Torquay United 1 v 2 Boreham Wood
Torquay United suffered a second home defeat in three days as they lost 2-1 to Boreham Wood at the Launa Windows Stadium on Tuesday night. The Gulls have now gone nine games without a victory in the league and slip to 21st in the table, writes SSD’s Matt Green.
United’s caretaker manager John Ramshaw made three changes to his starting eleven following Saturday’s defeat to Bromley. In came Fabian Spiess, Fergus Bell and the returning Durrell Berry, while on the bench also saw the return of Ashley Yeoman following his recent loan spell with Truro City.
Ramshaw also changed the formation of his United side, going back to a 4-4-2 set-up with James Hurst and Dan Butler pushed into wide midfield roles while Alex Fisher and Tyrone Marsh played as a front two.
The game started well for Torquay but they fell behind after eight minutes from a direct free kick struck firmly by Graeme Montgomery with his left foot from a central position just outside the area. The decision from the referee to award the free-kick, after a foul by Josh Carmichael, looked harsh to say the least but there was no doubt about the quality of the finish.
United then had three good opportunities to level the game:
First, on 20 minutes, Marsh cut in from the right and tried his luck from outside the area. Then, on 24 minutes, Hurst hit a left-foot effort from outside the box after some controlled build-up play from the home side. A minute later Hurst again saw an effort from 30 yards saved low by the visitors ‘keeper.
Boreham Wood did have the ball in the back of the net near the break, but the goal from Callum Reynolds was disallowed for a foul on a United defender.
“I thought we where desperately unlucky tonight…we were beaten by two absolutely worldies.” – John Ramshaw, TUFC Caretaker-Manager
After the break, United pressed to get that all-important equaliser, Carmichael trying his luck from 35 yards but hitting it straight at the ‘keeper.
Fisher then had a fantastic opportunity to get things level on 51 minutes after some fine work out wide by Hurst. His cross found the unmarked striker but the header lacked power and direction and went wide of the upright; the visitors remained one up.
Four minutes later, however, Marsh gave away a needless free kick 30 yards out from goal and Mustafa Tiryaki struck a wonderful right-footed dead ball cross shot straight into the bottom corner of Spiess’ net to put Boreham Wood two goals up with only their second attempt on goal.
A minute before the goal, Berry managed to get his head on to a firm strike by Montgomery, although how much the United full-back knew about the shot was debatable.
The home side did get their reward, for pushing forward, on 59 minutes when substitute Louis Briscoe showed some great skill on the left side before cutting in and sending a powerful strike that Fisher managed to get something on and guide into the back of the net.
The Gulls then pushed to try and level the game. First Marsh tried to beat the visitors’ ‘keeper from a tight angle, only to see his effort parried away. Hurst then sent a 25 yard strike just wide of the upright before United had a goal disallowed themselves in the 75th minute, Marsh adjudged to be offside when sending the ball back across goal.
Substitute Ashley Yeoman then set up Hurst again, with five minutes to go, but the United man could only fire over the bar and Torquay’s winless run continued.
After the game United’s caretaker manager said: “I thought we where desperately unlucky tonight, I don’t think they really bothered us today. We were beaten by two absolutely worldies.”
Ramshaw also added that he would not be applying for the full-time manager’s position at United now that the search for a replacement for Paul Cox has begun.
[box]
Torquay United (4-4-2): Spiess, Berry, Geohaghon (Capt), MacDonald, Smith, Hurst, Bell, Carmichael (Briscoe 58), Butler, Fisher, Marsh (Yeoman 77).
Subs Not Used: Lavercombe, Murombedzi, Hickford.
Bookings: Hurst (41).
Attendance: 1,735 (24 away).
Referee: Mr M Rushton.
[/box]
