MATCH VERDICT
Rachel Malloch
@Rachelvillavox
TORQUAY UNITED 5-1 WELLING UNITED – MATCH SUMMARY
Following on from weeks of turbulence, indignation and downright anger amongst many supporters, directed at the poor team performances, the FA Cup qualifier defeat, the supercilious Gary Johnson interviews with his clear gibes dripping in sarcasm aimed at supporters, those very supporters who understandably and rightly so are unhappy with the situation at the club, both on and off the pitch, and Johnson’s diatribe of ‘we need the right kind of support’ at games adding insult to injury on the back of his recent weeks ramblings, a manager who in his 5 years tenure has taken us from National League South obscurity to…….National League South obscurity.
Respect and appreciate supporters at all times. Managers come and go, but the support is the heartbeat and financial pulse of a football club. Thursday’s presser had been sprinkled with charm offensive fairy dust and diluted somewhat in a placatory manner, obviously the manager had got the hint that supporters are not mugs, even if the invisible owners would have you believe they are. But we still have a club to support, and my trip to the club shop to pick up a few items including baby stuff with an impressive range of infant wear, always met with lovely helpful staff, wages still being paid, whatever is going on in the boardroom.
The manager was very visible pre-match, he was overseeing the warm up, went over to chat to supporters in the family stand and even had time to cuddle a baby! He was certainly going full charm offensive and credit to him for that.
Plainmoor community day bumped up the atmosphere with almost 700 eager, excitable kids that compensated for a sparse looking Popside and family stand. Bristow’s seemed well filled and a loyal band of 50 Welling fans made up the numbers. No team coach for their team today, so players had made the trip from South East London in cars, a stark reminder of the league Torquay United are now in.
Many years ago I saw Sutton Coldfield Town play Welling at Coles Lane, mid 80s, mid teens, a place I loved to be when Villa fixtures permitted, Welling brought a strong following that day, the usual 150 crowd was bumped up to well over 300 and they were riding high in the Southern League Premier Division. Sutton fell to a 3 – 0 defeat that day. 30+ years later and here they are, playing in the National League South.
The build up to the game came power packed with incoming commotion on Wednesday, a certain Storm Babet who presented with a reputation for lethal pace, a keen eye for playing in a head wind, always in the eye of the storm and whipping over plenty sideways high velocity gust and bluster…….alas the only bit of recruitment was flying chairs and a swingball in Peter Johnson’s back garden.
There was a minute’s silence that the 2,500 crowd held respectfully in support of the horrendous conflict and bloodshed filling world news and shaking humanity in the troubled holy land of Israel and Palestine.
The game started with Bradley Ash almost making an immediate impact, a ball over the top found him with only the keeper to beat but his finishing found his shot missing the target and falling wide.
Torquay were finding themselves struggling to impose themselves in the early stages, Jack Stobbs with plenty of the ball but his balls into the box were eluding the forwards. The midfield were affording Welling too much space and were punished on 20 minutes when Welling took the lead, a shot that held little pace but beat Halstead as they took the lead. Plainmoor suddenly felt a nervy, edgy place to be.
Jarvis received a good ball from Collins but with players better placed to pass to, his shot cannoned off a Welling defender.
Then on the 30 minute mark a rush of blood to the Welling keeper’s head saw him bundle Jarvis over and the ref pointed to the spot. Aaron Jarvis might not be prolific so far this season in open play but he’s proving to be lethal from the spot and a well drilled shot sent the keeper the wrong way to equalise. Soon after a lovely ball in from Stobbs found the head of Jarvis who could not direct the ball accurately on target.
Then on 40 minutes, the ball was found bobbling around the Welling goal mouth, half cleared and Brett McGavin found time to control and shoot from 20 yards and with the help of a deflection, Torquay United were in front. With Torquay now looking more comfortable, another long ball fell to the feet of Ash who at an angle and the goal at his mercy and an on rushing Stobbs to pass to his shot tamely hit the side netting when he really should have scored. A free kick in a dangerous area taken by Stobbs came to nothing and Torquay went into half time with a lead.
The second half began with Torquay finding plenty of the ball and from a free kick in the middle of the park, the ball found Donnellan who lofted a delightful chipped effort that found the back of the net.
Then minutes later, a free kick from Stobbs lofted into the penalty area and Jarvis again was brought down and another penalty award to Torquay. Again, no mistake from Jarvis and 4-1 to the home side.
