MATCH VERDICT
Sam Jones
@samuellejones
HEREFORD 2-0 TORQUAY UNITED (FA TROPHY) – MATCH SUMMARY
A cold January Saturday feels like the perfect day for an FA Trophy game. A competition that no one really pays too much attention too, in the month that no one wants to have. Based on the performance from United today, a competition they didn’t want to play in either. The injury decimated Gulls were outplayed comprehensively by Hereford as we exit the FA Trophy in the Fourth Round.
The pre-match buzz was all about the return of Duane Ofori-Acheampong, who had left Plainmoor in 2015. Despite his recent record being less than stellar, his arrival was treated with optimism by the Yellow Army as we had been desperately short of help up top. His return was to only last five minutes though, because only 5 mins after the game kicking off, he limped off with an injury. It was utterly unbelievable, yet somehow so predictable and nicely sums the club up.
United actually started pretty well. They kept the ball nicely and started to put a bit of pressure on Hereford, but it became abundantly clear how the home side wanted to play. As soon as they won the ball back, they tore forward looking to hit us on the break. It nearly worked early too, as after nine minutes they had the ball in the net only for the flag to go up.
United still had more of the ball, but didn’t do anything with it. Hereford were starting to create chances, forcing Halstead into a couple of decent saves. Then in the 20th minute, United became the masters of their own downfall. An innocuous throw-in on the left by Harris was mis-controlled by Jenkins Davies, who fouled his man when trying to win it back. Up stepped Tom Pugh for the home side, who fired it past a despairing Halstead from all of 30 yards. An unstoppable strike and United’s number 1 had no chance.
Despite this, United never really looked like they would get back into the game. Foyo had a shot from distance that was straight at Pond in the home goal, and De Silva had a couple of threatening crosses that came to nothing. So, of course, Hereford went and doubled their lead. Not long after hitting the post from another free kick, Harris was caught out by a Hereford player and shoved him over. Stonewall penalty which Ceesay converted, despite Halstead diving the right way. 10 minutes later it was half time and we all hoped Gary had some magic left in him.
Spoiler alert, there was not. United came out at the second half as clueless as before. After only five minutes Foyo was hauled off, and Hall was brought on to play up top. Unsurprisingly this led to very little happening for the Gulls. Despite his best efforts, Hall isn’t a striker and could win nothing against the man mountain like defenders for Hereford. At some point Moxey fired over from a corner, and Halstead made a couple of decent saves but nothing happened (apart from the net breaking and a man had to come from the other side of the ground to fix it). The game dragged on towards United’s eventual defeat, and we all couldn’t get out of there sooner. The Full Time whistle went, and United we’re out of the cup. There were shocking scenes at full time as the Yellow Army clashed with the players and the management. Of all the darkest we’ve had over the last 18 months, this surely is the darkest day in the history of Torquay United.
PLAYER RATINGS
1. GK: Mark Halstead – 8
Man of the Match. See Below.
6. RB: Ross Marshall – 5
Giving him sympathy points mainly. He’s not a right back and he’s not a striker, but he did give it his all.
23. CB: Ollie Tomlinson – 7
Very solid from the young Centre back. Defended well and made some great recovery challenges when our midfield went missing.
21. CB: Dean Moxey – 7
Despite being Ancient, he can still defend. Forming a good partnership with Ollie.
26. LB: Archie Harris – 3
There probably is a good player there, but he’s been Gary’d. Dreadful throw-in that lead to the first, and then gave away the penalty. Will have nightmares about their winger.
14. MF: Brett McGavin – 5
Hit some nice passes, and forced the keeper into a decent save from a free kick.
18. MF: Will Jenkins Davies – 3
We hoped he’d be the next Adam Randell, but he’s not. Completely ineffective on the ball and gave the foul away for the free kick.
10. LW: Lewis Collins – 7
Actually played quite well in a floating role behind the strikers. Looked dangerous on the ball and tried to make something happen. Not sure why he was taken off.
17. RW: Dillon De Silva – 5
Tried so hard, got into some good positions but did nothing with the ball. To be fair, it must be hard to be a winger when you have no strikers.
