Match Report: Tonbridge Angels 4 Torquay United 1

Tonbridge Angels 4
Hinds 22
Odokonyero 71, 76
Shields 73

Torquay United 1
Ash 81

Just when you thought life at Torquay United could not get any more troubling, a three-goal burst in the space of five minutes condemned the Gulls to a miserable 4-1 loss at Tonbridge Angels.

The Gulls fell behind to a tap-in from Tariq Hinds midway through the first period but were well in the game until 20 minutes from time.

Nathan Odokonyero then struck twice, sandwiched by a goal from Sean Shields, and United were soundly beaten. Brad Ash notched a consolation but there is little consolation for a club now sitting three points above the relegation zone and in dire form.

In another horrendous week for the club, which saw the National League deduct ten points and a bleak 3-0 loss at home to Taunton Town, United are now fully entrenched in a previously unthinkable survival battle.

Interim boss Aaron Downes reacted to the situation by making two changes, Tom Lapslie and Ross Marshall replacing Austen Booth and Lewis Collins. Tonbridge, meanwhile, went down to a 2-1 defeat at Aveley on Monday night, and they were under immediate pressure from the restored duo of Lapslie and Marshall.

United continued their positive start and the ferocity of tackling showed it was an important game. Tonbridge introduced their attacking side with a header from former Gull Ryan Hanson but Mark Halstead was well positioned to make the save.

The combination of Ash and Aaron Jarvis responded with a lovely move down the right and only fine goalkeeping from Jon Henley prevented the latter from finishing the former’s pass.

United were looking a threat, Jack Stobbs enjoying success down the right, which made the opening goal especially frustrating, as Hinds converted a low cross from close range. It was all a bit too simple from a side now locked in a fight for survival.

Jarvis looped a header narrowly wide and Lapslie nodded on to the roof of the net, as United attempted to turn the screw. Brett McGavin had a shot deflected over and, despite the score, a fairly encouraging 45 minutes.

The next 45 turned from encouraging to deeply depressing and deeply worrying.

Jarvis tested Henley with a smart shot on the rebound from a Stobbs effort and the Gulls looked comfortable in possession.

It was all about to turn sour.

Shields was denied by a desperate challenge from Ollie Tomlinson before Downes introduced Duane Ofori-Acheampong and Will Jenkins Davies for Lapslie and Jarvis.

The new men barely had five minutes on the pitch before the Angels unleashed a match-winning blitz on United. The sprightly Odokonyero doubled the lead with a smart finish past an advancing Halstead and two immediately became three, Shields beating the United custodian with a lofted finish.

Tonbridge made it three in five minutes with another from Odokonyero and the Ash consolation could not mask yet another desperate day for the Yellows.

Tonbridge: 1 Jonathan Henley; 2 Jamie Fielding, 3 Kodi Lyons-Foster (capt) (19 Jernade Meade 88), 8 Jordan Higgs, 9 Nathan Odokonyero (7 Matthew MacArthur 90), 12 Tariq Hinds, 14 Mo Dabre (22 Scott Wagstaff 79), 17 Ethan Sutcliffe, 23 Sean Shields, 27 Liam Vincent, 30 Ryan Hanson. Substitutes (not used): 11 Josh Popoola, 20 Hayden Velvick.

Booked: Fiedling 59

United: 1 Mark Halstead; 2 Arkell Jude-Boyd, 4 Tom Lapslie (18 Will Jenkins Davies 66), 6 Ross Marshall, 9 Aaron Jarvis (19 Duane Ofori-Acheampong 66), 11 Brad Ash, 14 Brett McGavin, 21 Dean Moxey (capt), 23 Ollie Tomlinson, 27 Jack Stobbs, 28 Kevin Dawson. Substitutes (not used): 8 Asa Hall, 22 Rhys Lovett (GK), 30 Ethon Archer.

Booked: Jarvis 57, Jude-Boyd 58

Attendance: 1,308