Torquay make winning start on National League return

Two goals in as many second-half minutes ensured Torquay made a winning start on their return to the Vanarama National League with a 2-1 victory over 10-man Boreham Wood.

The Gulls started well without creating any clear-cut chances.

Boreham Wood were reduced to 10 men on the half-hour when Jamal Fyfield was shown a straight red card for a poor challenge on Manny Duku.

However, the visitors were well in the game despite being a man down as Keiran Murtagh cleared the crossbar with a shot and saw another effort blocked by Ben Wynter.

Duku was denied by goalkeeper David Gregory early in the second half and Wynter struck the woodwork, but Torquay did open the scoring just after the hour.

Opi Edwards turned in a Jamie Reid cutback and the latter doubled the Gulls’ lead two minutes later with a superb 25-yard strike.

Tyrone Marsh pulled a goal back for the visitors at the death, making the most of a defensive error, but Torquay held on.