Match Report: Slough Town 1 Torquay United 2

Two top-quality finishes by Bradley Ash - his first two goals for the club - saw Torquay United come from behind to beat Slough Town at Arbour Park and register their third win in a row.

Gary Johnson's Gulls had goalkeeper Mark Halstead to thank for keeping them in the game for nearly an hour as they struggled to come to terms with the 3G all-weather pitch - and that was despite training all week on the similar surface at South Devon College.

Slough punished them with a first-half goal by Nathan Minhas, and it could and should have been far worse for United.

But Ash, signed in the summer after scoring 24 goals for Weymouth last season, turned it all around in the 58th and 72nd minutes.

His first was a brilliant solo effort and his second an unstoppable header from an inviting left-wing cross from Lewis Collins. 

Johnson was able to welcome centre-forward Jarvis back in attack, so winger Dillon De Silva reverted to the bench.

Fit-again Finley Craske also returned as a sub after injury, but United were still without experienced trio Dean Moxey, Asa Hall and Kevin Dawson.

Slough gave a debut in goal to their new Cardiff City loanee Rohan Luthra.

United tried to make the same sort of positive start that they mounted at St Albans (1-0) seven days before, but it didn't last long.

Slough don't bother with too many passing niceties on their artificial pitch, and their direct approach was soon causing the Gulls problems.

Halstead had to retrieve an early clearance which fell for Munishe Sundire, saving well from the Town midfielder, but from then on Torquay's goalkeeper, and captain, must have wondered whether he was playing Slough almost his own.

There was little he could do when the hosts took the lead in the 15th minute.

The dangerous Josh Jackman found Johnny Goddard with a throw on the right, Goddard hit a volleyed cross to the far post where Minhas, with his back to goal, caught an overhead kick perfectly…1-0 to Slough.

United, who had to swap Craske for Martin after only 18 minutes, posed little threat in attack, a fact not lost on a Slough side which grew in confidence with every move.

Will Jenkins Davies picked up a booking soon after Gary Alexander hooked a good chance over for Town - Dan Bayliss had headed down a corner.

Over the second half of the first half, Halstead basically kept Torquay in with a chance.

He had to pull off saves from Jackman, Minhas despite Tomlinson's attentions, Jackman again, Jeanmal Prosper and, in stoppage-time, Jackman for a third time - a vital close-range parry set up by another Goddard cross.

Johnson must have had plenty to say during the interval, but whatever he came up with, it took a little while to work.

Alexander fired over with Halstead to beat, and the Gulls' overworked goalie then did well to save at the feet of Minhas, cutting in from the right on an Alexander pass.

United desperately needed a flash of inspiration from someone - and in the 58th minute Ash came up with it.

He cut in from the left, decided that there were no better options and curled a corker of a right-foot shot into the far corner…1-1.

In that moment, everything changed.

Ash, galvanised, set up Lewis Collins for a shot just over and Luthra saved well from Jarvis on a Lapslie 'assist'.

Moments after Ash had done well again to force a corner, the Gulls striker struck again in the 72nd minute.

Craske fed Collins on the left, he cut back on his right foot, the cross was spot-on and Ash's header gave Luthra no chance…2-1 to the Gulls.

Both sides made changes in the last 20 minutes, Johnson sending De Silva and McGavin on for Collins and Lapslie.

Jarvis and Eweka needed treatment after a clash, both men going off for several minutes, and it only guaranteed a fair bit of stoppage-time.

It was seven extra minutes as it happened, and it was far from comfortable for Torquay.

Halstead and Marshall had to come to the rescue as Slough threw everything they had left at the visitors.

Marshall was an especially solid figure as rain returned to spice up that plastic Arbour Park pitch.

But when Alexander missed one last chance when he should have hit the target in the 96th minute, it was all over.

Would Halstead have saved it?  Probably!

Slough Town (3-5-2): Luthra; Prosper (Parillon 73), Bayliss, George (McElroy 81); Jackman, Goddard, Eweka, Sundire, Davies (Ogbonna 74); Alexander, Minhas; subs not used - Dandy, Spicer.

Booked: None.

Torquay United (4-4-2): Halstead; Donnellan, Marshall, Tomlinson, Martin (Craske 18); Stobbs, Lapslie (McGavin 81), Jenkins Davies, Collins (De Silva 79); Ash, Jarvis; subs not used - Crowe, Lovett (gk).

Booked: Jenkins Davies 27, Donnellan 90+1.

Referee: Morgan Conn (London).

Attendance: 1,127.