Great result against a dangerous team

‘A big three points’ was how manager Gary Johnson summed up Torquay United’s 2-1 win over in-form Tonbridge Angels at Plainmoor. 

Some fans joined in a fairly low-key but peaceful protest after the match, but the Gulls had already sent most supporters home happy with a seventh home league victory to follow up their 4-1 defeat of Eastbourne Borough in midweek.

Goals by recalled winger Dillon De Silva early in the first half and striker Brad Ash in the second lifted Torquay up to fifth in the NL South.

“They (Tonbridge) had won their last three away games and hadn’t been beaten for seven, so we knew they would be dangerous,” said Johnson.

“It was never going to be a 3-0 or 5-0, and I was just really pleased with the lads in the second half. 

“They scored a good goal (equaliser), when their player went past two or three of us, but getting our second goal straight after was typical of the attitude we asked them to go out with in the second half.

“It was a great result against a team that could have gone above us.         

“There were some good performances, and it was a big three points.

“They are paid to go beyond the call of duty, but they did.

“There was a spell where every five minutes someone was going down with an injury, but all our subs went on and played their part.

“We are always the favourites, but we have to deal with that. 

“We look forward to Tuesday’s game at home (to Weymouth), because the next couple of wins would put us in a strong position.”

Outstanding in defence was veteran Dean Moxey, 37, prompting Johnson to comment: “Dean looked the class player that he is.

“We’re managing to manage him and his fitness, but he’s played quite a lot of games already and he’s playing like a spring chicken at the moment.”