MATCH VERDICT
Tom Diamond
@GullsSoc
HEMEL 3-2 TORQUAY UNITED – MATCH SUMMARY
The GullsSoc boys made their way to Hemel Hempstead with the honour of doing the Torquay Talk live updates and match verdict for the time.
We joined plenty of the Yellow Army in The Crabtree for the customary pre-match pint, and then made the short journey to Vauxhall Road, only to be greeted by Torquay’s worst nightmare, a 3G pitch. And a shoddy one at that.
One of us was brave enough to bring our girlfriend along, who within 30 seconds of arriving had pointed out Aaron Jarvis, forcing us to try to distract her all afternoon away from our gorgeous number 9.
The Gulls fans filled the main stand and we were joined by GullsSoc member and favourite Matty Hayward. We hope our reports live up to your impeccable standards, Matty.
The game got off to a scrappy start, neither team really stringing much together early on, until Ash played a delightful through ball over to Jarvis, who composed himself only to blaze the ball high over the bar. Clearly the admiration from one of the GullsSoc contingent had got to Aaron, who on another day would have opened the scoring with ease.
However the deadlock was broken within 10 minutes after some questionable defending from the Gulls. Hemel’s big centre half won the header at the far post from a corner, heading back across goal. Marshall had to deal with it but did so unconvincingly, heading the ball directly to their number 19 for a tap in from 3 yards. Once again Torquay giving the opposition an unnecessary head start, somewhat of a theme of this season thus far.
This woke the Gulls up and the possession football that has brought success in recent games returned, with Marshall, Tomlinson and redemption arc McGavin seeing plenty of the ball. A chance came to Ash following a direct run from Collins down the left, with the Hemel keeper making a solid save to keep the score level.
Hemel should have extended their lead shortly after, when their number 8 sent a free header at the far post over the bar with the Torquay defence nowhere to be seen.
Hemel had done their homework, setting up with 10 men behind the ball to constrict any space for the Torquay midfield and making chances hard to come by. A goalmouth scramble and a fierce driving shot from Collins the only chances of note from the remainder of the half, with the Hemel keeper equal to both.
Early in the second half the first chance came to the Gulls with Donnellan clipping the outside of the near post following a free kick from Jenkins-Davies that caught the Hemel keeper sleeping.
After this it looked like Hemel would be the more likely to score and extend their lead, wasting a couple of glorious opportunities when opening up our defence on the counter attack.
However it was the Gulls who managed to equalise, finally carving open some space in the final third as Jarvis slid Collins in. Collins forced a good save from the keeper, only for the ball to fall to Jenkins-Davies to drill it home, albeit with a huge deflection from some very nearly heroic defending from their centre half.
Both teams made substitutions to try to force a winner, Hanson, Pearce and Martin coming on for Ash, Jenkins-Davies and Moxey. Although all three looked sluggish in the early stages of their afternoon, they all played a part in the United second. Hanson’s long throw was cleared and worked out to Pearce, who laid off Martin to put a lovely cross into the box for Marshall to head home, although it appeared to come off a big chunk of shoulder.
With fewer than 10 minutes to go there were cheers of “We are top of the league” from the jubilant Yellow Army.
This did feel like fate was being tempted, as whilst the chant was dying down Hemel forced an equaliser. The corner was swung in and forced a goalmouth scramble that somehow found it’s way into Halstead’s net. From the far end we could not quite work out what had happened, although it again looked like poor defending from a set piece.
You may expect a level of game management from the Gulls following such a swift response from the opposition, instead the vocal Yellow Army were met with a pressing of the self-destruct button. Within 1 minute of the restart the ball was lost sloppily in the Hemel half, who broke down the right and managed to work the ball into the box for their giant substitute to lash home past the despairing Halstead.
It could only be Torquay that could go from drawing to winning to drawing to losing within 4 minutes, 3 points thrown away due to a lack of game management.
