GULLS END THE WAIT FOR FIRST ROUND TIE
TORQUAY UNITED will feature in the first round draw for the FA Cup for the first time in five years after seeing off the challenge of ten-man Winchester City in style.
Three goals in the space of eight first half minutes from Kalvin Kalala, Saikou Janneh and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans put United firmly in control before Lemonheigh-Evans struck early in the second half to follow up his midweek brace for Wales U21s with another double for United.
Winchester managed to pull a goal back through a Joe Hayward penalty, shortly before he received his dismissal for a second yellow card.
Afterwards Gulls manager Gary Johnson was quick to praise Lemonheigh-Evans, who is currently enjoying his second loan spell at Plainmoor from Bristol City.
“I thought he had a good game today and I thought man of the match was probably between him and Asa Hall,” said Johnson.
“He knew going into today that he’d scored two good goals in the week, and he scored another two today.
“In other games we have started slowly and finished well, but today was the other way around.”
Johnson’s opposite number Craig Davis praised his side.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the lads,” said Davis.
“We had a game plan to frustrate them and for the first 30 minutes it worked, and everyone is really proud of what we’ve achieved in this cup run.”
United were rewarded for their early endeavours on 37 minutes when a long range strike from Kalala was deflected past Ryan Pryce, as the Frenchman marked his home debut with his first goal for the club. Three minutes before the break, the Gulls doubled their lead when Janneh nodded home a cross from Reid from close range. On the stroke of half-time, Torquay extended their lead to three when Reid forced a smart reflex save from Pryce, but Lemonheigh-Evans reacted quickest to turn home the rebound. United effectively ended the tie as a contest on 55 minutes when LemonheighEvans struck again with a low, left footed strike. The Citizens reduced the arrears from the penalty spot in the 71st minute through Hayward, who then picked up a second yellow on 79 minutes as the Gulls progressed.