19. ST: Duane Ofori-Acheampong – N/A
Poor guy. Started but went off after 5 mins with a nasty ankle injury. Wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the last we see of him.
32. ST: Osman Foyo – 3
Must be the weakest target man striker I have ever seen. Didn’t hold it up, kept getting outmuscled and was just completely out of his depth. Feel sorry for the kid, he tried his hardest but he is struggling at this level.
Subs
3. LW: Dan Martin – 6
Came on for Duane and ended up on the left wing. Then moved to right back in the second half. Was fairly solid and did enough going forward. Should be in with a chance to start next game.
8. MF: Asa Hall – 4
Came on and played up top. The Asa Hall of old might have been able too, but not this one.
24. LB: Callum Thomas – 4
Came on at left back. Looked out of his depth. Another player who played out of position.
Rate the TUFC Players Here
MAN OF THE MATCH – MARK HALSTEAD
There can be only one Man of the Match. Halstead kept us in the game, again, and stopped it from becoming a cricket score. He was not afraid to come off his line to smother the ball, and pulled off some good saves. Distribution wasn’t great, but you can forgive him when you look at who was playing ahead of him. Could do nothing about either goal. Is there a player with a greater redemption arc in football history than Mark? Halstead kept us in the game, again, and stopped it from becoming a cricket score. He was not afraid to come off his line to smother the ball, and pulled off some good saves. Distribution wasn’t great, but you can forgive him when you look at who was playing ahead of him. Could do nothing about either goal.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Ollie Tomlinson and Dean Moxey played well at the back. They were absolute monsters in the air, and made some crunching tackles. Not at fault for either goal, and dealt well with the numerous counter attacks by the Bulls. Lewis Collins also played well in a freer floating role. He looked to make things happen on the ball and picked out some nice passes. Would like to see him up top as part of a front two.
TACTICS
I think there were tactics, but I’m not sure. We lined up in a 4-4-2 with the big men up top, but that quickly went out the window. Throughout the game I think we tried to keep the same shape, but it was hard to tell with so many players out of position. What I do know is that we ended the game with Martin at right back, Thomas at left back, Harris on the wing with Hall and Marshall up top.
When we did have the ball, no matter who was on the pitch, was hoofball. Hereford must have thought this was a training exercise at times with the ease they were heading the ball away. When we got the ball on the ground we did look better, as we have the players to be able to play like that. But no, t**t the ball forward and hope for the best.
OPPOSITION
They had the one thing we didn’t, a game plan. It was very clear how Hereford wanted to play. Sit back, make us commit then hit us on the break. Their wingers were fast and direct, everything we aren’t. We were not able to keep the ball or win it back well enough to nullify their attacks. It wasn’t a complicated game plan from the home side, but it was executed to a tee. I have no idea how strong the National League North is, but if that’s their 7th place team then we would be fighting for survival.
THE OFFICIALS
The officials were fine. Most calls were correct, especially the penalty. The free kick was a bit questionable but its not the reason we lost. Foyo was probably lucky to stay on the pitch after being booked for colliding with the keeper in the first half. Not the reason we lost.
CONCLUSION
This was obvious from the moment the fixture was announced. Our full strength squad may have won that (or at least scored a goal) but this decimated side was nowhere near it. Hereford were the better side, knew how they wanted to play and tore us apart. The two clubs are going in very different directions, and I don’t just mean geographically. There was a lot of anger from the Yellow Army that was directed at both the management and the players at full time, and Aaron Downes had to come over and apologise.
It might just be me, but some of the anger towards the players seems unfair. A lot of them are kids, playing out of position for a manager who is so out of touch with modern football. They tried their best today, there was just a staggering lack of quality on show. The anger at the management makes sense. 18 months of utter incompetence from the board and Johnson has led us to this moment. The ineptitude in the transfer market, and the contempt they have showed for the fans does affect us as we see our club dying before our eyes. Its bad time to be a Torquay fan, and I fear its only going to get worse. Anyway, on to the next one.
COYY – SAM
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