by Matt Green – Sport South Devon
A SAIKOU JANNEH HAT-TRICK, THE FIRST OF HIS CAREER, HELPED MOVE TORQUAY UNITED INTO FOURTH PLACE IN THE VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH AFTER A COMPREHENSIVE 4 – 1 VICTORY AGAINST CONCORD RANGERS AT PLAINMOOR ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
Torquay Manager Gary Johnson kept the same starting eleven from Tuesday night’s win against St Albans City, although there was a return to the bench for Opi Edwards after his recent injury.
United got off to a flying start when, in the first minute, a training ground free kick was executed perfectly as Connor Lemonheigh-Evans looked to be lining up a direct shot on goal. Instead, the United number 11 played it short to Jake Andrews who then slipped Janneh through on goal. The forwards initial shot was saved by Sam Beasant, but he made sure the follow-up was tucked into the bottom left hand corner.
With their tales up, the Gulls almost got a second goal in the 4th minute when a cross by Jamie Reid found Ruari Keating, but his header was saved by Beasant.
The Gulls had half chances from Andrews via a free kick and Kalvin Lumbombo-Kalala, who tried to curl his effort from the edge of the box before Concord Rangers had their only chance of the half from Jack Midson.
Torquay and Janneh’s second goal came in the 24th minute, after a fine flick on the edge of the area by Andrews put the number 10 in on goal and his first time shot beat Beasant.
The chances for Johnson’s men to extend their lead continued with a Liam Davis, Keating, Janneh and Andrews all having efforts on the visitor’s goal.
1’937 Gulls supporters didn’t have to wait too much longer before Janneh capped off a fine first half performance with his hat-trick in the 34th minute. The striker was in the right place to side foot in from a few yards out, after a cross by Ben Wynter on the right.
United’s fourth goal of the first half was a rocket from top scorer Reid from 30 yards, with the ball smacking the bar before coming down over the line.
Concord’s Manager, Sammy Moore, made a double substitution at half time and it was his side that had the first attempt on goal in the second half through Tyrone Sterling moments later.
Although the second half didn’t have the intensity of the first from United, Torquay still had several opportunities to add to their goal tally before Concord got their consolation goal.
Lemonheigh-Evans continued to test Beasant from range on a number of occasions, but the keeper was up to the task each time. Jenneh should have made it five however his shot, after a quick counter-attack following a corner from the visitors, was blocked by a diving defender.
Kalala then had an excellent shot on target in the 68th minute, but once more Concord’s number one was on hand to parry the ball away and Keating was not quite fast enough to tuck the rebound in.
While Opi Edwards waited to make his return Reid almost got his second when he cut inside the area and shot across goal, Keating also went close again shortly after.
Another counter-attack from a corner saw Janneh go close but he couldn’t finish a move that he started back in his own half, after linking well with Reid on the edge of the area.
Johnson then made his own double change in the 82nd minute with the introduction of Samir Nabi and Jamie Sadles-White, however a minute later Concord scored after United were unable to clear a long Beasant free kick and 12 was on hand to finish from the edge of the area.
Lemonheigh-Evans almost capped another fine performance with a goal, but Beasent tipped the ball over for another corner in the 89th minute.
United are back in cup action next Saturday against Basingstoke Town in the FA Trophy, before an away fixture against Dulwich Hamlet on the 1st Dec. Their next fixture at Plainmoor is on the 8thDecember against Welling.
TUFC Starting XI (4-4-2): MacDonald, Wynter (Sandles-White 82), Koue Niate, Cameron (capt), Davis, Lemonheigh-Evans, Keating, Kalala (Edwards 73), Andrews (Nabi 82), Reid, Janneh
Subs not used: Burton (GK), Williams
Bookings: Keating (14), Andrews (72)
MOTM: Janneh
Attendance: 1,937 (11 away)