Torquay United's engine room drives them to vital win

Torquay United 1 Hampton and Richmond 0

Torquay United’s experienced engine room drove the Gulls to a victory they richly deserved against Hampton and Richmond Borough at Plainmoor.

United welcomed back skipper Asa Hall after injury, and it was his influence along with that of fellow ‘veterans’ Dean Moxey and Kevin Dawson that laid the foundations for a win.

The trio - combined age 108 - led by example and brought the best out of their younger team mates. Hall and Moxey ran the game from the heart of defence while Dawson used his pace and aggression on the flanks.

Hall dominated in the air and Moxey’s positioning sense put him in the right place at the right time to clear a late effort by the visitors off the line.

A crowd of more than 3,000 was boosted by visiting supporters from other clubs including Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle, whose own games were called off due to the international break.

Also in the crowd was former Torquay and Plymouth manager Neil Warnock, who is reported to have been talking to one of the consortia interested in buying the Gulls. The Plainmoor club is under threat of administration and has already been docked 10 priceless league points as a result.

This afternoon’s three points were squeezed from a game that featured few clear chances. The only goal came from the penalty spot on 27 minutes after the tireless Brad Ash was tripped in the box.

Hall stepped up and drove the ball underneath diving Borough keeper Adam Desbois.

Torquay had by far the best of the first half, passing the ball with confidence and defending resolutely against a team almost sure of a place in the play-offs.

But after the break the visitors played their way back into the game, and United needed all the experience of their older players and the never-say-die running and tackling of the younger ones.

Hall cleared off the line and keeper Mark Halstead made a couple of smart saves as Borough grew increasingly desperate for an equaliser. They made and missed chance after chance but Torquay held firm and richly deserved the ovation they got at the final whistle.