Report: Gulls Get the Goals in Defeat for Magpies

 

A late goal and last-minute fight back wasn’t enough for Maidenhead United in a 2-1 defeat to Torquay United on Saturday afternoon. 

 

Alan Devonshire made three changes to the starting XI who lost at AFC Totton during the week, with Miles Welch-Hayes, Remy Clerima and Sam Barratt returning to the starting line up. 

 

The visitors nearly took the lead just two minutes in when a long ball from captain Sam Dreyer sent the league’s top scorer Jordan Young through on goal. However, it was Jordi van Stappershoef who bravely rushed out to smother the danger but a dink from Young was goal bound, and it was Remy Clerima who rescued the home side after a clearance off the line. 

 

The Gulls looked increasingly dangerous as the half progressed, and they were rewarded five minutes before the break when Callum Dolan was found in a whole wealth of space 25 yards out and fired a superb strike into the bottom left corner leaving van Stappershoef no chance. 

 

Moments later, Torquay could have doubled their lead as Louis Dennis volleyed over from close range after another fine run from Young down the right-hand side. Tensions flared before half-time when a scuffle between de Havilland and Jordan Dyer saw both men booked. Torquay’s controlled first half display ensured they went into the break a goal ahead. 

 

 

Maidenhead came out brighter after the restart, pushing higher up the pitch and trying to involve Popoola more frequently. However, Torquay’s control in possession limited the home side’s rhythm. 

 

Torquay remained in control, with Dreyer and Dyer comfortably dealing with aerial pressure. The visitors extended their advantage midway through the half when Young’s teasing cross was inadvertently headed into his own net by captain de Havilland, doubling the Gulls’ lead. 

 

Torquay looked sure to be taking all three points heading into the final ten minutes, but Maidenhead refused to give up after sending on more attacking options. Liam Dulson sparked late to give the home support some much needed hope, slotting home his fifth goal of the season from close range to make it 2–1, setting up a tense five minutes of stoppage time. 

 

Deep into stoppage time, Maidenhead were awarded a corner and van Stappershoef was sent forward and narrowly missed connection to the cross into the box for an unlikely equaliser. 

 

Ultimately, Torquay held firm to secure all three points and back-to-back away wins this week, while the Magpies suffered their fourth consecutive defeat and will look to regroup during the upcoming two-week break from league action before facing Dagenham & Redbridge on November 22. 

 

 

Magpies XI: Van Stappershoef, Popoola, De Havilland (Captain), Clerima, Welch-Hayes, Ragguette (Cochrane 85’ ), Yearn (Andrews 80’), Barratt (Yearwood 65’), Umerah, Robinson, Dulson. 

 

Torquay XI: Hamson, Foulston, Dyer, Dreyer, Dennis (Fish 55’), Young (Palmer 89’), Dolan (Morgan ‘62’), Worthington (Captain) (Hayfield, 12’), Blu Lo-Everton, Thomas, Jay