however at the final whistle, both sides where left to contemplate a match they both could have won.
A replay it is then.
United: 1. Mark Halstead, 2. Dylan Crowe, 4. Tom Lapslie (5. Ali Omar, 64′), 8. Asa Hall (c), 9. Aaron Jarvis, 14. Brett McGavin, 15. Ben Wyatt (27. Dillon De Silva), 16. Shaun Donnellan, 19. Will Goodwin, 21. Dean Moxey (c), 29. Chin Okoli.
SUBS NOT USED: 22. Rhys Lovett, 23. Ollie Tomlinson.
Yellow Cards: Hall 62′, Crowe 68′
Hampton & Richmond: 1. Matteo Salamon, 2. Tommy Block, 3. Ruaridh Donaldson, 6. Tyrell Miller-Rodney, 9. Tommy Wood, 10. Jake Gray, 12. Marcus Sablier (8. Alfy Whittingham, 74′), 16. Tommy Davis, 19. Liam Vincent, 20. Temi Babalola(15. Ade Shokunbi, 84′), 22. Ben Shroll.
SUBS NOT USED: 4. Dean Inman, 5. Luis Fernandez, 11. Stefan Ilic, 13. Ollie Davies, 21. Shane Dunne.
Yellow Cards: Babalola 33′, Shroll 70′
Attendance: 1,264 (68 away)