1. Armani Little at the double.
By netting a brace against Dover Athletic, Torquay United stand-in skipper Armani Little has now increased his tally for the season to seven goals. Little opened his account for United in the 34th minute when he fired home a low drive from 25-yards and clinched United's 'Gary-time' winner (more on that later) on 90 minutes after Dover failed to clear a cross from sub Jake Andrews.
Although the announcement of Little as man of the match earned a mixed reception, he is now United's top scorer by some distance. Little's fellow midfield schemer Connor Lemonheigh-Evans is next highest on the Gulls' leading scorer's list with three - and being a club's leading scorer is quite an achievement for a midfielder. Last season, Asa Hall topped United's goal scoring charts with 14, and Little is now half way towards emulating that feat.
In addition to this, Little is also United's top assist makers so far this season with six.
2. 'Gary-time' strikes again.
In the 2020-21 campaign, United made a habit of snatching late goals in what became known as 'Gary-time'. Little's late winner against Dover was the second time that the Gulls have clinched victory in the 90th minute, the other occasion came last month against Southend United when Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, who missed the match for personal reasons, slotted home to secure a 1-0 win for United.
3. Fourth straight win at home.
After losing their opening three home league encounters (Altrincham, Woking and Grimsby Town), United have now secured a fourth successive league victory at Plainmoor. Their win over Dover follows a run of home wins which includes wins over Southend United, Wealdstone, King's Lynn Town. It was also witnessed by a season high attendance of 2,892 - which included a number of NHS staff who received free tickets as part of one of the club's community days. Hopefully more of them will decide to come back again later in the season.
4. Keelan O'Connell impressed on the wing.
One of United's stand-out performers, particularly in the first half, was winger Keelan O'Connell. In the opening 45 minutes, O'Connell often switched flanks to good effect with Byron Moore, who was making his first start for the Gulls, and at times he was arguably United's greatest attacking threat in the opening period. Four minutes before half-time, he teed up Klaidi Lolos for a close range effort that forcd a smart save from Dover keeper Adam Parkes.
5. A substitute replacing a substitute.
On 59 minutes, United manager Gary Johnson replaced Byron Moore with Chiori Johnson, but three minutes later the Gulls' was forced to bring Chiori Johnson off as he pulled up with an achilles tendon injury. Jake Andrews ended up becoming the replacement for a replacement and if anyone knows the last time that occurred, please send in their answers!
6. Sinclair Armstrong featured for Republic of Ireland Under-19's.
While his teammates were securing an important three points in the National League, United's QPR loanee Sinclair Armstrong was featuring for the Republic of Ireland Under-19 side against their Bosnia-Herzegovina counterparts. The Irish drew 1-1 with right attacking midfielder Johnny Kenny scoring his second goal in as many games, in a match that Armstrong played the full 90 minutes as a lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
