First Goal for Gerring as Gulls Edge Bromley
Torquay United claimed their first win of the season at home to Bromley FC on Tuesday night with a 1-0 victory, thanks to a powerful header from Ben Gerring in the 42nd minute writes SSD’s Matt Green.
Both managers stuck with the same starting teams from their respective fixtures on Saturday afternoon with the only change from Kevin Nicholson the inclusion of reserve ‘keeper Jamie Robba on the bench, replacing Charlie Duke.
Straight from the kick off, Bromley started quickly, forcing two early corners in as many minutes which caused some confusion within the Gulls’ defensive ranks. Minutes later, United’s Damon Lathrope played a lovely ball out to Luke Young whose first-time cross was just too high for the stretching Ben Gerring. The game then became a battle with both sides trying to gain possession of the ball and it wasn’t until the 20th minute that the next chance fell to either side. Torquay’s Sean McGinty was penalised on the edge of the area for holding his man and from the resulting free kick David Martin struck a fine left-footed effort just wide of Brendan Moore’s upright. A minute later, Lathrope swung his left foot from 25 yards but his effort sailed high and wide of the visitors’ goal. Nicholson’s men then started to find some rhythm and a flurry of half chances fell their way in the final quarter of the half. First, Brett Williams almost caught out the visitors’ keeper with a deep cross and then Dan Sparkes saw his effort saved well by Alan Julian in the visitors’ goal. Young and Nathan Blissett combined well in the 27th minute to create another chance before a fine ball from Young, played through the centre of the Bromley defence, gave Williams the best chance of the half; but the forward’s effort went wide of the target. Blissett then tried a very cheeky back-heeled volley just after the half hour. Bromley still looked dangerous on the break and a reminder to United, that you need to take your chances at this level, came on 36 minutes following a good cross from the left by Martin, forward Adam Cunnington almost squeezing his header in at the far post. Gerring then struck with his first goal for united, three minutes before the break, running unmarked from the edge of the area to meet Sparkes’ corner and power his header into the net giving Julian no chance. The visitors almost found the equaliser with only a minute of the half remaining but Martin’s effort was blocked by his own teammate after a mistake from Moore in the united goal.
Sam Chaney replaced Lathrope at half time and it also meant a change of formation with captain Courtney Richards moving into the centre with Young, while Chaney went out to the right of midfield. Gerring almost got his second when Young whipped in a free kick three minutes into the second half but the half-chance sailed over the bar. Williams then created his own chance in the 51st minute, spinning his marker well on the edge of the area before seeing his strike hit the visitors’ bar. The home side were now clearly on top, with man of the match Chaney linking some good moves together, one of which saw Blissett stab an effort towards goal just after the hour mark. The Gulls’ forward then tried to weave his way through the Bromley defence in the 76th minute but the United Number Nine was unable to get his shot away under pressure. Torquay then nearly became the masters of their own downfall when Moore decided that Cunnington was in his way as he went to kick the ball from his hands. The Bromley player clearly was not infringing and the referee duly awarded a free kick just inside the Gulls’ box, Moore also shown a yellow card for his troubles. With 90 minutes up, Torquay had one final chance to get their second when Jamie Reid released Young and the midfielder played a neat one two with Sparkes; but Young’s final shot lacked power and Julian saved easily.
United are back at Plainmoor against Barrow on Saturday (3pm), which will see the return of former boss Paul Cox. .
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TUFC: Moore, Verma, Gerring, McGinty, Rowe-Turner, Lathrope (Chaney 46), Richards (capt), Young, Sparkes, Williams (Reid 62), Blissett.
Subs Not Used: Robba, Scrivens, Nicholson.
TUFC Bookings: McGinty, Verma, Williams, Morre.
Bromley: Julian, Howe, Anderson, Prestedge, Holland (capt), Chorley, Martin (Goldberg 71), Turbot, M Porter (Dymond 83), Cunnington, Sho-Silva .
Subs Not Used: Johnson, Swaine, G Porter.
Bromley Bookings: None.
Attendance: 2,279 (37 away).
Referee: Mr S. Allison.
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