Herald Express (Newton & Teign Edition)
Hall is key as experience drives United forward
TORQUAY United welcomed back Asa Hall on Devon Day and the captain scored from the penalty spot to give the Gulls a much-needed win as they try to stay above the National League South relegation zone.
On a day when fans of Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City came to Plainmoor to support a club in crisis – while their teams were having the international break weekend off – Torquay worked really hard to get the lead and then protected it staunchly against a Hampton team that will probably be in the play-offs at the end of the season.
For Torquay though, this win, these three points, moved them up a place to 17th, and means they are now five points clear of the danger zone – moving in the right direction after those two terrible defeats against Taunton Town and Tonbridge Angels.
Torquay were even without key striker Aaron Jarvis, and fellow forward Duane Ofori-Acheampong, so Brad Ash played up front by himself, with support from Tom Laplsie. Midfielder Hall was named as a centre back.
An early cross by Ash was just a little too high for Lapslie - but it was a good move. Torquay attacked well from the off with Jack Stobbs sending in some good crosses from the right. Hall headed wide from a corner in the ninth minute but it was a difficult chance. In another attack, Stobbs played the ball just behind Ash with a low cross. Alex GibsonHammond headed a cross into the side-netting at the other end.
Torquay were patient after that early burst and in the 27th minute Ash was brought down in the area and Hall stepped up to the penalty spot to smash the ball low, underneath the diving Richmond goalkeeper Adam Desbois.
Brett McGavin and Arkell JudeBoyd both flung their bodies in the way of chances as Hampton rallied after the goal.
A shot from the edge of the area, from a Ross Marshall cut back, skimmed the bar. Torquay were still pressing when the referee blew the whistle after two minutes of added time.
It was an impressive first-half performance from the Gulls but one they were going to have to emulate in the second half. But it was Hampton who enjoyed more of the possession after the restart, with Torquay being forced to defend, but doing it well. Dean Moxey got the man of the match award, but Hall surely deserved that.
Ash curled a shot just over the top corner of Desbois’ goal in the 55th minute after running on to the ball and turning his defender. Hall brilliantly headed a goalbound effort
BY RICHARD HUGHES byRuaridh Donaldson off the line – it looked like a certain equaliser. A Stobbs corner had to be punched away by the Hampton goalkeeper.
Tope Fadaunsi missed the Torquay goal with a glancing header, and then Stobbs broke away but his shot was stopped by Desbois. Donaldson missed a great chance with a header that went just over the bar.
But experienced midfielder Kevin Dawson had already pulled up, holding the back of a leg, and he was replaced by Lewis Collins in the 67th minute.
It was getting scrappy. McGavin had to make a brave defensive header, and Mark Halstead stopped a Luis Fernandez header. In the 77th minute Halstead caught another headed effort by Fernandez.
Downes sent on Ollie Tomlinson for Marshall, who was limping as he walked off, in the 88th minute. Will Jenkins Davies took advantage of some sloppy Hampton defending as five minutes were added on - but his shot just went wide.
There were some nervy moments at the end, and some desperate defending, so Downes took up a bit more time by replacing Lapslie with Ethon Archer.
The sun was shining on Plainmoor when the referee blew the final whistle - to the huge relief of the 3,000 fans supporting the Gulls - be they Yellow and Blue, Green, or Red.