On the 70th minute Torquay made their changes with the terrific terrier-like Lapslie making way for Asa Hall and Donnellan replaced by Ross Marshall. Marshall was soon to make his presence known as Stobbs whipped in a corner which found the foot of the Torquay defender to make it 5-1. Welling keeper clearly unhappy with something remonstrated with the referee and whatever was said was met with his 2nd yellow card of the afternoon reducing the visitors to 10 men.
With no recognised keeper on the bench, a Welling centre forward pulled on the goalie jersey. Torquay now were playing against 10 men and a rookie goalkeeper which generated plenty anticipation in the crowd that this could be a cricket score, but to be fair to Welling they suddenly started playing with urgency and were pushing forward while not allowing Torquay an easy last 15 minutes. The Babbacombe End filled with local youngsters were now in full cry “we want 6!” A Bradley Ash snap shot that went well wide and a goal mouth scramble from a corner aside, it remained 5-1 and 0-0 if you were the Welling striker turned goalkeeper.
PLAYER RATINGS
1. GK: Mark Halstead – 6
Will have much tougher games, rarely called into action but no clean sheet for Mark today as Welling took the lead with an innocuous grass cutter that beat him, perhaps he was unsighted but it was a poor goal to concede.
15. LWB: Finley Craske – 7
Shaky opening exchanges but grew into the game and got forward more including a few excellent moves out of defence.
23. CB: Ollie Tomlinson – 7
Very assured game from the young defender. A mature display.
21. CB: Dean Moxey – 7
Another confident steady game from the veteran.
16. CB: Shaun Donnellan – 7
Did well today, rounding it off with a well taken goal.
27. RWB: Jack Stobbs – 6
Gets a lot of the ball but too many of his crosses into the box were overhit.
14. MF: Brett McGavin – 6
Often looks clumsy on the ball, had time to pick his spot with a sweetly hit strike with a little help from a deflection.
4. MF: Tom Lapslie – 8
A very good game from Tom, busy and industrious, some lovely passes and move football with the feed Stobbs directive.
10. MF: Lewis Collins – 6
More central role, control let him down on too many occasions but did ok.
11. ST: Brad Ash – 4
Just not happening for our fox in the box who while found himself in good positions, final touch let him down. Needs a goal.
9. ST: Aaron Jarvis – 8
Worked his socks off, there is a heavy reliance on his hold up play and today was a masterclass. 2 goals from the penalty spot to boost his goal count.
Subs
8. MF: Asa Hall – 4
Asa looks way off the pace.
6. CB: Ross Marshall – 6
Came on with his own fox in the box cameo of a far post toe poke goal.
7. MF: Ryan Hanson – 4
Does what Ryan Hanson does, which is, well, very little.
Rate the TUFC Players Here
MAN OF THE MATCH – AARON JARVIS
A lot is expected of his hold up play and contribution and today he did very little wrong, made and scored 2 penalties and showed why, despite a drought in outfield goals, he is such an important player in this team.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Tom Lapslie had an excellent game today; almost Armani Little-esque in his contribution, some lovely passing play and kept the midfield motor running.
THE OFFICIALS
Impressive, referee tried to keep the flow of the game, but it wasn’t a particularly physical game.
TACTICS
Less hoofball on display today using a 3-5-2 similar to last week, good to see the ball played to feet more.
THE OPPOSITION
Very poor, they had moments of possession particularly in the first half where our midfield gave them too much space but really, this Welling team was reminiscent of our last foray in the National League South when teams were ragged and naive and looked for every position like a part time team, and Torquay Utd would make their full time professional outfit advantage show.
CONCLUSION
Some might say that this resounding win answered Gary Johnson’s critics, others will point out that these are the teams we should be beating and games we should be winning with ease. There is plenty room for improvement in this squad, while the manager claims he is happy with the squad and the glaring absence of loans in to improve our options backs up his claim, there are much better teams in this league who won’t be quite so accommodating. Today we can enjoy a good win but let’s now kick on and whether the coffers have run dry, there is no disputing the fact that the squad needs strengthening if we want to continue to be a top 4 team.
COYY – RACHEL
SOCIAL MEDIA
TT PARTNERS
TWITTER – INSTAGRAM – ETSY – YOUTUBE – FACEBOOK
TORQUAYTALK 
Great report Rachel……love your Hanson line LOL !
LikeLike