Match Report: Torquay United 3 Farnborough 0

Strikers Aaron Jarvis and Bradley Ash put Farnborough to the sword as Torquay United banished the memory of Saturday’s tame defeat at Aveley and went a long way to winning over any doubting supporters on a rousing night at Plainmoor (writes Dave Thomas).

It was a ‘statement’ victory in every way.

Gary Johnson’s Gulls finally delivered the sort of performance, as well as a key result, that their fans had been hoping for, with Jarvis (2) and Ash both taking their tallies to four goals this season.

Jarvis fired them into a first-half lead, Ash popped in a poacher’s second midway through the second half before Jarvis converted a 97th minute penalty after Farnborough defender Jack Ball had been sent off for conceding it.

Johnson handed a first start of the season to Dean Moxey in defence, and he also recalled McGavin and Will Jenkins Davies in midfield.

An early Jack Stobbs cross went begging after good work by Tom Lapslie, but Brad Ash chased the ball for down wide on the left, fed Jenkins Davies and he forced a strong save from Jack Turner.

It was just the sort of aggressive start that Gulls fans had been hoping for, and there was more to follow.

McGavin may not have wowed the Plainmoor crowd many times so far, but he was visibly on song in this match – winning challenges and picking a succession of astute passes which kept United going forward.

Farnborough played their part in an entertaining first half – they may have played only six-goal Alfie Pavey on his own up front, but they supported him well from midfield, and in veteran Ricky Holmes they had a livewire at the age of 36.

A poor backpass by Stobbs had to be rescued by an alert and brave Mark Halstead in the 20th minute, and nine minutes later Pavey headed against the bar after Holmes’ 22-yard deflected shot had wrong-footed the home defence.

Shaun Donnellan took the wrong option after a slick move with Stobbs down the right – he tried to chip Turner from 30 yards and, although his effort was only just over, Jarvis and Ash were in space and begging for a cross.

No matter, the Gulls deservedly took the lead in the 39th minute.

Ollie Tomlinson broke out of defence, shaking off a tackle on the way, saw Jarvis on the move, drilled a through-ball to him on the left and Jarvis beat Turner with a firm angled shot from 12 yards... 1-0.

Jarvis nearly finished off a Moxey cross just before half-time.

It was important that United resume well, and a double substitution for the visitors after only 52 minutes confirmed that they did.

There was no doubting Farnborough’s spirit – six bookings for them told their own tale. Pavey fired just over the angle of post and bar, but Torquay never stopped chasing for a second goal and, after Ash had hit the post on the turn, it came in the 68th minute.

Lapslie crossed from the right, Jarvis’ presence at the far post seemed to panic Robinson and Turner and there was Ash to poke home an opportunist goal from point-blank range... 2-0.

Stobbs failed to finish off a good chance, set up by some great targetman work by Jarvis.

Farnborough kept coming and never gave up, defender Robinson smashing a 30-yard ‘special’ against the right-hand post with Halstead beaten in the 75th minute, sparking a spell of pressure that had United defenders and Halstead throwing themselves around their own goalmouth to keep them out.

But Torquay held firm and they rounded off a very good night deep into eight minutes of stoppage time.

Sub Ryan Hanson hooked a ball over the top for Jarvis to chase, Ball was ‘wrong side’, pushed him over and referee Neil Pratt pointed to the spot.

Ball, booked moments earlier, was off and Jarvis then drilled the penalty into the bottom left-hand corner... 3-0.

Torquay United (4-1-3-2): Halstead; Donnellan, Marshall, Tomlinson, Moxey (Martin 64); McGavin (Hanson 80); Stobbs (Pearce 83), Lapslie, Jenkins Davies; Ash, Jarvis; subs not used –De Silva, Lovett (gk).

Booked: Jenkins Davies 25.

Farnborough (4-5-1): Turner; Ball, Robinson, Partington, Norville-Williams; Saied, Perez (Folivi 52), Upward (Mekki 67), Young, Holmes (Maloney 52); Pavey; subs not used – Cullen, Nelson.

Sent Off: Ball 90+6. Booked: Perez 16, Holmes 23, Upward 53, Maloney 81, Robinson 82, Young 84, Ball 88.

Referee: Neil Pratt (Worcs).

Attendance: 1,741.