MATCH VERDICT

Paul Dennis

@paulden2310

MATCH SUMMARY

Well that was fun !

Yes I know it was only a PSF but having witnessed so many games where we have been humiliated by our dear neighbours by four or even five goals it was so good to return the favour.

A glance at Exeweb tonight and to console themselves a few of them had to mention a certain 4-1 score line from 2008 which brings all Gulls supporters nightmares and ongoing trauma which we won’t dwell on anymore as today is a glorious day!

A weird start to the game as both sides missed good chances in the first ninety seconds. We didn’t have to wait long for the breakthrough though as Lewis Collins opened the scoring in the third minute with a searing shot that gave City’s keeper no chance.

Life got even better just after the quarter of an hour mark when the relatively quiet Aaron Jarvis cushioned the ball off to his new strike partner Bradley Ash who smashed in his second successive goal at Plainmoor. Will he turn out to be the type of striker that we have been crying out for, for years? Hopefully but only time will tell!

The match really turned on an incident shortly after when Tom Lapslie’s late challenge saw a mini brawl break out which led to a red card for City’s Pierce Sweeney.

Already unsettled by United’s high pressure game going down to ten men was certainly not going to help City’s cause.

Torquay’s intent continued into the second half when Jack Stobb’s delightful lob in the 47th minute over City’s defence and their Finnish on loan keeper Viljami Sinisalo made it 3-0.

The 55th minute saw United’s first substitution when Tom Lapslie was replaced by debutant loanee Will Jenkins -Davies and this shortly ushered in a raft of substitutions for both sides.

United continued to make more chances with City huffing and puffing but creating very little.

In many years of supporting Torquay I have never seen us put four in the back of their net, so when substitute Ross Marshall had his shirt ripped off his back the resulting penalty converted by Asa Hall brought a smile or two to my face !!

4 – 0 who would have thunked it!

BUT in true Torquay fashion the match could not end with that perfect score-line so of course in the 92nd minute City got their own spot kick. As I sit in Bristows Bench about as far away from that incident as possible I couldn’t see what it was given for but with my yellow and blue eyes I thought it may have been a free kick to us….hoping !

Highlights of the Day.….each of our goals of course and then seeing the hurried exit of the City fans.

Laughs of the Day…Seeing Ross Marshall having his shirt ripped off him and the City fans running back into the ground to see their consolation penalty!

Stand-out United performances…well everyone did their job today but if I had to pick a Top 5 it would be Bradley Ash, Finley Craske, Shaun Donnellan, Ollie Tomlinson and Brett McGavin.

All in all a great day despite the unseasonal weather. While southern Europe is suffering record high temperatures we were left cold and drenched.