Match Report: Havant & Waterlooville 0 Torquay United 2

Substitute goalkeeper Filip Chalupniczak pulled out a vital penalty save on his Torquay United
debut as the Gulls defied mounting injury problems to beat struggling Havant & Waterlooville at Westleigh Park.

Manager Gary Johnson had called for a ‘uniting’ victory at the end of a week which had seen his team swept aside by Yeovil Town and then a very public spat between the board and Supporters’ Trust.

Already without No.1 goalie Mark Halstead, as well as six other injured or suspended players, the Gulls lost reserve ‘keeper Rhys Lovett to another concussion problem, forcing Polish-born ex-Sutton United stopper Chalupniczak to take over at half-time.

In a much-improved display after the tame defeat to Yeovil, new loan striker Theo Williams gave United a 60th minute lead.

Then a foul by Lewis Collins conceded a penalty 15 minutes from time – only for Chalupniczak to produce a crucial save from James Roberts’ spot-kicks.

And deep into stoppage-time it was Brad Ash who wrapped up all three points with an opportunist finish from Jack Stobbs’ cross.

Johnson made three changes from the side which started against Yeovil, bringing in Ryan Hanson for his first start of the season, Asa Hall and new signing Ethon Archer on the wing.

Eight players were unavailable - the suspended Brett McGavin and Ross Marshall, who was injured in midweek, joined the list of absentees.

On-loan midfielder Callum Dolan also dropped to the bench.

Williams slipped on the wet ‘plastic’ surface as he went to finish an early pass by Hall, the effort going wide.

With Williams and Ash working hard up front, Torquay looked an attacking threat.

But some of their defending was less than convincing – they struggled to deal with one of Jack Jebb’s early set-pieces and were also caught by counter-attacks a couple of times.

Lovett had to make up for a mix-up with a save from the Hawks’ new loan signing Kieron Phillips.

Home captain Tom Bonner picked up a booking as he tried to make a point on Ash, who had robbed him and had a shot parried by Ross Worner moments before.

Stobbs fired a cross-shot just over, with Worner beaten, on the half-hour as United, for whom Archer was holding nothing back in his first appearance, began to assert themselves.

There was a moment of real concern when Lovett needed prolonged treatment after coming off worse in a goalmouth collision, but he was able to continue.

That delay accounted for most of six minutes first-half stoppage-time. Lovett went down again and Havant nearly took the lead before the interval.

Phillips got away on the right, crossed and Ryan Seager shot over – probably the best chance of the first half.

But there was still time for Hall to head a couple of Stobbs crosses wide, Lovett to deny Seager and Worner from a pacy breakaway by Williams.

Lovett came back out for the second half, but it was soon clear that he couldn’t carry on and Chalupniczak had his chance.

The new man was soon in action, punching clear, before a gormless pass by Collins across the face of his own defence gave Seager a chance he didn’t take.

Seager’s pace was a constant threat for the Hawks – Dean Moxey came up with one important clearance from the Dorking loanee.

But then, in the 52nd minute, United made and missed a real chance to the lead.

Archer, still running hard, beat his man on the right, crossed and Ash sidefooted well wide like a man with little confidence in front of goal.

Still, if Ash couldn’t take a chance, he could make one, and that’s just what he did in the 60th minute.

He carried on a good attack, crossed and Williams was there to keep the ball down with a clever, and confident, finish...1-0 to the Gulls.

Two minutes later Hall, who’d been involved in the goal move, found Williams again and this time the Fleetwood youngster shot just wide.

The second half was more open and entertaining than the first, and United were attacking with more accuracy and intent.

Johnson still spoke out of turn to a linesman and earned himself a booking from referee Lewis Sandoe.

Havant boss Steve King threw on 6ft 4in tall striker Mo Faal, just after Ash had been booked for a clumsy foul on Jake McCarthy – the Hawks wanted a red rather than yellow card.

Only a deflection off Ollie Tomlinson kept United ahead, before Johnson decided that Archer had given his all in attack and sent on right-back Dylan Crowe.

But in the 76th minute it was a midfielder, Collins, who gave the hosts a big chance to equalise.

Collins fouled Roberts in the area, and there were few protests when Mr Sandoe pointed to the spot.

But Chalupniczak then pulled off a terrific save from Roberts’ penalty and Hanson did nearly as well to block Berkeley-Agyepong’s follow-up.

Dillon De Silva took over from the tiring Williams, another player who had more than justified his selection.

United protected their lead pretty well, still threatening on the break, until the fourth minute of stoppage-time when they clinched the points.

Not all of Stobbs’ crosses had been right on the money, but he produced a good ‘un for Ash, from point-blank range, to force home the goal he so badly needed but didn’t look like he’d get...2-0.

Havant & Waterlooville (3-5-2): Worner; Stanley, Bonner, Innocent; Mccarthy, Berkeley-Agyepong, Jebb, Roberts, Spencer (Faal 73); Seager, Phillips: subs not used – McNerney, Busari, Jewitt-White, Stedman.

Booked: Bonner 16, Jebb 45+4, Phillips 67, Stanley 87.

Torquay United (3-4-3): Lovett (Chalupniczak 46); Donnellan, Tomlinson, Moxey; Stobbs, Hanson, Hall, Collins; Archer (Crowe 77), Williams (De Silva 85), Ash; subs not used – Dolan, Thomas.

Booked: Johnson 65, Ash 73.

Referee: Lewis Sandoe (Dorset).

Goals by Kai Swann and a late header by Liam Poole gave United Under-18s a 2-1 home win over Bath City in the SW Counties Youth League.