MATCH VERDICT

Danny Burnell

TORQUAY UNITED 0-1 MAIDSTONE UNITED – MATCH SUMMARY

It was shorts weather in the Bay on this glorious Indian summer afternoon, but with the skies ahead full of brightness and pleasure, it was anything but down at ground level on the Plainmoor pitch. Torquay United FC had once again fallen foul of the Trades Description Act by advertising ‘entertainment’ at TQ1.

To many people’s surprise there were no late additions to this already threadbare squad, which included two teenage defenders, a half fit Asa Hall and a backup goalkeeper on the bench. The departures of WJD & Pearce seemingly opened the door to incomings but it wasn’t to be as United fielded a fairly familiar lineup. There was a recognisable figure between the Stones’ sticks as Lucas Covolan returned to Plainmoor for the first time since his Ashton Gate heriocs.

Torquay were lacklustre from the go, as Maidstone made all the running. Corner after corner defended gingerly by the below-par Gulls’, and it seemed only a matter of time before the Stones’ would score. Somewhere inside the opening 35 minutes of this bumbling horror show, a comedy of errors led to a game changing decision as Marshall saw red. A spectacularly awful throw from Donnellan saw Marshall reeling towards his own goal, but an equally pathetic backpass fell short of Halstead only for Marshall to haul his man down. Not for the first time in his TUFC career. Torquay’s #1 saved smartly to his right to deny the visitors as Plainmoor erupted with joy.

United saw the half out but it was anything but pretty as the players trudged off to a smattering of boos. Work to do but in truth they looked better with 10 on the field.

The second half started brightly with McGavin showing his first glimpse of quality to deliver a pinpoint cross to Jarvis. It looked a certainty as he rose but to the dismay of 2400 Gulls’ fans the ball flashed just past the Covolan post. The 10 men were at least showing some battle and went close again as Lapslie’s header marginally went wide.

But it was on 69 minutes when the Stones’ got the breakthrough. A corner was cleared only to the edge of the box where it was lashed in much to the joy of the travelling contingent.

United continued to press and perhaps should have been level with another glorious chance falling to Ash. A flick on from the defender saw Ash 1 on 1 with the Brazilian stopper but his chip was too meaty as it floated over and into the half empty family stand.

0-1 is how it stayed and the boos rang clearer at FT. Some aimed at the incompetent officials, but the lion’s share aimed at Johnson once more as the GJ Out brigade vocalised their discontent in their droves. That result moved Maidstone into the top 4 whilst Torquay desperately cling onto that final play-off spot.

PLAYER RATINGS

1. GK: Mark Halstead – 7

See MOTM

6. CB: Ross Marshall – 1

An utterly calamitous 30 minutes which ended in red. Admittedly dealt a hospital ball from Donnellan, but did himself no favours with a brainless decision in the box. 1 good game in 10 isn’t the CB we need.

23. CB: Ollie Tomlinson – 5

A young CB with potential but needs a ‘Ellis’ type besides him. Left hung out to dry by his CB partner, but mostly dealt with things thrown his way in a torrid afternoon.

21. LB: Dean Moxey – 5

Probably regrets playing on for another season. Did nothing wrong, just part of a team devoid of any real ideas.

16. RB: Shaun Donnellan – 4

On course for a much lower rating after a woeful first 45. Redeemed himself with some good interceptions in the second half but overall not the RB we need to get promoted this season.

14. MF: Brett McGavin – 4

Has had a purple patch of late but back to lacklustre Brett today. Too slow on the ball and did little to affect the game.

4. MF: Tom Lapslie – 6

A Lapslie-esque performance full of energy and tireless running, but he himself was guilty of some abnormal stray passes. One of very few players to possess both ability and passion within this squad.

11. LW: Brad Ash – 4

Not Ash’s day. Scored goals for fun at this level last season now asked to do a job on left through fault of the management & their recruitment. Weak on the ball.

