United 4
(Jarvis pen 48′, Jude-Boyd 50′, Ash 52′, Ofori-Acheampong 88′)
Dartford 1
(Akanbi 70”)
A scintillating second-half showing saw United run out 4-1 winners over Dartford on a memorable afternoon at Plainmoor.
After a goalless first half, United ripped into The Darts immediately after the change of ends, and after Aaron Jarvis opened the scoring via a penalty, Arkell Jude-Boyd and Brad Ash quickly extended The Gulls’ advantage to put the home side in firm control. Ibby Akanbi did reduce the arrears, but it was to be Torquay’s afternoon, as late sub Duane Ofori-Acheampong notched a fourth to seal a memorable Family Day at Plainmoor.
Interim Manager Aaron Downes made two changes to the side that shared the points at Weymouth last weekend, with the suspended Ross Marshall replaced by Austen Booth, and Lewis Collins recalled the starting XI at the expense of Will Jenkins Davies, who dropped down to the bench.
It was the visitors who started the stronger.
The first threat came in the third minute, as a foray into United’s penalty area ended with Fumnaya Shomotun striking Mark Halstead’s near-post after cutting inside.
Seven minutes later, and The Darts went close again, as Jordan Greenidge barged his way into the penalty area, before dragging his shot across the face of goal.
Halstead was called into action in the 19th minute, as The Gulls’ No.1 made a superb low parry to keep out Dartford skipper Luke Coulson’s diagonal effort inside the box, before Ollie Tomlinson arrived in the nick of time to block Akanbi’s follow-up.
Just short of the half-hour, and it was Greenidge who fashioned another opportunity, as his drive into the left side of the box saw him beat two or three men before eventually running out of room and playing the ball into Halstead’s hands.
Torquay seemed to take note of that, and created a good opening of their own moments later, with Jack Stobbs’ corner catching out the visiting backline, as the ball was laid off to Brett McGavin outside the box, with the United midfielder proceeding to lash a firm low drive from 20 yards that just evaded the post, with the ball going inches wide of Billy Terrell’s goal.
It took another superb late intervention from Tomlinson to keep parity intact on 36 minutes, as a swift counter attack nearly caught Downes’ men out, as Akanbi looked set to apply the finishing touch inside The Gulls’ 18-yard box.
Following a first half that Dartford had enjoyed the better of, the men in yellow went close to taking the lead before the break, as Ash cut in from the left before letting fly with a curling shot from the edge of the box, with Terrell diving across his goal line to keep the ball out.
Scoreless at the change of ends.
Although Torquay had begun imposing themselves on proceedings, nothing quite prepared us for the start United made to the second period.
Attacking their favoured Family Stand end, there were only two minutes on the clock when Jarvis’ run into the box in pursuit of an inviting through ball saw the centre-forward hit the deck. The referee was perfectly placed to make a decision, and wasted little time pointing to the spot.
Jarvis took out any frustration on the resultant penalty kick, lashing it high to Terrell’s right to break the deadlock.
Moments later, it was two.
Stobbs’ break down the right flank saw a near-post delivery fall for Collins, and although he wasn’t quite in prime territory to work a chance for himself, his intelligent diversion of the ball into the path of Jude-Boyd twelve yards from goal saw the QPR loanee fire confidently home to send the Yellow Army into raptures.
Two quickly became three in double-quick time.
After seeing his initial strike deflected behind for a corner, it was Ash who responded quickest to Jarvis’ shot on the turn, as Terrell’s save in the wet conditions saw the ball slip out of his grasp, and onto ash’s plate at point-blank range. Ash didn’t pass it up, and it was 3-0 in the 52nd minute.
For a period thereafter, the Yellows looked set to blow their opponents away, but with 20 minutes remaining, Dartford threw themselves a lifeline.
Akanbi, who had been somewhat unlucky not to get on the scoresheet in the first 45, finally did, as his run into the box saw him hold off the challenge of Tomlinson, before slotting calmly past Halstead from fifteen yards.
Dartford couldn’t get the second that would have seen a few nerves appear, but two minutes from time, Torquay found their absolute clincher.
A ball into the box was pumped into the direction of Acheampong – on for Jarvis – and after his physical presence earned him a stab at the ball, his prod over the goal line from close-range sealed the deal, making it 4-1.
A whirlwind second-half, and three massive points.
If anyone deserved this most, it was the Yellow Army, who have not only stood by their team in such loyal fashion, but have gone the extra mile when their club needed them most.
This one’s for you, Yellow Army.
UNITED: 1. Mark Halstead, 2. Arkell Jude-Boyd, 5. Austen Booth, 9. Aaron Jarvis (19. Duane Ofori-Acheampong, 78′), 10 Lewis Collins, 11. Brad Ash, 14. Brett McGavin (18. Will Jenkins Davies, 78′), 21. Dean Moxey (c), 23. Ollie Tomlinson, 27. Jack Stobbs, 28. Kevin Dawson (4. Tom Lapslie, 60′).
SUBS NOT USED: 16. Ronny Nelson, 22. Rhys Lovett.
Yellow Card: Ash 43′
DARTFORD: 22. Billy Terrell, 4. Tommy Block (12. Maxwell Statham, 87′), 5. Tyrell Miller-Rodney (8. Luke Allen, 60′), 6. Jack Smith, 7. Luke Coulson (c), 11. Ibby Akanbi, 14. Manny Adebowale, 18. Fumnaya Shomotun (17. Brandon Barzey, 60′), 20. Joash Nembhard, 23. Jordan Greenidge, 27. Tom Clifford.
SUBS NOT USED: 13. Tom Wray, 16. Elliott Romain.
Yellow Card: Miller-Rodney 35′, Block 63′
Attendance: 2,438 (117 away)