United 4
(Moxey 13′, Wearne 16′, Webb o.g. 24′, Lemonheigh-Evans 47′)
Aldershot 0
On a night United remembered the great Frank O’Farrell, Gary Johnson’s side produced a stunning performance at Plainmoor, as they outclassed Aldershot by winning 4-0.
After Johnson’s side raced into a 3-0 lead courtesy of goals from Dean Moxey, Stephen Wearne and an own goal from Bradley Webb inside half an hour, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans extended that imposing lead just after the change of ends to seal a wonderful night for the Yellow Army to savour.
For the visit of Aldershot, the Gaffer named the same team that faced Halifax three days earlier.
Giving no hint of what was to follow, it was end-to-end stuff in the early stages.
A early free-kick from 22 yards saw Shaun MacDonald called into early action to make a low save to deny Tommy Willard, before the action switched to the Babbacombe end, as Lemonheigh-Evans showed trademark trickery on the left wing, before cutting inside and chipping a shot into visiting goalkeeper Ethan Ross’ palms.
That pattern continued for a short period thereafter, until The Gulls made the breakthrough on 13 minutes.
A corner from Little caused all sorts of trouble in the Shots goalmouth, and taking advantage of the situation was Moxey, who powered home a diving header into net.
Moments later, it was 2-0.
A superb piece of skill by Stephen Duke-McKenna deep inside the box saw him outwit two Aldershot men, before a short trip to the byline, where a pinpoint low cross found fellow loanee Wearne inside the six-yard box to slot home and double his team’s lead.
Perhaps stung by their inability to punish Halifax during a one-way first half on Saturday, Johnson’s men were clearly in no mood to let this opportunity slip as they promptly made it three.
Lemonheigh-Evans, once again making dangerous progress down the left, this time jinked into the 18-yard box, and although his poked-effort didn’t initially seem to have quite enough to make its way into the net, a despairing touch from Webb finished the job.
Torquay weren’t done, and duly set about stretching their lead even further.
Lemonheigh-Evans, enjoying one of his ‘near-unplayable’ nights, again tore down the left-hand side of the box, before centring for Duke-McKenna, who let fly with an audacious half-volley from 18 yards which Ross did well to parry, before one of his defensive teammates did similar soon after to repel Little’s equally ferocious 25-yard follow-up.
Aldershot were desperate for something to give them hope, and in the 34th minute they came close to a response, as Harry Panayiotou curled a shot wide from the edge of the D.
MacDonald did have to make another block from point-blank range in first-half stoppage time, however with the visitors making no in-roads prior to the break, it was a standing ovation that accompanied United’s walk towards the changing rooms at the interval.
When the second period got underway, it took only two minutes for Lemonheigh-Evans to get the goal his performance deserved.
A misplaced pass in the centre circle was seized upon in a flash by Wearne, and after drawing the backline to him, a ball out to his right saw Danny Wright drive the ball across goal where United’s sparkling Welshman was running in, just in time to slot the ball into the barely-guarded net.
Still Johnson’s men piled forward, seemingly intent on swelling their goal difference.
Some of The Gulls’ play was nothing short of breathtaking, with a number of slick, inventive passing moves too hot for The Shots to handle.
They went close to reducing the arrears in the 62nd minute after Willard forced his way into the penalty area before seeing his low drive skim past the far-post, however the men in yellow remained in control for large spells.
As the clock began to tick towards the dying stages, Torquay’s determination to keep their clean sheet came to the fore, as Aldershot began to enjoy some possession of their own, without really threatening to penetrate an organised backline.
When they did eventually break through, it only added to their dismay as they came up against a stopper in full confidence, as MacDonald made a near-post gather from a firm Willard shot appear far more comfortable than he was entitled to.
There was still time for Little to have a goal disallowed for offside, after Duke-McKenna twisted inside and out before firing his left-footer towards the back post, but that brief disappointment couldn’t spoil an evening of sublime entertainment from Johnson’s charges.
The result, and the performance, served as a justifiable tribute to a man who brought so much joy to the Club, and it was only fitting a number of his family and friends were there to see it.
Don’t write this team off just yet – in this form, anything is possible.
United: 37. Shaun MacDonald, 2. Ben Wynter, 4. Tom Lapslie (30. Dan Holman, 66′), 7. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, 9. Danny Wright (3. Dan Martin, 66′), 10. Armani Little (c), 12. Stephen Wearne, 15. Stephen Duke-McKenna, 21. Dean Moxey (5. Ali Omar, 82′), 27. Opi Edwards, 31. Joe Lewis.
SUBS NOT USED: 1. Mark Halstead, 14. Chiori Johnson.
Yellow Cards: Wynter 1′, Little 70′
Aldershot: 24. Ethan Ross, 6. Kodi Lyons-Foster, 7. Alfy Whittingham, 11. Harry Panayiutou (9. Mo Bettamer, 71′), 12. Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, 16. Corey Jordan, 18. Mo Sylla, 22. Giles Phillips, 26. Alfie Saunders (14. Ryan Glover, HT), 27. Tommy Willard, 32. Bradley Webb (34. Sam Matthews, HT).
SUBS NOT USED: 1. Mitch Walker, 5. Kevin Lokko.
Yellow Cards: Saunders 12′, Phillips 53′
Attendance: 1,832 (103 Away)