HORROR IS NOW OVER FOR GULLS
RELIEVED Gary Johnson was quick to praise the Torquay United fans after the Gulls finally ended their run of seven straight league defeats with a much-needed victory over Woking.
An eighth loss would have seen Johnson’s side equal an unwanted club record, but United rallied after falling behind to an early Jake Hyde strike.
Skipper Asa Hall scored his second goal in as many games and Jamie Reid then hit his 19th of the campaign.
Woking were then reduced to ten men after Godfrey Poku received two yellow cards before Ben Whitfield and Ruairi Keating found the target for the Gulls.
“It was four quality goals from four different players so I’m ready pleased with their commitment and the fans were brilliant as well,” said Johnson.
“You wouldn’t have thought that we would have so many fans here today, but I know what Torquay fans are like – when the chips are down they really do rally behind their team.”
Cards boss Alan Dowson, however, cut a frustrated figure after a second straight defeat, adding: “When we went down to ten men we struggled. The first two goals were deflected – even the third goal was deflected – what more can you do?”
The Cards edged ahead on 12 minutes when a free-kick from Max Kretzschmar wasn’t fully cleared and fell to Hyde, who scored his 13th of the season.
Hyde looked well placed to score again on 14 minutes but his effort was tipped behind by Torquay keeper Lucas Covolan.
Three minutes later, Jake Gray connected with corner from Kretzschmar but his shot was cleared off the line by Connor Lemonheigh-Evans.
The Gulls equalised on 25 minutes when Aaron Nemane picked out Hall who found the target with a shot from the edge of the penalty area – which took a deflection off Gray – to make it two goals in two games.
On 38 minutes, United were in front after Whitfield produced a cross which Keating nodded towards goal and Woking keeper Sam Howes appeared to have denied him, but the rebound fell to Reid who reacted quickest to tap home.
Woking found themselves at a numerical disadvantage in the 54th minute when Poku received a second yellow card for a dangerous challenge on Whitfield.
And three minutes later Cards assistant manager Ian Dyer was awarded a yellow card for arguing with referee James Durkin.
United further extended their lead on 71 minutes when Whitfield nodded home a cross from Reid, following good work from Keating.
And the Gulls then added a fourth deep in injury-time – Keating latching onto a long pass from Reid before lifting the ball over Howes from 35 yards to seal a vital win.