United 5
(Lapslie 11′, Holman 17′ 68′, Little 30′, Lewis 45+3′)
Wealdstone 0
It was a Five-star performance from United on Saturday, as Gary Johnson’s side took all three points against Wealdstone at Plainmoor.
After Tom Lapslie got things going early on, Dan Holman’s first goal for the Club doubled that advantage, before Armani Little made it three. A missed Little penalty failed to stop the surge, before Joe Lewis’ maiden strike for United gave his side a four-goal lead at the break. The second period saw the avalanche stifled somewhat, however a second for the Holman saw The Gulls secure a superb 5-0 win.
Following last weekend’s dramatic fightback at Chesterfield, the Gaffer made four changes to the starting line-up, with Dan Martin, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, Lapslie and Holman taking the places of Chiori Johnson, Gabby Rogers, Klaidi Lolos and Danny Wright. There was also a boost on the bench, where Mark Halstead and Jake Andrews made a welcome return to the matchday squad.
The visitors actually had the first chance of the game but Cooper’s header caused no trouble for Shaun MacDonald.
United came close to taking the lead in the 9th minute when Little squared the ball for Holman whose shot ricocheted off the post before being cleared by Wealdstone.
United continued to press and were rewarded with a goal in the 11th minute, as Little drove into the box before chipping the ball up for Lapslie at the far post who headed home.
Moments later Wealdstone came close to an equaliser, but a crucial tackle by Joe Lewis denied Medy Elito from a one-on-one encounter with MacDonald.
In the 17th minute United doubled their advantage. Little’s corner was headed down by Lewis at the far post and fell kindly for Holman who was able to turn and drill his shot into the top right corner.
Wealdstone created a chance in the 22nd minute with Daniel Wishart’s cross finding Elito beyond the far post, but his header was well caught by MacDonald.
Two minutes later, Keelan O’Connell nearly found himself on the scoresheet. Little’s corner fell for the winger whose low-driven effort forced Wickens to save.
United continued to apply the pressure and in the 27th minute, Lemonheigh-Evans had a chance from just inside the box blocked before moments later, the Welshman squared the ball for an advancing Holman whose effort was again blocked.
Gary Johnson’s side made it three in the 30th minute when a Moxey cross found Little beyond the far post whose header was beyond the Wealdstone keeper.
Eight minutes later United were awarded a penalty. Little stepped up but his spot kick was off target.
United continued to press and just when it looked as if the referee was about to signal for half time, Lewis sprinted through the Wealdstone half and beyond the defence before drilling home from just outside the box to put the Gulls 4-0 up at the break.
There were no clearcut chances for either side in the opening stages of the second half until the 50th minute when a long ball by Moxey enabled Lapslie and Holman to press the Wealdstone defence before Wickens just managed to get a leg out to save a close range effort by the former.
In the 59th minute ex-Gull Umerah advanced into the United box before firing his chance just over and a few minutes later, Eleftheriou squared the ball for Bird whose shot forced MacDonald to parry the ball around the post.
Holman scored his second of the game and United’s fifth in the 68th minute. Charlie Barker’s last-ditch challenge didn’t deter Holman who was able to slot the ball past the keeper.
It was two chances in one minute for United in the 76th minute; Holman curled a shot inwards but was just off target before Lapslie dispossessed Wealdstone just outside the box but his effort went over.
As fabulous as this victory was, there will be little time for Johnson’s men to savour it, with a trip to Boreham Wood next up.
TUFC: 37. Shaun MacDonald, 2. Ben Wynter, 3. Dan Martin, 4. Tom Lapslie, 7. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans (19. Klaidi Lolos 58′), 8. Asa Hall (c) (17. Gabby Rogers 69′), 10. Armani Little, 16. Keelan O’Connell, 30. Dan Holman, 21. Dean Moxey (5. Ali Omar 75′), 31. Joe Lewis.
SUBS NOT USED: 1. Mark Halstead, 11. Jake Andrews.
Wealdstone: 1. George Wickens, 2. Jack Cook (c), 3. Dan Wishart (22. Jay Bird 35′), 4. Ashley Charles, 9. Josh Umerah, 11. Dennon Lewis, 12. Andrew Eleftheriou, 17. Nikola Tavares (5. Connor Stevens), 20. Medy Elito (8. Matt Buse 35′), 21. Charlie Barker, 24. Charlie Cooper.
SUBS NOT USED: 7. Craid Fasanmade, 13. Alfie Marigliani.
Yellow Card: Eleftheriou 18′
Attendance: 2097 (132 away)