Freddy Hall and his AFC Telford United teammates recorded an impressive away victory at Torquay United.
The win was made all the more famous by the fact it was AFC Telford United’s first league double over any side in the Conference Premier in three seasons amongst non-leagues’ top flight.
AFC Telford United started the game in good spirits and set about the hosts in tenacious fashion, knowing that a positive start could set the tone for the rest of the performance and they didn’t disappoint. Despite a few nervy moments early on, Hall was switched on, dealing with a long range McQuilkin drive from 25 yards comfortably.
Torquay full back Ives struggled to cope with the physicality of Sam Smith with the ball dropping kindly for Tony Gray to steer a composed finish through a crowded six yard box into Rice’s bottom left hand corner and send the traveling Telford fans into early raptures!
The hard work of going a goal up was almost immediately undone though, as shortly after the restart John Campbell raced through the back line and as he let fly with a missile destined for the top right hand corner of Hall’s goal, the Bermudian international did brilliantly to turn his effort over the bar and retain the goal advantage.
Not long after and Hall had to demonstrate some good footwork to back track along his line and take a Chappel cross on his line, with Bowman ready to pounce. With the ball in Hall’s hands, Smith’s game was up and he made way for Ross Dyer. Latest reports indicate Smith may be out for between 2-3 weeks, but will need to seek further advice.
With the half coming to an end, Hall was commanding and smothered the loose ball as it threatened to spin dangerously across his six yard box. Tony Gray was next to go into the referee’s notebook, adjudged to have had his boot too high in a clash with Luke Young.
Torquay substitute Toby Ajala then went on a jinking run down the left, but he was unable to deliver a cross of any real quality and Hall was able to claim comfortably. His early distribution looked to hurt Torquay at right back – but it didn’t quite come off.
Possibly Torquay United’s best chance came fifteen minutes from time, when Hall was called into action twice in a matter of seconds. First denying Luke Young as he turned his free kick onto the cross bar, then as the ball fell for Pearce, he was able to bounce back to his feet and fling himself acrobatically back across goal to reach Pearce’s header and hang on for dear life!
