Torquay United 4 v 0 Slough Town
Torquay United 4
Wynter (48), Andrews (64), Keating (87), Hall (90)
v
Slough Town 0
Torquay United extended their unbeaten league run under Gary Johnson to a club record 16 matches as they produced a four-star display to see off ten-man Slough Town, writes Steve Harris.
After being goalless at half-time, Ben Wynter’s first goal for the club set the Gulls on their way before Jake Andrews, substitute Ruairi Keating and skipper Asa Hall found the back of the net to seal an emphatic victory for United – their 10th in as many games.
Johnson, who was starting a two-match touchline ban, stuck with the same starting line-up that completed a league double over Truro City on New Year’s Day.
The Gulls started the game in a confident manner as Kalvin Kalala, who recently agreed a contract extension to stay at Plainmoor, slipped Saikou Janneh through but his shot was blocked and went behind for the game’s first corner on five minutes.
United were denied an opener in the 12th minute, as Kalala combined with Janneh again on the right-hand side to set up Janneh for a shot which was punched behind for a corner by Slough keeper Jack Turner.
As the half wore on, the Gulls struggled to breakdown a well organised Slough defence as they found themselves restricted to long range efforts – which most notably fell to Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Jamie Reid.
Three minutes before the break, skipper Asa Hall headed a Reid cross over the bar but he was adjudged to have been in an offside position – so it wouldn’t have counted had it gone in.
On the stroke of half-time, Slough were reduced to ten men when Ben Harris was dismissed when he received a straight red for inciting the crowd – within a minute of receiving a yellow card for fouling United left-back Liam Davis.
The Gulls made their numerical advantage count three minutes after the restart when Wynter powered home his first goal for the club with a shot from the edge of the area.
Ten minutes later, Janneh came close to finding a second for United but he was denied by a point blank save by Turner.
United eventually doubled their lead on 64 minutes as Andrews drilled a free-kick from the edge of the area into the bottom corner to score his sixth goal of the season.
With three minutes to go, United extended their advantage to three when sub Keating tapped home a cross from Kalala to score his fifth of the campaign.
However – the Gulls weren’t finished there as skipper Hall scored a fourth in injury time – his fifth of the campaign – with a cool finish as United made it five wins out of five over the festive period.
United now have a two week break before their next league fixture away at Bath City.
TUFC Starting XI (4-4-2): Shaun MacDonald, Ben Wynter, Jamie Sandle-White, Kyle Cameron (capt), Liam Davis, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, Asa Hall, Kalvin Lumbombo-Kalala (Ryan Dickson 89), Jake Andrews, Jamie Reid, Saikou Janne (Ruairi Keating 72)
Subs Not Used: George Burton, George Essuman, Samir Nabi
TUFC Bookings: Reid (78)
MOTM: Kalvin Kalala
Attendance: 2’614
