"We had a point to prove", Says Johnson After Trophy Win Over Yeovil.

MANAGER Gary Johnson admitted that his Torquay United side had something to prove after their 2-1 FA Trophy win over Westcountry rivals Yeovil Town at Plainmoor.

The Glovers had inflicted a costly 3-1 defeat on the Gulls eleven days before and went into the Trophy tie on the back of 14 successive league and cup victories. Both sides made changes, and Johnson was without nine players through injury. But quality goals at the start of each half by Dillon De Silva and Callum Dolan put United in charge and they held on for a deserved result despite a 90th minute Yeovil goal that went in off new loan signing Archie Harris from AFC Bournemouth and then Asa Hall.

“We had a point to prove, and I wanted to see if we’re going to do anything in the league, and we will,” said Johnson. “It wasn’t about the competition, it was the opposition we were up against, because we were disappointed with our game a week ago."
“It was about getting out there and showing what we could do." “I thought the lads put in a great stint. We had to make changes, but we gave the supporters something to get behind, and we showed a lot of ability." “We had some good partnerships out there, and we looked to have a bit of cohesion." “They were always going to have some pressure in the last 15 minutes. We had to dig in at the end, and we did."

“I was pleased with our possession in the first half and with our resilience in the second.” Johnson then revealed that 18-year-old defender Harris had only arrived on the day of the game, and he hadn’t even met his new teammates before he was named as a sub. He had words of praise for several players, including goal-scorers De Silva and Dolan, recalled fullback Dylan Crowe and Theo Williams up front.

United’s scheduled NL South game at Taunton Town next Tuesday is off after the Peacocks were forced to rearrange their postponed Trophy tie at Welling United.