27. RW: Jack Stobbs – 5

Probably our best chance of any form of creativity. Tried to make stuff happen but very much part of this weary team performance.

10. CAM: Lewis Collins – 4

Busy, and found plenty of space. Obviously given the free role of picking up the ball from deep. End product woefully lacking.

9. ST: Aaron Jarvis – 4

Consistently beaten in the air and feeding off scraps. Missed a glorious chance early in the second half. Needs some open-play goals to boost the confidence.

Subs

8. CM: Asa Hall – 4

A welcome return for the skipper as he became our only ‘attacking’ option from the bench. Love Asa, hope he has enough left in his tank between now and April.

15. RB: Finley Craske – 4

Made one superb pass to find Stobbs to be fair, only played the last 15.

7. MF: Ryan Hanson – n/a

Late replacement for Tomlinson.

Rate the TUFC Players Here

MAN OF THE MATCH – MARK HALSTEAD

Not a game in which any player can take much credit, but Mark gets it by virtue of that fine penalty save. Kicking was off today but still solid between the sticks as he has been all season. Needs more protection from the men in front of him.

THE OFFICIALS

Incompetent from the first whistle. Commanded attention from the get go and provided inconsistency on another scale. Very poor from a man who wanted to make it all about himself. Not helped by the jobsworth assistant who insisted in seeing the inner a******** of every player who entered the field of play.

TACTICS

A 4-2-3-1 with Stobbs, Collins & Ash sat behind a lone Jarvis. Reverted to a back 3 when Marshall did his disappearing act. Couldn’t get to grips with the layout today as Maidstone regularly had players in excess, even at 11v11.

THE OPPOSITION

Made to look like Man City in the opening exchanges, but suggest that was down to Torquay’s failures rather than Maidstone’s ability. An OK team who will probably be in the play-offs come what May. They’ll fancy the double over us next weekend, and who could blame them.

CONCLUSION

GJ has been trusted once more by the board to build a team capable of winning this league. Today, Johnson fielded a bench consisting of (presumably) a half fit Asa Hall, Ryan Hanson, two teenage defenders and a sub goalkeeper. This is a squad absolutely crying out for quality reinforcements. A CB, RB, a winger and a striker who can provide competition at the very least, but we were once again left with no game changing subs when we needed it most. The rapports supposedly built up over the years have ran dry seemingly, and there’s little to indicate change is afoot. I’m sure it’s easier said than done and I’m by no means an expert on the wheeling and dealings of the transfer market, but isn’t this why we employ someone by the name of Pete Johnson, for this exact thing? I mean, shouldn’t a scout be ‘scouting’ potential new players or at least scouting our next opposition, instead of being perched in the Torquay dugout on match day? I don’t know, maybe we scout out players via YouTube, it would explain a lot….

Another NLS side has come here today and done their homework, done what they’ve needed to do (which isn’t a lot) and got the 3 points. This is a far cry from our NLS campaign of 5 years ago, this is quickly becoming our new reality. Welling, Weston & Hampton make up our next 3 games in the league and anything less than 9 points simply won’t do. Somehow, this side is just 4 points off 1st, but with just shy of quarter of the season gone, the YA have little faith this squad will be challenging at the business end. I can’t even be bothered to call for Johnson’s head anymore ‘cos you know it won’t change anytime soon, but improvements are needed, and quickly to regain even an ounce of that dwindling (or rather depleted) trust.

COYY – DANNY

SOCIAL MEDIA

I love Torquay United. it was unforgivable getting relegated to regional football yet instead of being a standard above we're drawn into struggling to impose our full time club status.whatever they work on in training is lost match day. rinse, repeat hoofball that gets found out.

— Rachel Malloch (@RachelVillavox) October 7, 2023

Damp squib from Torquay United https://t.co/LMh3gs6NTI

— TheTorbayWeekly (@TheTorbayWeekly) October 7, 2023

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