There was Devon Day delight at Plainmoor on Saturday, as United secured a vital win against Hampton & Richmond. It was ultimately skipper Asa Hall’s spot-kick that decided the destination of the points, as Aaron Downes’ men gained a valuable boost in their fight for survival. Following the 4-1 defeat at Tonbridge Angels last weekend, Interim Manager Downes made two changes to the starting eleven with Hall and Will Jenkins returning to the side in place of Ollie Tomlinson and Aaron Jarvis, with the former dropping down to the bench. The Gulls made a bright start to proceedings, with a number of crosses into the box just lacking the finishing touch. The first real clear-cut opportunity fell the way of the visitors on 11 minutes, as Sam Deadfield’s delivery into the box saw Alex Gibson-Hammond rise highest, although his header was just wide. The breakthrough came in the 28th minute, as United were awarded a penalty. After Brad Ash’s nifty footwork saw him upended inside the box, it was left to Hall to complete a captain’s task, and he duly slotted the ball calmly to visiting glovesman Adam Desbois’ left to give The Gulls the lead. 
United remained on top for the remainder of the first half, although Hampton did begin to impose themselves on the Torquay backline a little more as the match edged towards the halfway stage. Ahead at the change of ends. Upon the restart, things were closely fought in the opening ten minutes, with neither team doing too much to trouble the opposition glovesman. That all changed after a ball over the top was weighted perfectly into the path of the onrushing Brad Ash, who turned a defender inside-out before clipping a left-footer just over the crossbar, with Desbois frantically back-peddling towards his back-post. On 57 minutes, Ruardh Donaldson found space on the left hand-side, and after making his way into the box, he lashed an effort across gaol, with Arkell Jude-Boyd placed perfectly to head off the goal line. It was a warning that Downes’ men heeded, as they went back onto the front-foot in search of a second goal. 
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