Report: Torquay United 2 Chippenham Town 1

Gary-time is alive and well at Plainmoor again after Torquay United bounced back to beat Chippenham Town with a rousing 93rd minute winner from centre-forward Aaron Jarvis in front of more 2,000 vociferous fans (writes Dave Thomas).

Gary Johnson’s Gulls put Saturday’s horror show against Worthing (0-3) behind them with a wholehearted performance epitomised by two men on comeback missions.

Centre-back Ross Marshall, who had operations on both eyes during the summer, headed a brilliant opener early in the second half and left-back Dan Martin also put in an energetic shift after recovering from injury and Long-Covid issues.

Chippenham, who had won both their first two matches, equalised through Craig Fasanmade within two minutes of Marshall’s breakthrough.

But they had Luke Spokes sent off in the 84th minute and in the third of eleven minutes of stoppage time, Jarvis pounced to finish Dillon De Silva’s cross for United’s first victory of the season.

Johnson rang the changes, recalling Martin and Marshall in defence and Tom Lapslie in midfield. He also switched from three at the back to a 4-4-2 formation.

The Gulls dominated the first half without making their pressure count.

Marshall and Martin settled back into the side in confident fashion, Martin ever willing to overlap down the left wing.

Hall and Brad Ash both went close before Hall went down under a heavy tackle by the Pop Side touchline.

The United skipper never stays down without good reason, and he did his best to carry on after treatment until he had to admit defeat in only the 16th minute. Plymouth Argyle loanee Will Jenkins Davies took over in midfield.

Moments earlier, Marshall did well to get in an important block to stop Matt McClure with a shot on the turn.

That was a rare attack by the visitors, who seldom went forward with real intent.

Stobbs volleyed over after a good move in the 27th minute, just before Town keeper Will Henry plucked a Lewis Collins cross off the head of Aaron Jarvis.

It took a brave defensive header by Nat Williams to stop Jarvis finishing off a slick Collins-Martin move, and Collins should probably have hit the target when he fired over from 15 yards in space.

Stobbs was booked for not retreating ten yards at a free-kick, but it was a harsh card – Stobbs had turned his back and was walking away when Freddie Grant kicked the ball against him.

A sparkling run by Ash from the left was foiled only by desperate Chippenham defending as Torquay cranked up the pressure in the second half.

It paid off in the 50th minute.

With help from Lapslie, Marshall broke up an attack on the edge of his own area, drove forward, slipped the ball to Stobbs on the right wing, carried on his charge up the pitch and was there, 15 yards out, to bury a great header inside the foot of the near post... 1-0.

But the cheers of United fans had hardly died in their throats when Chippenham broke out and equalised only two minutes later.

No one picked up Fasanmade run from midfield, and he was perfectly placed to tap in Johnson’s long diagonal cross from eight yards... 1-1.

Chippenham were galvanised by that goal, suddenly showing a fresh intent – Evans shot just wide from 25 yards and Marshall, having a terrific match, came up with a huge tackle on Johnson after a rare mistake by Martin.

Martin’s stamina ran out with 20 minutes left, forcing Dylan Crowe, a right-back, to go on at left- back.

And United had to tackle another problem when Marshall was forced off with calf trouble. Johnson sent on winger Dillon De Silva, with Stobbs filling in at right-back in a reshuffled defence.

Chippenham went down to ten men when Spokes, booked earlier, felled Jenkins Davies in the 84th minute and was sent off. Collins whipped the free-kick inches wide.

There was a heart stopping moment when Fasanmade swung his boot at the ball in United’s goalmouth, miskicked and then watched as the ball looped over Mark Halstead and hit the bar.

But Torquay were in no mood to be denied again, and they poured it on in the closing stages, especially when referee Craig Scriven signalled eleven minutes of stoppage time.

De Silva, Ash and Collins all went close as wave after wave of attacks rained down on the Ellacombe End goal.

And finally, it was De Silva who broke free on the right, pulled back an inviting cross and Jarvis buried a first-time right-foot shot from eight yards... 2-1.

United were not to be denied a second time, and the final whistle was greeted by a very different noise to the one which had rang round Plainmoor last Saturday.

Torquay United (4-4-2): Halstead; Donnellan, Marshall (De Silva 74), Tomlinson, Martin (Crowe 70); Stobbs, Hall (Jenkins Davies 16), Lapslie, Collins; Ash, Jarvis; subs not used – Hanson, Lovett.

Booked: Stobbs 45, Crowe 85.

Chippenham Town (4-5-1): Henry; Jones, Amado-Holloway (Abbott 74), Williams, Grant; Johnson, Evans, Spokes, Bradbury (King 89), Fasanmade; McClure (Windsor 89); subs not used – Bray, Nicholls.

Sent Off: Spokes 84. Booked: Spokes 60, Johnson 88, McClure 95.

Referee: Craig Scriven (Somerset).