Weston-super-Mare 3
(Reid 18′, 72′ pen, Thomas 90′)
United 2
(Jarvis 61, Thomas o.g. 90+5′)
United went down to defeat in Somerset on Tuesday evening, as Weston-super-Mare ran out 3-2 winners.
With Reuben Reid scoring in both halves – once via the penalty to cancel out Aaron Jarvis’ second-half leveller, it was eventually Kieran Thomas’ late strike that decided matters, even though the same player then put through his own net shortly.
Gary Johnson made one change to the team that beat Welling United 5-1 at Plainmoor on Saturday, with skipper Asa Hall coming into the starting line up to replace Tom Lapslie, with Calum Thomas taking up the free space on the bench.
Amid a scrappy beginning to proceedings, it was the hosts that enjoyed the territorial advantage, and it was former Gulls loanee Reid that broke the deadlock on 18 minutes.
After latching onto a pass from Opi Edwards – another former Plainmoor favourite – Reid used his power to bustle his way into the penalty area before firing high into the back of the net.
Despite finishing Saturday’s encounter in such fine form, Torquay failed to get their passing game going, although Jack Stobbs did provide a regular outlet for his side down the right-wing.
Johnson’s men began to get a foothold in proceedings as the first period edged towards its conclusion, and in the 43rd minute they were nearly gifted an equaliser, as Brad Ash’s persistence saw him charge down home goalkeeper Harrison Lee’s clearance, with Lee only just getting back to claw Ash’s effort away from the goal line.
The one-goal deficit remained in place at the change of ends, and the early stages of the second half didn’t immediately suggest The Gulls would have much more luck in the second 45 minutes.
However, just as the match clock ticked past the hour mark, United’s leading scoring dragged his team back onto level terms.
With Jarvis flicking a high ball forward up into the area before realising none of his team mates were placed to profit from it, Torquay’s leading scorer took ownership of the situation by getting the ball under control before firing the ball low past Lee to make it 1-1.
Although by no means at the top of their game, at that stage Johnson’s side were beginning to look a more dangerous proposition, and therefore it was even more disappointing when they fell behind once more just ten minutes later.
A long ball forward from the Weston ‘keeper seemed to have gone a little too far, however with substitute Ross Marshall and Robbie Wilmott vying for the loose ball inside the box, the referee adjudged the United defender to have handled the ball, and wasted little time in pointing to the penalty spot.
Reid sent Halstead the wrong before firing low into the bottom corner to put his side back in front.
Ash looked set to net against his former club with ten minutes left, however after getting onto the end of a Jarvis flick fifteen yards from goal, he inadvertently fired over the crossbar – and with that, went United’s last real hope of taking a point home with them.
With the match ticking into injury time, Thomas tried his luck from 20 yards, and although his drilled effort was on target, Halstead appeared dismayed to see the ball zip past him, and into the back of the net to put the result beyond doubt.
Although Stobbs’ 95th minute cross from the right flank did bring about another goal, as Thomas headed into his own net from six yards, the final whistle shortly after to signal a bad day at the office for The Gulls.
WESTON-SUPER-MARE: 1. Harry Lee, 2. Kieran Thomas, 3. Jordan Bastin, 4. Jacob Jagger Cane, 5. Lloyd Humphries, 6. Jason Pope, 7. Robbie Willmott (12. Samuel Avery, 90+3′), 8. Jamie Dodd (16. Rex Mannings. 49′), 10. James Morton, 11. Opi Edwards (15. Luke Pearce, 85′), 19. Reuben Reid.
SUBS: 13. Luke Purnell (GK), 14. Jacob Roddy.
Yellow Cards: Bastin 22′, Reid 90+6′
UNITED: 1. Mark Halstead, 8. Asa Hall (c) (Ross Marshall , HT), 9. Aaron Jarvis (Dylan Crowe, 90+5′), 10. Lewis Collins, 11. Brad Ash, 14. Brett McGavin (Ryan Hanson, 83′), 15. Finley Craske, 16. Shaun Donnellan, 21. Dean Moxey, 23. Ollie Tomlinson, 27. Jack Stobbs.
SUBS NOT USED: 22. Rhys Lovett, 24. Calum Thomas.
Yellow Cards: Marshall 59′, Donnellan 81′