TALKING POINTS

Dom Roman

@DomRoman

Dom discusses the win at Plainmoor

DOING JUST ENOUGH

After yesterday’s game I edited our new ‘Quick Recap’ feature, and this one didn’t take very long! To use a boxing metaphor, it was a match in which a lot of jabs were flicked out and there were plenty of good intentions, but very few proper punches were thrown or landed. There was two quality team goals from United, but overall it was disappointing how little we created, with overhit passes and mis-placed touches often allowing Tonbridge to break with the ball. Had the Angels, who impressed with their overall setup, not wasted chances and made the wrong decisions in the final third, then a point or more could have been theirs. But in the end United were clinical enough when it mattered and defensively did what they had to do for all 3 points. Not pretty and not a game to get very excited about on a cold and fairly subdued afternoon at Plainmoor, but job done (and no Angel Delight..).

STOBBS IN MIDFIELD

It was interesting to see Jack Stobbs move into the midfield area, with Dillon De Silva taking up the right wing position. Jack is one of our more consistent players at United, he looks well prepared for games and has a proactive attitude when the ball finds his feet, and that was apparent again at Plainmoor. The positional move didn’t suddenly turn Stobbs into Callum Dolan (the Fleetwood man’s skill on the ball was missed) and he didn’t get forward enough for my liking, but he was involved in both of United’s goals and did his bit to preserve the lead as Tonbridge knocked on the door late in the game, so a decent showing from the lad.

GLIMPSES OF COLLINS

No player has frustrated more than Lewis (he needs a goal) Collins this season, but the first half was one of his better 45 minutes in a Torquay shirt. The run for the first goal looked dangerously like offside, but the linesman was unmoved and what followed was a perfectly driven cross for Dillon De Silva to run onto. The assist gave Collins confidence, and he suddenly had more quality on the ball, striking some sweet passes and roving forward into the attacking third. Unfortunately he had to be subbed early, but this is glimpses of what Lewis can give us, and the task for Gary Johnson is getting the Welshman more involved in attacking areas and unlocking his potential goal threat.

THE RIGHT BACK CONUNDRUM

Ross Marshall again played in a right back/centre back/midfield type position, which saw him dashing forward along the wing and enthusiastically getting involved in attacks. Fair play to Ross he played quite well in this unorthodox position, but then got his customary booking and picked up his customary injury! For some reason Ross just doesn’t seem to have much core fitness when it comes down to it and although he’s done a decent job in these last two games, the right back role still needs assessment. Dylan Crowe came on and looked lively in attack, but his defensive capabilities are questionable at best, whilst Shaun Donnellan appears to have disappeared off the scene. Questions marks in this area for the Gulls.

MOXEY HOLDS FIRM

It was no surprise when Dillon De Silva got MOTM, not because he deserved it, but because it very often goes to a goal-scorer! But the real MOTM was definitely Dean Moxey. The veteran defender did not put a foot wrong throughout the game, continually winning important challenges, putting his foot in when required and stepping in with all his experience like a father protecting their sons. At his age it would have been easy to retire last summer and leave the Gulls to it, he’d given it his all for United and a coaching job at Exeter City would have probably been waiting for him. But he’s still hugely motivated to play football and he loves the battle. We shouldn’t be counting so heavily on a player who will be 38 in the New Year, but with very few leaders around at United the Mox remains a very important guy to have in the line-up.