United 4
(De Silva 15′, Omar 21, Jarvis 65′, pen 71′)
Taunton Town 2
(McCootie 27′, Wannell 39′)
United sealed a place in the last-16 of the Isuzu FA Trophy, following a 4-2 win over Taunton Town at Plainmoor.
Strikes from Dillon De Silva and Ali Omar saw Torquay make a flying start, however, that lead was swiftly cancelled out through strikes from Nick McCootie and Jake Wannell before the break. Wannell received his marching orders soon after, and The Gulls made the extra man count in the second period, as two Aaron Jarvis strikes – the second via the penalty spot – saw United run out winners.
Following the 1-0 home win over Halifax in their last league encounter, United made three alterations to the starting line-up, with Ross Marshall, Dillon De Silva and new signing Nico Lawrence replacing Dylan Crowe, Asa Hall and Dean Moxey.
After a tight start to the game, the men in yellow started to create a few openings, with a couple of De Silva forays down the right flank threatening to unlock the Taunton backline. One particularly dangerous cross from the Sri Lankan international nearly picked out Ben Wyatt at the back post, however, a defensive boot saw the ball cannon off the Torquay man and behind.
Tom Lapslie was the next man to threaten two minutes later, as he seized upon widespread hesitancy in the Town ranks with a rampaging run, with a classy dummy sending one defender AWOL before drilling a low shot narrowly wide of the upright.
With a quarter of an hour on the clock, The Gulls opened the scoring in some style.
After serving notice of his intent with his crossing, De Silva decided to take matters into his own hands. After picking up the ball just inside the right edge of the 18-yard box, the QPR loanee took a brief look up before planting an audacious left-footed curler into the top corner of the net, leaving visiting goalkeeper Jack Bycroft clutching at thin air.
Having braved the chilly conditions, the Yellow Army didn’t have to wait long before they had another goal to warm them up.
A deep free-kick from recently-crowned Player of the Month Shaun Donnellan was sent straight into the mixer, and after debutant Lawrence flicked the ball perfectly into Omar’s path, the popular centre-back only had to apply the simplest of headers to make it 2-0 with 21 minutes on the clock.
The visitors hadn’t threatened much up until that point, but before the half was out, it was all-square again.
First, a ball from the right seemed to catch Torquay’s backline out, and with McCootie unmarked at the back post, he had ample time to pick his spot and fire past Halstead to reduce the arears in the 27th minute.
Despite Gary Johnson’s men continuing to enjoy the bulk of possession, Taunton levelled it up six minutes before the break.
It initially appeared that a hopeful dink towards the penalty area was going to be dealt with without too much hassle, however, with the ball inadvertently headed into danger, rather than away from it, Wannell was perfectly placed to hook the ball past Halstead and make it 2-2.
The drama wasn’t over though, as Taunton’s parity-restoring goalscorer turned from hero to villain within the space of four minutes.
In the 43rd minute, an attempt by United to launch a swift break into enemy territory was promptly ended almost as soon as it began, as a rash challenge by Wannell saw Evans hit the deck, and the Somerset side reduced to ten men, with the referee clearly displeased with the force and direction of the tackle.
All-square at the break.
Despite being a man down, Taunton enjoyed a decent spell of possession following the restart, although they were unable to create anything of note with it.
Johnson’s side eventually worked their way back to into the match though, and the second half edged past the hour-mark, it was those in yellow shirts that were looking the more threatening.
On 62 minutes, Ricky Aguiar let fly from 20 yards, and although Bycroft was able to parry that one to safety, he was powerless to save them soon after.
With a couple of smart moves just lacking the finishing touch, United got it just right in the 65th minute, as run down the left from Ben Wyatt ended with the delicious cross that Jarvis glanced home to regain the lead for his side.
Just as had happened in the first half, The Gulls duly stretched their advantage soon after.
A ferocious shot from the D from Jarvis certainly looked goalbound, and with a raised Taunton hand spotted by the officials, a penalty was instantly awarded.
The delay that followed may have put some marksmen off, but not Torquay’s leading scorer, as his confidently gathered the ball before sending Bycroft the wrong way to make it 4-2.
Johnson’s men were now playing with a measure of authority, with the remainder of the game played out almost entirely in the Somerset side’s half.
Successive wins for the first time this season, and now a last-16 home Trophy tie against Barnet to look forward to – 2023 could yet be a very interesting year at TUAFC.
United: 1. Mark Halstead, 4. Tom Lapslie, 5. Ali Omar (7. Ryan Hanson, 60′), 6. Ross Marshall, 9. Aaron Jarvis, 11. Kieron Evans, 15. Ben Wyatt, 16. Shaun Donnellan, 17. Ricky Aguiar (32. James Crole, 65′), 19. Nico Lawrence, 27. Dillon De Silva ( 2. Dylan Crowe, 77′).
SUBS NOT USED: 21. Dean Moxey, 22. Rhys Lovett, 23. Ollie Tomlinson.
Yellow Cards: Wyatt 52′, Lapslie 84′
Taunton Town: 1. Jack Bycroft, 3. Jay Foulston, 4. Nick Grimes (c), 6. Jake Wannell, 7. Ollie Chamberlain, 8. Lloyd James, 9. Nat Jarvis (31. Lee Lucas 80′), 10. Nick McCootie (20. Dave Simms-Burgess, 75′), 11. Joe Guest, 13. Ross Stearn (22. Dylan Morgan, 60′), 16. Zac Smith.
SUBS NOT USED: 2. Joe Budd, 5. Dan Ball, 18. Ross Staley.
Yellow Cards: Guest 29′, Chamberlain 83’
Red Card: Wannell 43′
Attendance: 1,411 (137 away)