A red card, missed penalty and goal-line clearances combine for Torquay United loss

Torquay United made the journey home along the south coast wondering how they managed to suffer an infuriating 1-0 defeat at AFC Totton.

Brandon Haunstrup scored the only goal just before half-time, then got himself sent off, Jordan Young missed a penalty for the Gulls and a raft of dramatic clearances all added up to a second successive defeat.

Fresh from a two-week break, United were busy and bright in the opening stages, Dylan Morgan whipping over a cross that caused mayhem in the home defence, but Louis Dennis flashed his shot wide when the ball into his path.

The Stags, reeling from a run of six straight defeats, settled into the game with a decent spell of possession but without troubling United goalkeeper James Hamon. Routine switched to remarkable midway through the half, as Hamon produced a stunning block to thwart Ashley Clarke.

Back came United with a surge from Morgan halted by ‘keeper Jacob Knightsbridge racing off his line and his next save was a cracker, stretching every sinew to turn away a fabulous strike from Sonny Blu Lo-Everton.

The Gulls were in the ascendancy, Young firing wide with a deflected effort, but Totton responded with Clarke pinging a sweet strike against the post. The main threat for the hosts would not be denied three minutes before the interval, as he clipped a lovely deep cross for Haunstrup to convert.

It was a half where United were left scratching their heads at being behind and the bemusement lingered after the break, with Totton threatening to build on their lead. Dan Hayfield and Lo-Everton both went close, as United looked to change their luck.

The second big moment of the game arrived on the hour, when Haunstrup was dismissed for a second yellow and the Gulls were awarded a penalty, substitute Kieran Wilson hauled down in the box.

Over to Young for an equaliser that would have surely shaped the remainder of the game. Unfortunately, he blasted the spot-kick over the bar and United’s afternoon turned into a siege on the Stags.

A goal-line clearance maintained the home lead and Dennis was left frustrated by another top save from Knightsbridge. The closing minutes were full of tension and chances, but United just could not conjure an equaliser, Totton clearing off the line to deny both Hayfield and Jordan Dyer.

A mystifying defeat in the circumstances and United will need to respond at home to Weston-super-Mare on Boxing Day.