United 6
(Jarvis 8′, 46′, 87′, Lapslie 21′, Goodwin 30′, Hall 49′)
Aldershot 1
(Willard 82′)
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Jenny Attwood & Guests
United turned on the style on Tuesday evening as they thrashed Aldershot at Plainmoor to secure their first home win of the season.
After Aaron Jarvis got The Gulls off to the perfect start, Tom Lapslie and Will Goodwin added first-half strikes, before Jarvis and Hall stretched their handsome advantage even further during the opening stages of the second period. Although Tommy Willard registered a late consolation for his side, Jarvis’ perfect evening was crowned soon after as he secured a deserved hat-trick.
Manager Gary Johnson named two changes in the starting line-up that went down to defeat at Notts County on Saturday, with Jarvis returning from suspension and Stephen Wearne marking his Plainmoor return with a start. Scott Smith and Brett McGavin were the two players to drop out.
Johnson’s men were quick out of the traps and in the 7th minute went close through skipper Asa Hall. After picking up the ball on the edge of the penalty area, Hall was quick to steer his low-effort, to be denied by the woodwork.
However moments later, United made up for the missed chance when a great run by Dillon De Silva saw the QPR loanee’s cross dip towards Jarvis who leapt up, and opted for an overhead kick, which found the back of the net at pace, 1-0.
The men in yellow continued to press, and two chances came within minutes of each other. On 13 minutes a low cross by De Silva found Jarvis arriving at the far-post, whose sliding effort was denied by the woodwork as his shot bounced back off the post, where an Aldershot defender was quick to prevent Wearne from pouncing on the rebound.. Five minutes later good work down the left flank for United ended with Goodwin driving a low effort just wide of the left-hand post.
In the 21st minute, Gary Johnson’s men doubled the advantage. Lapslie picked up the ball just outside the box, before driving forward and opting for a one-two with Jarvis, before United’s no.4 drilled his low shot home, 2-0.
The visitors worked their way back into the game minutes later, and Mark Halstead was forced to be alert to get down and make a low save to deny a hard-hit effort by Ryan Glover.
Six minutes later it was 3-0. A long ball up and over the Aldershot defender was chased down by Goodwin who took a touch to control the ball from the edge of the box, before drilling his shot low and into the back of the net.
A healthy lead at the break, but plenty more to come.
The second half was only a few seconds old when Torquay won their first corner. Wearne curled the corner in towards a rising Jarvis, who directed his header goal-ward to make it four.
A fifth wasn’t far away.
Shaun Donnellan, stationed at right-back, but always eager to get forward, delivered a wonderful deep ball into the Aldershot box which was met by Hall at the far-post, who headed down and into the net.
Given the break-neck speed of the game up to that point, it was was little surprise that things slowed down for a spell thereafter, and with eight minutes remaining, The Shots pulled one back.
A left-wing cross eluded a host of forwards and defenders, before it was met by Willard at the back post, who was able to head home to reduce arrears to 5-1.
Despite conceding, Gary Johnson’s men were not deterred and continued to press the Aldershot defence, and it was in the 87th minute Jarvis secured his hat-trick, as Goodwin charged into the box and squared for the advancing Jarvis, who fired home, 6-1.
A perfect end to a perfect evening.
United: 1. Mark Halstead, 4. Tom Lapslie, 8. Asa Hall (c) (14. Brett McGavin 51′), 9. Aaron Jarvis, 12. Stephen Wearne (30. Cameron Thompson 84′), 16. Shaun Donnellan, 19. Will Goodwin, 21. Dean Moxey (5. Ali Omar 58′), 26. Lucas Ness, 27. Dillon De Silva, 35. Mark Ellis
SUBS NOT USED: 22. Rhys Lovett, 23. Ollie Tomlinson.
Aldershot: 1. Luca Ashby-Hammond, 2. Archie Davies (16. Corey Jordan 54′), 3. Ollie Garfield, 4. Joe Partington (c) (12. Kenny Davis 19′), 5. Tyler Cordner, 7. Justin Amaluzor, 8. Frank Vincent, 9. Inih Effiong, 22. Giles Phillips, 23. Ryan Glover (20. Michael Klass 67′), 27. Tommy Willard.
SUBS NOT USED: 17. Faysal Bettache, 18. Ody Alfa.
Attendance: 1,605 (150 away)