MATCH VERDICT
Rachel Malloch
@Rachelvillavox
TORQUAY UNITED 2-1 TONBRIDGE ANGELS – MATCH SUMMARY
A frosty sunny December was met with a midday pitch inspection and announced game on mid morning and following on from a comprehensive win at Eastbourne, Torquay United were hosts to Tonbridge Angels, who themselves had had as many defeats as us but had been something of a draw specialist. TUST had put out a call to arms for members to participate in a 15 minutes post match ‘Talk to Us’ demonstration aimed at the elusive owner and a side swipe at Gary Johnson. An inconsistent season so far with some mediocre performances that has left many frustrated and wanting assurances that the club is listening to the supporters concerns.
Despite last week’s emphatic win against NLS strugglers Eastbourne, there was clearly a few fans who had protested with their feet, with a sparse looking Plainmoor before kick off.
The game was fairly even for the most part, both teams splaying the ball around but guilty of some misplaced sloppy play. Torquay though were first to stamp their authority, Jack Stobbs releasing Lewis Collins down the wing whose whipped low cross far post was met well by Dillon De Silva, who crashed the ball into the back of the net. Torquay certainly had plenty of possession but a poor final ball or too many touches fizzled out attacks.
There was a faux fur coat but no cigar feel to both teams, neither showed that extra bit of quality to take command of the game. After a lucky escape in a goalmouth scramble, Torquay went into the half time with a slender lead.
Second half showed a temporary surge of urgency, then an injury to Collins saw him leave the field to be replaced by Ethon Archer. A free kick in a dangerous area saw Halstead punch away the ball when perhaps he should have caught it, and minutes later Brett McGavin had a shot that sailed over the bar. Then some sloppiness from Torquay saw a waving Moses parting of the waves that allowed the Tonbridge player to run at the defence and place his shot easily past Halstead to draw the match level.
After the obligatory Ross Marshall yellow card, having picked up a knock earlier in the game, the injured defender was replaced by Dylan Crowe. This sub made an instant impact, the busy Stobbs released Crowe who sent in a perfect low cross into the box which was met by Bradley Ash to restore the lead.
De Silva went down and could not continue as another injury saw him limp off and replaced by loan striker Theo Williams. Plenty of pressure in the final 10 minutes saw Tonbridge with plenty of the ball and with 9 minutes added time, the frozen bottoms of the faithful supporters were squeaking around the ground. A corner to Tonbridge saw their keeper up for a frantic finale and while he met the cross with a firm header, it sailed high over the bar. That was it. Not scintillating or filled with too much quality but well contested and a win that has taken Torquay to 5th and 8 points behind leaders Yeovil.
A small but very vocal gathering did remain for the TUST protest on the Pop side with calls for Johnson Out and we want our club back, but the 1,800 odd fans streamed out of the ground relieved if not entirely entertained with a win.
PLAYER RATINGS
1. GK: Mark Halstead – 6
Not a huge amount to do, punched at a shot when he probably could have held on and didn’t have too much chance with the goal.
6. RB: Ross Marshall – 6
Got forward quite a bit, didn’t do too much wrong. picked up his ubiquitous yellow card and limped off.
23. CB: Ollie Tomlinson – 6
Solid defending, held the line.
21. CB: Dean Moxey – 8
A very solid, reliable performance, upped the passing quality and when team mates misplaced a pass it was Moxey there to tidy up.
26. LB: Archie Harris – 6
Got forward but never really got going.
27. MF: Jack Stobbs – 6
Saw a lot of the ball but struggled to beat his man on a few occasions.
14. MF: Brett McGavin – 7
Saw plenty of the ball and kept it pretty simple. Did have a shot outside the box that flew high and well over.
4. MF: Tom Lapslie – 6
Scurried and scampered and generally covered a lot of the midfield.
17. RW: Dillon De Silva – 6
Took his goal well but was well marked until having to come off injured.
10. LW: Lewis Collins – 6
A lovely cross in for the first goal. Another player who is still struggling to find his form of the tail end of last season.
11. ST: Brad Ash – 6
Ran his socks off, got his reward with a well taken goal. First touch often let him down today but furrowing a lone trail up front.
Subs
2. RB: Dylan Crowe – 6
Did well enough when entering the fray, nice cross for the winning goal.
19. ST: Theo Williams – 6
Plenty of pace, over running the ball when perhaps a pass was wiser.
30. MF: Ethon Archer – 6
Put himself about without really impacting the game.
Rate the TUFC Players Here
MAN OF THE MATCH – DEAN MOXEY
Dean Moxey, our veteran still shows glimpses of a player who has top level experience, defended well, much like Mr Wolfe in Pulp Fiction, tidied up and intervened when team mates were messing up with misplaced passes.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Brett McGavin did well to keep the midfield ticking and in the absence of the talented Callum Dolan, rather uncharitably recalled by Johnson junior back to Fleetwood, was combative as he can be, with some good passing that was too often misread or mis-controlled.
THE OFFICIALS
Quiet in the first half, upped his card tally in the second half but nothing to really blot his referee Christmas bonus.
TACTICS
4-5-1, I guess, it was a thankless task for Bradley Ash playing as the lone forward and the ball rarely stuck. It was a game that had the hallmarks of one that Aaron Jarvis would have enjoyed. Aaron Jarvis, remember him?
OPPOSITION
Unspectacular but certainly came to play ball and not sit back. There must be Tonbridge Angels playing with some heart.
CONCLUSION
An evenly matched game with very little to get overly excited about, there are players on display this afternoon who are capable of better, but nobody let themselves down.
Onto Weymouth Tuesday night, we might get away with uninspired but workmanlike performances like today but oh how supporters would love to come away with belief that we could catch nee challenge Yeovil as opposed to remaining top 5 or 6 and grab some play offs glory.
Gary Johnson himself always used to say that football is an entertainment business. Right now our inconsistent form and lack of quality in areas and a tendency to implore what the training ground strategy exactly is, divides those who feel we should be playing with far more assurance and dominance to those who are just happy we eke out a win. Up the Gulls.
COYY – RACHEL
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Three points is what we set out to get, although we achieved our objective it was not pretty.
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