Last-gasp Wynter gives ‘em chills
LATE SHOW specialists Torquay United kept the pressure on title rivals Hartlepool United and Sutton United with a leveller in the EIGHTH minute of stoppage time to secure a valuable point against Notts County – despite being reduced to ten men!
After trailing by two goals, United pulled one back through Connor Lemonheigh-Evans before they found themselves a man down after sub Josh Umerah received his marching orders for a second bookable offence, only 20 minutes after coming on.
It was then left to Ben Wynter to score a last-gasp equaliser in injury time to earn the Gulls a share of the spoils – which boss Gary Johnson hailed as a big point in the circumstances.
“It’s a great point for us from where we were after 80 minutes,” said Johnson.
“For the first 80 minutes, we didn’t get our game right and we were second best and they were 2-0 up – deservedly.
“We do a lot of work on making sure that we show an intent to score a goal. We didn’t do that for the first 80 minutes, but we certainly did it for the last ten. However, the boys came up trumps and once we got the first one – we knew that there was time to get the second.”
The pick of the early chances fell to United in the 18th minute when Adam Randell cut inside onto his left foot before picking out Scott Boden with a cross that the Chesterfield loanee nodded wide.
In the 26th minute, Notts were twice denied an opener. Firstly, Jimmy Knowles headed a cross from Dion Kelly-Evans against the bar before leading scorer Kyle Wootton pounced on the rebound – but he saw his effort saved by Gulls keeper Lucas Covolan.
On 38 minutes, the Magpies edged ahead after Jim O’Brien kept the ball in play before teeing up Kelly-Evans to open his account for the club with a low strike from 18-yards.
Four minutes after the break, former United defender Mark Ellis slotted home to double the visitors’ lead after Connell Rawlinson nodded down a cross from Jake Reeves.
The Gulls reduced their arrears on 75 minutes when a cross from sub Billy Waters found Lemonheigh-Evans who arrived at the far post to volley home.
With two minutes to go, United were reduced to ten men when sub Umerah was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card for a challenge on Ellis.
However, despite their numerical disadvantage, the Gulls have made a habit of scoring late goals this season.
And in the eighth minute of injury time, Joe Lewis flicked on a long throw from Dean Moxey and Wynter turned the ball home to secure a valuable point for United – much to the disappointment of Magpies boss Ian Burchnall.
“It feels like a loss rather than a point gained, certainly because of the nature of the performance and the way they scored the goal so late in the game,” said Burchnall.