TORQUAY UNITED SUFFERED THEIR FIRST DEFEAT UNDER MANAGER GARY JOHNSON’S ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, AS THE GULLS FA CUP RUN CAME TO AN END AT HOME, LOSING 1 – 0 TO FELLOW NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH OPPONENTS WOKING FC.
by Matt Green – Sport South Devon
The game hinged on two big decisions from referee Declan Bourne in the second half. Firstly, Mr Bourne decided that Jean-Yves Koune Niate tackle on Jamar Loza, two minutes into the half was a penalty and the resulting spot kick was converted by Woking’s leading scorer Max Kretschmar.
The second call was the referee’s decision not to play an advantage in the 70th minute for United, when Lemonheigh-Evans was fouled while playing a through ball to Saikou Jenneh, the Gulls forward was then fouled inside the area, as he was about to get his shot away.
Manager Gary Johnson decided to make one change from the eleven that draw the week before as Jake Andrews came in for Ruairi Keating, who dropped to the bench. The Gulls were still missing Opi Edwards through injury.
United almost took the lead in the opening 5 minutes but Niate’s goal was disallowed for what looked like a foul just on the edge of the six-yard box.
United keeper Shaun MacDonald was then in action as Kretschmar tried to lift the ball over the Gulls keeper but MacDonald was equal to the challenge and the danger was cleared. Two minutes later and Kretschmar pulled a lovely ball back to Toby Edser but Ryan Dickson managed to get a vital block on the goal bound shot.
The Gulls started to get themselves back into the game and on 26 minutes Kalala put a ball into the box but Reid was unable to get any real contact on the shot to trouble Ross.
Jake Andrews then brought a fine save from Ross with a speculative effort from distance which the keeper pushed over for another United corner.
Ross was again in the thick of the action on 34 minutes as he saved well from Kalala after another fine cross by Ben Wynter following a pull back from Janneh on the right.
Two minutes later and Reid should have opened the scoring but from close range the United top scorer lifted his effort over the bar as he followed up on the strike by Kalala, as he cut in from the left wing.
Just before the break Lemonheigh-Evans produced a fine run, beating several players before testing the keeper from the edge of the area with a powerful drive.
Neither manager made any changes at half time and both sides started quickly. First Woking’s Hyde tried his luck from the edge of the area before Janneh had a header cleared off the line by Hester-Cook.
From almost taking the lead United found themselves a goal down as the deadlock was broken with Naite’s challenge in the area on Loza and Kretschmar converting the spot kick low to the keepers left as MacDonald went to his right.
Torquay continued to press for an equaliser, Janneh putting a shot into the side netting after the referee had played an advantage after a foul on Andrews.
However, it was the decision not to allow play to continue later in the half by Mr. Bourne that could have resulted in a penalty for United, after a foul on Jenneh inside the box. The referee deciding to holt play seconds earlier after a poor tackle on Lemonheigh-Evans.
The home side never gave up and could have equalised just before the end but a goalmouth scramble was eventually cleared by Woking and the visitors managed to book their place in Monday’s second round draw.
TUFC Starting XI (4-4-2): MacDonald, Wynter, Koue Niate, Cameron (capt), Davis, Lemonheigh-Evans, Dickson, Kalala (Koszela 86), Andrews (Keating 64), Reid, Janneh (Williams 82)
Subs Not Used: Burton (GK), Sendles-White, Baxter
Bookings: None
MOTM: MacDonald
Attendance: 2,419 (323 away)