[OS] REPORT: United 4 – 1 Dartford
Posted: 09 Mar 2024, 18:28
United 4 (Jarvis pen 48′, Jude-Boyd 50′, Ash 52′, Ofori-Acheampong 88′) Dartford 1 (Akanbi 70”) A scintillating second-half showing saw United run out 4-1 winners over Dartford on a memorable afternoon at Plainmoor. After a goalless first half, United ripped into The Darts immediately after the change of ends, and after Aaron Jarvis opened the scoring via a penalty, Arkell Jude-Boyd and Brad Ash quickly extended The Gulls’ advantage to put the home side in firm control. Ibby Akanbi did reduce the arrears, but it was to be Torquay’s afternoon, as late sub Duane Ofori-Acheampong notched a fourth to seal a memorable Family Day at Plainmoor. Interim Manager Aaron Downes made two changes to the side that shared the points at Weymouth last weekend, with the suspended Ross Marshall replaced by Austen Booth, and Lewis Collins recalled the starting XI at the expense of Will Jenkins Davies, who dropped down to the bench. It was the visitors who started the stronger. The first threat came in the third minute, as a foray into United’s penalty area ended with Fumnaya Shomotun striking Mark Halstead’s near-post after cutting inside. Seven minutes later, and The Darts went close again, as Jordan Greenidge barged his way into the penalty area, before dragging his shot across the face of goal. 
Halstead was called into action in the 19th minute, as The Gulls’ No.1 made a superb low parry to keep out Dartford skipper Luke Coulson’s diagonal effort inside the box, before Ollie Tomlinson arrived in the nick of time to block Akanbi’s follow-up. Just short of the half-hour, and it was Greenidge who fashioned another opportunity, as his drive into the left side of the box saw him beat two or three men before eventually running out of room and playing the ball into Halstead’s hands. Torquay seemed to take note of that, and created a good opening of their own moments later, with Jack Stobbs’ corner catching out the visiting backline, as the ball was laid off to Brett McGavin outside the box, with the United midfielder proceeding to lash a firm low drive from 20 yards that just evaded the post, with the ball going inches wide of Billy Terrell’s goal. It took another superb late intervention from Tomlinson to keep parity intact on 36 minutes, as a swift counter attack nearly caught Downes’ men out, as Akanbi looked set to apply the finishing touch inside The Gulls’ 18-yard box. Following a first half that Dartford had enjoyed the better of, the men in yellow went close to taking the lead before the break, as Ash cut in from the left before letting fly with a curling shot from the edge of the box, with Terrell diving across his goal line to keep the ball out. Scoreless at the change of ends. 
Although Torquay had begun imposing themselves on proceedings, nothing quite prepared us for the start United made to the second period. Attacking their favoured Family Stand end, there were only two minutes on the clock when Jarvis’ run into the box in pursuit of an inviting through ball saw the centre-forward hit the deck. The referee was perfectly placed to make a decision, and wasted little time pointing...
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Halstead was called into action in the 19th minute, as The Gulls’ No.1 made a superb low parry to keep out Dartford skipper Luke Coulson’s diagonal effort inside the box, before Ollie Tomlinson arrived in the nick of time to block Akanbi’s follow-up. Just short of the half-hour, and it was Greenidge who fashioned another opportunity, as his drive into the left side of the box saw him beat two or three men before eventually running out of room and playing the ball into Halstead’s hands. Torquay seemed to take note of that, and created a good opening of their own moments later, with Jack Stobbs’ corner catching out the visiting backline, as the ball was laid off to Brett McGavin outside the box, with the United midfielder proceeding to lash a firm low drive from 20 yards that just evaded the post, with the ball going inches wide of Billy Terrell’s goal. It took another superb late intervention from Tomlinson to keep parity intact on 36 minutes, as a swift counter attack nearly caught Downes’ men out, as Akanbi looked set to apply the finishing touch inside The Gulls’ 18-yard box. Following a first half that Dartford had enjoyed the better of, the men in yellow went close to taking the lead before the break, as Ash cut in from the left before letting fly with a curling shot from the edge of the box, with Terrell diving across his goal line to keep the ball out. Scoreless at the change of ends. Although Torquay had begun imposing themselves on proceedings, nothing quite prepared us for the start United made to the second period. Attacking their favoured Family Stand end, there were only two minutes on the clock when Jarvis’ run into the box in pursuit of an inviting through ball saw the centre-forward hit the deck. The referee was perfectly placed to make a decision, and wasted little time pointing...Read more