United put smiles back on faces in Johnson ‘debut’

Without even kicking a ball, new Torquay United manager Gary Johnson managed to put a smile back on the faces of Gulls fans everywhere as the team he inherited overpowered and outplayed Hungerford Town.

Johnson would be the first to say that the credit should go to the players who actually won the match – he named the same starting XI and subs’ bench as his predecessor Gary Owers had done in the 1-0 home defeat to Chippenham Town seven days before.

But the difference in level of performance was clear to see for the 400-odd travelling supporters who made up two-thirds of the crowd at Bulpit Lane.

A squad always reacts to a new manager, or at least it ought to, but for the first time this season United dominated a game from first whistle to last.

Johnson knows well that Hungerford are not the strongest opponents that Torquay will face over the rest of the season, but the ‘stats’ tell the truth on every count.

Alex Bass had only one serious save to make in the Gulls’ goal.

At the other end young Reading loanee Jokull Andresson is unlikely to forget his afternoon for a while – he spent it diving around his area making save after save just to keep Hungerford in with a semblance of a chance.

He could do nothing with Jamie Reid’s opening volley in the 26th minute or Asa Hall’s set-piece header in the 62nd, both ‘assisted’ by Jake Andrews’ deliveries.

It was a second goal of the

Liam Davis controls the ball under pressure from a Hungerford player season for Reid, who slammed home after Keating had lunged at Andrews’ wide free-kick, and for Hall who headed in Andrews’ inswinging right-wing corner from close-range.

Reid just before half-time and substitute Jason Banton late in the second half also hit the woodwork and Reid, Kyle Cameron, Opi Edwards and Andrews all went close to the extra goals that would have confirmed United’s superiority. When sub Brett Williams did get the ball in the net near the end, it sparked the sort of team celebration that you’d expect when the captain finally breaks his ‘duck’ for the season.

Unfortunately, linesman Steven Rea had flagged for offside as Williams shot, even if it took far too long for referee Tom Bishop to look across and see him.

If anybody deserved to get on the scoresheet, it was Ruairi Keating. In tandem with Reid, the Irishman put in a serious shift up front, pulling the Town centre-backs all over the pitch, chasing lost causes and forcing free-kicks and corners which invited Andrews to do his set-piece stuff.

Andrews started on the left wing, but left-back Liam Davis was in such attacking mood that the Bristol City loanee was able to tuck inside and act as playmaker, an important role in the continuing absence of the injured Ryan Dickson.

Chris Regis had his best game so far as an attacking midfielder, while nobody played better than Cameron at left centre-back.

Hungerford played with only the nippy Conor Lynch up front, so Cameron and George Essuman will have more demanding afternoons, but Cameron’s distribution from the back was as assured as his work in defence.

The pitch, a patchwork quilt of differing levels and quality, was poor, but at least United have done with it before it really cracks up, as it surely will once winter sets in.

Two solid points, only four goals conceded in ten games now, Johnson happy, everyone smiling – job done.

Hungerford Town (4-1-4-1): Andresson; Johnson-Schuster, Ekpitata (Rusby 80), Moore-Azille, Jones; R. Whittingham; Rose, Ouldridge (Ten-Grotenhis 64), Foxley, Fragata (A. Whittingham 64); Lunch; Subs not used: Bailey, Herring.

Torquay United (4-4-2): Bass; Wynter, Essuman, Cameron, Davis; Edwards (Banton 79), Regis, Hall, Andrews; Keating (Williams 84), Reid (Wright 84); Subs not used: Bawling, MacDonald; Referee: Tom Bishop (Lincs); Attendance: 620.

Statistics: Fouls – Hungerford 7, United 11; Offsides – Hungerford 5, United 6; Corners – Hungerford 2, United 13; Shots/Headers On Target – Hungerford 1, United 8; Off Target – Hungerford 2, United 5; Hit Woodwork – Hungerford 0, United 2.

Gareth Davies/PPAUK