MATCH VERDICT
Clive Hayward
@Byehorse
TORQUAY UNITED 2-1 CHELMSFORD CITY – MATCH SUMMARY
More late drama at Plainmoor saw Torquay pick up a valuable second home win of the week against early season fellow contenders Chelmsford.
An unchanged United started quickly, with Ash and then Jarvis squandering great chances in the first 10 minutes. Ash also had an emphatic finish chalked off for a tight offside which could easily have gone the other way.
Chelmsford started the afternoon in fifth place, however, and they hadn’t come all the way to TQ1 to make up the numbers. For much of the game they gave as good as they got, and will be scratching their heads as to how they didn’t punish the home side’s profligacy. Twice in two minutes strikers were bearing down on Mark Halstead but the first shot was pulled badly wide and Halstead charged, spread and frustrated the second effort.
With only twenty gone, a 2-2 scoreline wouldn’t have flattered either side.
The rest of the first half was less memorable, but plenty of good stuff to watch, with the over-watered pitch again making life difficult for both sides at times.
The crossbar challenge came and went, and on an international break weekend the half time scores offered slim pickings.
Kicking towards the Family Stand on a hot afternoon United had a decent spell early in the second half, and took the lead on 56 minutes.
A corner was cleared to McGavin 25 yards out, and he executed a fabulous volley to give the keeper no chance.
Other Torquay chances came and went, but Chelmsford hadn’t given up and they rattled the angle of post & crossbar with a thunderous left foot hit. They forced several corners and the pressure told with just 4 minutes to go.
It was a fairly standard Plainmoor heartbreaker. Substitute left back Dan Martin gave away an avoidable free kick wide of the 18 yard line. Halstead spoiled an otherwise excellent display with an unconvincing two-handed punch which wouldn’t have knocked out Danny Stevens and the Chelmsford left back Brookes shifted it onto his left foot before burying a low drive.
This Torquay team and squad has its limitations, but they are currently very “together” and Lady Luck is currently smiling on their injury times. With 93 minutes on the clock Chelmsford gave away a daft free kick on their right touchline when they attempted to shove Brad Ash over it. Will Jenkins-Davies may or may not have intended to whip it quite as much as he did. The ball went flatter than you might have expected for a late diagonal into the mixer, but the effect was deadly. The ball skimmed off the bald head of Samir Carruthers and looped joyously beyond the keeper’s grasp. A fluke, for certain, but a fantastic finish to a feisty encounter,
Chelmsford reacted petulantly, with several offers of violence and- heaven forbid- obscenities from players and staff alike. We absolutely loved to see it! Back on the bus lads, it’s only 6 hours home.
PLAYER RATINGS
1. GK: Mark Halstead – 7
Another good game from the vice captain. A great save after 20 minutes: off his line like a flash to frustrate a clean through striker. At the heart of some defensive confusion late on, and that flappy punch harked back to some bad times, but overall he is playing with high confidence.
6. CB: Ross Marshall – 6
Seldom totally convincing. He’s a kick-it, head-it centre back who needs to focus on those basics. Has developed a successful tendency to buy free kicks by sinking to his knees when fouled, buckling like a World War One deserter facing the dawn firing squad.
23. CB: Ollie Tomlinson – 6
A thinner, younger looking version of Marshall. He too was ok today and worked hard for the result against decent opponents.
21. LB: Dean Moxey – 6
I didn’t think he had his best game today. It must be hard to have lost several yards of pace but he still plays with a smile on his face and reads the game much better than any of our other defenders. Couldn’t do 90 minutes and you wonder if he’s going to get that back now.
16. RB: Shaun Donnellan – 6
A curate’s egg for the right back today. Combined good aggression with some donkey-on-ice moments.
27. RW: Jack Stobbs – 6
Guilty of a dreadful finish in the first half. Did combine well with Lapslie and Donnellan at times but I would have liked to see more today.
