TT BLOG
Craig Hughes
Craig blogs about Torquay’s game against Truro at Bolith Park
TRURO CITY 1-3 TORQUAY UNITED – MATCH SUMMARY
The Yellow Army made their way down to Plymouth Parkway’s Bolitho Park to watch The Gulls face The White Tigers, in their final pre season friendly before the season opener at home to Oldham next weekend. When the lineup was announced there was a few notable absentees, with Jarvis, Hanson and Evans not included. As well as Dan Martin and Asa Hall, but they have been more long term injuries. Hanson and Evans were out doing a light warm up though with physio Kai Hepworth though so let’s hope it’s just muscle tightness.
It was Truro who made the brighter start with a scruffy shot within 30 seconds, but Torquay managed to win the ball back, counter and force a corner of their own that was eventually cleared by the Truro back line. It had started at an end to end pace with now Truro going up winning themselves a corner. But with just 6 minutes gone a moment of madness from Ali Omar being the last man brings down their striker and the referee brandished the red card (right call but in pre season this does no one any favours). From the resulting free kick, it was put well over the Torquay crossbar. Torquay had work to do now being a man down, but Tom Lapslie was released down the right hand side of the box and produced a quality cross to find the head of striker Will Goodwin who made no mistake with the header to nod Torquay ahead. 0-1.
A long ball over the top from Halstead then caused havoc in the Truro defence with Will Goodwin managing to get a shot on goal which wasn’t far wide. Torquay were pressing and just after the half hour mark Corie Andrews was played in on goal but brought down by a Truro defender, penalty Torquay. Dean Moxey with the penalty and hit into the corner low and hard that gave Truro keeper James Hamon no chance. 0-2 to the men in Yellow.
Truro then had a spell of pressure and a hopeful cross into the box hit a Torquay players arm and the referee then pointed to the spot for Truro. Tyler Harvey stepped up and sent Mark Halstead the wrong way. 1-2 was the score at half time.
There was a couple of changes early in the 2nd half with Rhys Lovett coming on for a half for Mark Halstead and Ollie Tomlinson coming on for Dylan Crowe, who had picked up a slight knock.
Truro again came out the traps the quickest for the 2nd half and won themselves a free kick on the edge of the box as Lapslie brought down his man. Rhys Lovett commanded his area well and punched the resulting free kick away.
Truro kept coming at Torquay and won themselves a corner which found the head of Tyler Harvey again, who forced Rhys Lovett into tipping the ball around the post. Great save!
Torquay started to show some good passing mid way through the 2nd half and won themselves a free kick on the edge of the box. McGavin crossed into the box but there was no one to head home. The game was becoming stretched and Truro kept on making chances and a good ball played through Torquay’s defence was saved and smothered by Rhys Lovett yet again, another great stop.
After a few good openings Torquay then found a way to release Olaf Koszela into the Truro box and he was hauled down by the keeper. Ref had no choice but to award Torquay their 2nd penalty of the game. Will Goodwin stepped up and made no mistake with a well taken penalty. 1-3.
Another win for Gary’s yellows ahead of the new season next week. Hopefully all the minor injuries aren’t going to be too serious and we are all excited to be back at Plainmoor next week for another season.
TALKING PLAYERS
1 – Mark Halstead: Sent the wrong way for the penalty, but other than that didn’t really have a lot to do this afternoon
2 – Dylan Crowe: Made a number of cross field passes to find a striker to flick on (Goodwin mainly), took a whack to his calf and came off at half time.
5 – Ali Omar: Brief appearance for Ali after being sent off early on! A silly challenge on their striker being the last man, always going to be a red card but a bit needless in pre season.
6 – Ross Marshall: Won a number of headers and key tackles against the Truro strikers, again like Crowe he was picking out the strikers with cross field passes.
21 – Dean Moxey: Well what can we say about Deano! We know what we get. Composed, leadership and got himself a goal by a neatly tucked away penalty.
26 – Ben Wyatt: Had a quiet game on the whole, a few good passes to start attacks and a number of key tackles to break up the Truro play.
16 – Shaun Donnellan: Did well in the middle, not scared of a tackle and drives forward when he can, it’s a shame he went off with an ankle injury in the 2nd half.
14 – Brett McGavin: Another commanding display from Brett, a player with a very good vision and ideas from set pieces. Tried his luck a number of long range chances.
4 – Tom Lapslie: Full of running as always, a nice cross into the box for Goodwin to head home to make it 1-0, came off in the 2nd half with an ice pack on his calf.
19 – Will Goodwin: Very impressed with this lad. Strong in the air and has a good footballing brain! Took his headed goal well and a composed penalty.
10 – Corie Andrews: Another player that took a knock in this game. Came off with a dead leg, had a few good chances that he probably should have scored. Was taken down by the Truro defender to win United a penalty.
Subs used:
13 – Rhys Lovett: Another good commanding display from Rhys! Made some cracking saves to keep Torquay in the game, especially a one handed tip around the post from Truro striker Tyler Harvey, very vocal too.
23 – Ollie Tomlinson: Very neat in his play, won headers and some good passes to get Torquay out of danger.
18 – Olaf Koszela: Full of running when he came on, was wiped out by the Truro keeper for Torquays 2nd penalty, really think its a make or break season for Olaf this year.
A lot of other youngsters got some game time with the likes of Winsor, McCee, Thomas and Quinn, its good to see these youngsters being involved with these friendlies.
CONCLUSION
On the whole another good workout for the squad and now it’s a hard weeks graft for the lads ready for the season opener against Oldham next week, scored some goals in pre season which is always good. Let’s hope we can get off to a positive start with this promising new look squad that GJ and Downesy have put together.
COME ON YOU YELLOWS 💛💙⚽️
TORQUAYTALK 
Bit worrying to still have several players with knocks and would have been good to put out a side which will start next week but I’m sure GJ will know how to start!
No one seems sure that Omar can start against Oldham but hopefully we will have full squad with a strong bench🤔
Great if we win but I think it more important to put out a side which shows it has the ability to improve as the season progresses let’s not forget some good teams to face in first 6 games.
Cmon you Gulls!
Tony Counter
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