Match Report: Hemel Hempstead 3 Torquay United 2

Torquay United blew a great chance to go top of the National League South for the first time this season when they lost again on an all-weather pitch in a crazy finish at Hemel Hempstead Town.

Gary Johnson’s Gulls trailed to an early Tarelle Whittaker goal at Vauxhall Road, but they fought back to take the lead.

Will Jenkins Davies equalised with his first goal for the club, and then travelling United fans celebrated again when Ross Marshall headed home in the 84th minute of normal time.

But that goal sparked a flurry of three goals in four minutes as the Torquay defence cracked and Myles Judd and sub Bayley Brown punished them to snatch victory for the Tudors.

Both leaders Bath City and second-placed Worthing dropped points, which only rubbed salt into the wounds of United’s defeat.

It was no surprise that Johnson, whose team was bidding for a seventh win in eight games, recalled Mark Halstead in goal, despite Rhys Lovett’s good performance in the FA Cup at Wimborne Town (3- 0) last weekend.

But the Gulls were also without wingers Jack Stobbs, who was ill, and Dillon De Silva, so Lewis Collins returned on the left of midfield.

How often is it that a miss at one end is followed by a goal at the other? It happened again.

After only eight minutes Brad Ash set up Aaron Jarvis with a good chance from inside the area, but Jarvis got his shot all wrong and fired over the bar.

Seconds later Hemel forced a corner on the left, George Williams swung it to the far post, Marshall blocked one effort, but Whittaker was there to force the ball home... 1-0 to the hosts.

United missed Stobbs’ control and crosses from the right, which was the same side that Hemel looked most dangerous.

Home goalie Craig King was on a good day, and in the 16th minute he pulled out one of his best saves to deny Ash after a strong run and pass by Collins.

Brett McGavin also had a shot deflected behind, before Jenkins Davies – he’d taken over corner duties from Stobbs – delivered for Marshall to head and King to save again on the half-hour.

The Gulls were on top, without really convincing.

Just before half-time Collins – he was the pick of United’s forwards – crossed to Tom Lapslie in space, but again King came to Hemel’s rescue with another good save.

Johnson’s side upped the pressure after the restart, and Whittaker, Matthews and Ajayi were all booked for Hemel.

Johnson sent on Luke Pearce for Ash, just before that miss-at-one-end hit-at-the-other show happened again.

In the 65th minute McKenzie, set up by Matthews, had Halstead to beat, but missed the target.

Up, or rather down, to the other end went Torquay, Jarvis teed up Collins for a shot, King saved, but Jenkins Davies was there to score from the rebound... 1-1..

Johnson immediately took Jenkins Davies off, presumably in a planned move, and sent on Ryan Hanson.

A spate of further changes also saw Dan Martin replace Dean Moxey with ten minutes to go. In the 84th minute United thought they’d won it.

Pearce and Martin combined on the left, Martin’s cross was on the money and Marshall, still upfield for a throw, headed home... 2-1.

But it was far from over.

In the 86th minute United again failed to clear a corner and Judd, who’d looked dangerous all afternoon from the right of the home defence, helped himself to an equaliser... 2-2.

And just over a minute later it was sub Brown, set up by Judd, who made 3-2.

Eight minutes of stoppage-time was added, but even that wasn’t enough for the Gulls to save themselves from a stunning defeat.

Hemel Hempstead Town (3-5-2): King; Judd, Hill, Ajayi; McKenzie, Matthews (Brown 74), Krasniqi (Re 77), G. Williams, J. Williams; Whittaker (Sayoud 83), Newton; subs not used – Corrigan, Taylor, Sayoud.

Booked: Whittaker 61, Matthews 63, Ajayi 66.

Torquay United (3-1-4-2): Halstead; Marshall, Tomlinson, Moxey (Martin 80); McGavin; Donnellan, Lapslie, Jenkins Davies (Hanson 68), Collins; Jarvis, Ash (Pearce 64); subs not used – Lovett, Thomas.

Booked: None.

Referee: Lauren Impey (RAF).