14. MF: Brett McGavin – 7
As at Aldershot last year, Brett opened our account with a fantastic finish. Today’s was a show-stopper, allowing a clearance from a corner to drop to his right before smashing a volley firm and true from 25 yards. No chance for the keeper and a step on the road to possible redemption
4. MF: Tom Lapslie – 7
Fantastic in the first half. Snapping as always but really progressive too. Broke his neck to get forwards to link with Jarvis and Stobbs. Probably tired a bit on a hot day after a high tempo game.
18. LW: Will Jenkins Davies – 6.5
Possibly his best game so far. Mobile and up for the fight. Few moments of real quality, but will claim what I believe people nowadays call the “assist” for the winner.
11. ST: Bradley Ash – 6.5
Another striker who will be cursing his inability to finish good chances today. I thought he ran his heart out for 90 minutes though. Loves a break and a dribble, and did look a threat down the left. If he had a left foot he would be operating far higher than this level.
9. ST: Aaron Jarvis – 6
Honours even with combative centre halves today. Effort great as always, but should have buried his early chance.
Subs
3. LB: Dan Martin – 5.5
Gave away the free kick for the equaliser with a challenge he didn’t need to make.
7. MF: Ryan Hanson – 7
Came on with a brief to keep us solid, to head and tackle. Despite the equaliser coming on his watch, I think he did fine in his brief appearance.
10. ST: Lewis Collins – N/A
Rate the TUFC Players Here
MAN OF THE MATCH – Tom Lapslie
Three with strong claims I think: Lapslie, McGavin and Halstead. On balance, I’m going to give it to Laps. Despite McGavin’s screamer I felt Tom had a better match over the whole piece. Halstead was well in credit, and certainly outperformed all our defenders, but giving our keeper the accolade would give a slightly misleading impression of the afternoon.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Halstead & McGavin, as noted. Mark is producing consistent good performances to justify the faith shown in him. Brett McGavin doesn’t look a natural footballer to me. He can play for sure, but he often looks a little gawky and- certainly for a “playmaker”- rather un-coordinated in his movements. He is always going to be in the frame for selection though, because of those sublime moments he can produce.
THE OFFICIALS
They got a hard time from the crowd today, but I felt they were fine for the most part. Some of the “fouls” both sets of fans were screaming for were ridiculous.
TACTICS
It looked like 4-1-3-2 to me, with McGavin again playing deep. Lapslie in particular was able to link well with the front players. There was plenty of width courtesy of Stobbs and Ash, but little quality from it. Jarvis is a skilled target man and you cannot blame Torquay for often trying to make him the focus of our attacks, although there was much more willingness to pass the ball today against opponents of a similar mind.
THE OPPOSITION
Decent. Not perhaps as fluent as Worthing but Chelmsford came to play and pushed Torquay all the way. Despite having the effrontery to employ the totemically poor reminder of Gravy Days Jazzy Barnum Bobb as a substitute they looked bright and combative throughout.
A player who caught the eye of several Torquay Talkers was Samir Carruthers. About 5 ft 8, swarthy and with a fully receded hairline I coined the epithet of “Pound Shop Cambiasso” to describe him. He played quite deep in midfield, passed it well and organised his colleagues. He looks a good player and for the best part of an hour I was wondering whether we might be able to swap him for Brett McGavin. He ended the contest on his knees and cursing his luck, but I liked the cut of his jib.
CONCLUSION
It is September. Many of us are still wearing shorts to matches and the league table may bear as much resemblance to its end of season state as an infant does to a pensioner. It has to be said, too, that team spirit is easy to find in a winning team. But there are promising signs just now. There was a togetherness about the squad today which was good to see, and sometimes you make your own luck. Winning your home games never hurts, and we’ve rediscovered the knack. Whisper it, but we might just have enough to regain the dizzying heights of the National League at the first (or should I say second) time of asking.
COYY – CLIVE
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Thanks. A great report. Roger
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