HALL’S THE ASA IN GULLS’ PACK
INSPIRED by skipper Asa Hall’s second goal in three games, Torquay United recorded their third straight win as they put play-off hopefuls Eastleigh to the sword and boosted their own survival hopes.
Hall, a National League title winner with manager Gary Johnson at Cheltenham, struck six minutes into the second half before Tom Lapslie added a second – and Johnson hailed the impact of his returning captain as his side kept their hopes of beating the drop alive.
“It definitely makes a difference that he (Asa Hall) is now fit because we needed him for his experience,” said Johnson. “Every single department of the team worked so hard today and we created a couple of chances.
“They are not seventh for no reason and you have to stop them. I’m pleased with the result, but we still haven’t done anything yet.”
Eastleigh boss Lee Bradbury says the result should serve as a warning to his side, adding: Bradbury said: “I said to the players: ‘let that be a warning shot to you because if you play like that again, you’ll lose every game between now and the end of the season’. Thankfully we are still in the play-offs.”
The Gulls came closest to opening the scoring on 20 minutes when leading scorer Aaron Jarvis had a shot blocked following a Jack Stobbs corner.
Two minutes later, Ryan Hill found himself in a threatening position for the Spitfires, but United’s Southampton loanee Nico Lawrence snuffed out the danger.
Eastleigh went close on 35 minutes when Osseynou Cisse flicked a corner from Hill back across goal but Danny Whitehall’s effort forced a smart save from Mark Halstead.
Frank Nouble then blasted an effort over for Torquay and, moments later, Halstead was called into action again when he denied Whitehall after he connected with a cross from right-back Brennan Camp.
Torquay, however, looked more of a threat at the start of the second half and edged ahead on 51 minutes when Hall nodded home a freekick from the right from Stobbs.
And it was 2-0 on 65 minutes – Jarvis winning the ball on the edge of the area to enable Lapslie to burst through and coolly slot home.
The Spitfires threatened to reduce their arrears when left-back Michael Kelly curled a free-kick over the bar and moer smart defending from Lawrence kept out Kairo Mitchell when in a good position as the resurgent Gulls comfortably held on.
STAR MAN: Asa Hall (Torquay)
ATT: 3,237
ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★
REFEREE: Elliott Swallow