Torquay United top of the league

Two goals in the opening seven minutes of a high-stakes clash at Plainmoor saw Torquay United move top of the National League South with a 2-0 victory over Farnborough.

Will Jenkins Davies and Jordan Young both struck in a barnstorming opening to the game and that ultimately proved enough, despite the visitors rallying for an intriguing contest between two sides who looked like genuine promotion contenders.

United boss Paul Wotton restored Sam Dreyer and Cody Cooke to the starting line-up after freshening up his ranks for the FA Trophy win at Horsham, and there was a place on the bench for new loan signing Jack Wood, the midfielder signed from Southend for an initial month.

Played in front of another superb crowd in excess of 3,300, the Gulls set down an early statement of intent, winning the ball from a loose Farnborough pass and a delightful volleyed pass from Omar Mussa gave Jenkins Davies room to burst through the middle.

After three goals in the previous two games, the young midfielder on loan from Plymouth Argyle held off recovering defenders before steering an assured low finish beyond the advancing visiting custodian Jack Turner.

It was another assured finish from Jenkins Davies, a young player reaching even greater heights in his second loan spell at Plainmoor.

Celebrations had barely died down before United grabbed a second. Farnborough failed to deal with an innocuous delivery into the danger area and Young reacted quickest to force the ball over the line.

Farnborough, to their credit, regrouped from the two-goal shock and looked promising in possession but without ever really testing James Hamon in the United goal.

It was a pattern that continued after the break, as Hamon jumped on a penetrating long throw that briefly threatened to run loose before Ricky Holmes fired wide from a decent position for the visitors.

The Gulls had a super chance to kill the game on the hour, Mussa again breaching a leaky Farnborough defence but the final effort was steered wide with goalkeeper Turner left exposed.

Wood made his Plainmoor bow in place of Mussa moments later and it was almost a dream start for the new man, fizzing a shot toward goal before a deflection took it wide of the post.

Wood continued to look bright, delivering a decent cross for the arriving Oscar Threlkeld, who saw his header blocked. Farnborough replied with a spell of territorial control but there were no gaps in a disciplined United defence.

Dan Hayfield typified the home spirit with a brave block to thwart a shot from Fionn Mooney. Farnborough finished with a flurry of corners, one of which forcing Hamon into an outstanding save in stoppage time to preserve his clean sheet and three massive points.

The victory was enough to move United top of the pile, a point ahead of Boreham Wood, who beat Chesham 3-0, and Weston-super-Mare, held to a draw by Enfield. Previous leaders Truro City lost 2-0 at home to Maidstone.