Five-star Torquay show their quality in thrashing Wealdstone
MANAGER Gary Johnson was obviously delighted with Torquay United’s performance when they thrashed Wealdstone 5-0 on Saturday - saying many of the players had their best games of the National League season so far.
Dan Holman scored his first two goals for Torquay, while Joe Lewis opened his account with a wonder goal in a man-of-the-match performance, with the other goals coming from Tom Lapslie and Armani Little, who were both excellent in midfield.
After making four changes to the team that drew at Chesterfield - with striker Danny Wright out with an ankle injury the biggest miss - it was an on-song Torquay that entertained the fans on the wettest day of the season so far.
Johnson said: “What we have seen is probably Dan Holman’s best game, Dan Martin’s best game, we have seen Keelan’s best game, and Tom Lapslie.
“It was nice to get five goals and no goals against us. Most of their play led to a few long shots really. We pressed really well and obviously the goals came from that pressing.”
Holman had already hit a post in the eighth minute before Torquay went 1-0 up in the 10th, Little sending a delicate cross from left to right and Laspslie getting to the ball ahead of the goalkeeper George Wickens to head it home.
It was 2-0 in the 16th minute with
Holman holding off defenders well with his back to goal in the box before turning and smashing the ball home from 15 yards.
On the half-hour, some sloppy play by Weladstone gifted Dean Moxey the ball and his long cross from left to right was met by Little who had to stretch his neck to head it home for 3-0.
Little should have had another goal after Holman was brought down by the goalkeeper, but the midfielder smashed the ball over the crossbar from the penalty spot.
On the stroke of half-time, Lewis picked up the ball in his own half and made an unstoppable run to the edge of the Wealdstone box from where he struck the ball so hard Wickens had no chance of stopping it hitting the roof of the net with the goalkeeper trailing in its wake. It was a wonderful goal and one the 22-year-old central defender, who was brilliant throughout, will never forget.
The only goal of the second half was by Holman, in the 58th minute, after a terrible pass by Wickens to the striker’s feet. He made putting the ball back past the goalkeeper look easy.
All in all, it was an A plus performance - though Wealdstone must know they will need to be much better than that every week if they are going to be in the National League next season.
There is a quick turnaround this week with Torquay at Boreham Wood tomorrow night, before another away game at Bromley next Saturday.
With Wright, Chiroi Johnson and Alex Addai all out against Wealdstone, and Connor LemonheighEvans and Little getting over recent injuries, it could be a squad-testing eight days.
However, Johnson knows he has the right resources to change things around - and it was good to see Jake Andrews on the bench for the first time this season. His return after catching Covid-19 before the start of pre-season has been long-awaited.
Klaidi Lolos came on for Lemonheigh-Evans in the second half and looked good, too - so there is certainly cover for Wright, if he is out for a while, with Holman’s first goal maybe perfectly timed.
“I am pleased for Dan Holman,” said Johnson. “I know what he has got and I wanted him to show everybody. Danny Wright is a big miss but it enabled us to play Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, who we took off to look after him, because he was only supposed to play one half.
“And the other two [who came off ] too - Asa Hall was struggling a little bit this week, and Moxey, we were just giving him a well-earned rest for Tuesday.”