The remaining minutes brought more possession based football rather than the urgency of a team that is chasing the game and made it very easy for Hemel to hold on for the three points. The Gulls were crying out for a creative midfielder to get things moving, something we do not specifically possess in this squad.
Although a draw was probably the fairest result, you could say any team that throws away a lead by conceding twice in two minutes does not deserve anything from a tricky away trip.
If we are going to make our way back into the National League then gritty wins will be required, particularly against those in the top 10. A lot of work on game management is needed should we be up there at the end of the season, and hopefully today’s game will be a lesson in what not to do.
PLAYER RATINGS
1. GK: Mark Halstead – 6
Couldn’t do much about the goals. A quiet game in terms of saves. Kicking was not up to standard especially in the second half.
6. CB: Ross Marshall – 6
Took his goal well even if it wasn’t the cleanest of connections. Lacked composure when playing out from the back at times.
23. CB: Ollie Tomlinson – 5.5
Seems to be coping better with the physicality of the NLS and looked comfortable on the ball. Like Donnellan, needs to be more commanding from set pieces.
21. LB: Dean Moxey – 6.5
Reliable in defence. A massive loss after he was substituted.
16. RB: Shaun Donnellan – 5.5
Tried to get forward and join the attack but without any real quality. Needs to be more commanding when defending set pieces.
10. LW: Lewis Collins – 5.5
Occasionally looked dangerous when running at players but without any real quality in the final third.
14. MF: Brett McGavin – 6
Continues to grow in confidence. Looked good on the ball despite a nearly fatal moment when he tried to Cruyff turn three opponents on the edge of our box.
4. MF: Tom Lapslie – 6.5
Worked very hard as always. Unlike many others today, when he got the ball he looked to be direct and drive forward which looked as if it could cause problems.
18. MF: Will Jenkins Davies – 6
Pleased for him getting the goal. Surprised he got subbed straight after as offers more going forward than Hanson. Like McGavin, seems to be growing in confidence.
11. RW: Bradley Ash – 6
Quiet game for Brad today. Had a big chance in the first half which forced a good save but apart from that not a huge amount to note. Subbed in the second half for Pearce.
9. ST: Aaron Jarvis – 6
Was very isolated upfront on his own. Did his best to battle. Missed a big chance early on where he should’ve hit the target.
Subs
7. MF: Ryan Hanson – 5
Slow to react to second balls and generally looked miles off it.
3. LB: Dan Martin – 5
At fault for the final goal and lost the ball several times after coming on. Did put a nice cross in for Marshall’s goal, though.
19. ST: Luke Pearce – 5
Had a good chunk of time on the pitch but failed to make any sort of impact on the game.
Rate the TUFC Players Here
MAN OF THE MATCH – Tom Lapslie
Tough decision as no real stand-outs. Would say Lapslie mainly for his work rate and willingness to make brave runs forward on the ball.
THE OFFICIALS
Jarvis frustrated at not receiving more free kicks during aerial duels. Looked as if Hemel were going to get away with time wasting from goal kicks but CB was then booked. No big decisions in the game of note.
TACTICS
4-3-3 with Ash and Collins either side of Jarvis. McGavin the deepest of the midfield three. Jarvis was very isolated upfront; the wingers sat quite wide which gave Jarvis very few options if he did get on the ball. We looked out of ideas in the final third very early on in the game.
THE OPPOSITION
Very confident playing on the plastic surface. Kept the ball better than us especially in tight areas and had more options going forward. Their subs impacted the game much better than ours. Kept going after conceding the second goal and, to their credit, turned the game around in a matter of minutes.
CONCLUSION
Despite no real creativity going forward, as we have done many times this season, we managed to get ourselves in front late on. Unfortunately, we were unable to show the necessary game management to see the game out. Our performances on 3G/4G pitches continue to be an issue. You wouldn’t know we train on one all week (apparently!).
COYY – TOM
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