MATCH VERDICT

Clive Hayward

@Byehorse

TORQUAY UNITED 1-0 DOVER ATHLETIC – MATCH SUMMARY

My last match report was on the win against Weymouth in December. That was an unconvincing victory against hard working but limited opposition from the bottom half of the league.

United’s deserved to see off rock-bottom Dover this afternoon and three points are welcome, but this was very much in the same vein.

The return from injury of Brad Ash (currently the only fit striker at the club) and Tom Lapslie (who came on for 30 minutes of his usual effort) meant that there was a general optimism pre-match that today would be better than Hereford last week.

So it was, but Torquay 1, Dover 0 was also a bit like one of the sad bits in Children in Need: a very tough watch!

Torquay’s main threat in the first half came from Dillon De Silva down the right. He didn’t get enough crosses in, but one led to Dean Moxey spooning a half-hearted strike well over, and a slaloming run infield saw him get a shot away which the keeper saved easily enough. There were strong penalty claims by Ash and then Marshall, who did get clipped on a charge to the by-line. An ineffective Jenkins-Davies shot and an Ash half-volley did nothing to stem fans’ early surge for half time refreshments.

Dover had threatened not at all, but 0-0 was about right at the break.

Plainmoor was despondent as the second half began, with a “Johnson Out” chant preceding Asa Hall failing to react quickly enough to convert a half chance.

But then, glory be, Dover failed to close down Brett McGavin as he found himself in acres of space 30 yards out. He put the kettle on, poured himself a Bovril and still had time to unleash a strike which was only ever heading for the top corner. The lad is making a habit of this, and although I doubt he has the pace or speed of thought to survive at higher levels of the game he has already secured himself a Plainmoor legacy. He just scores goals that will stay in the memory for a long time.

The referee refused what looked like another very good penalty claim a minute later, and other than Tom Lapslie’s return and another McGavin free kick near the end (well saved low to the keeper’s left), that was our lot. Dover couldn’t contrive an equaliser and the Gaffer jogged across to the Pop Side whilst I moved swiftly home for a hot water bottle.

QUICK RECAP – DOVER ATH (H) NLS

PLAYER RATINGS

1. GK: Mark Halstead – 6

Can’t remember him having to make a save. He’s a Blackpool lad, which is lucky because freezing his nuts off by the seaside will be his main memory of this match.

6. RB: Ross Marshall – 7

Well played. Honestly! Took no prisoners all afternoon at right back and I felt he won us a penalty in the first half.

23. CB: Ollie Tomlinson – 5.5

Had little to do, but I wasn’t convinced today especially when he drilled a 10 yard pass 3 yards wide of De Silva and into touch in front of Bristows.

21. CB: Dean Moxey – 6.5

Untroubled mostly. A couple of nicely timed tackles.

3. LB: Dan Martin – 6

Nice to see him get through 90 minutes. He will be pleased, because he has an opportunity to start nailing down the left back berth now that Bournemouth loanee Harris’ honeymoon period is well and truly over.

14. MF: Brett McGavin – 7

He tried to pick a pass, with mixed results. He also won us the game though. It wasn’t a fluke and he is building an impressive “show reel” of showstopping strikes.

18. MF: Will Jenkins Davies – 6

Should perhaps have done better with his first half chance after sorting his feet out well to receive an Archer cross. There is good effort but moderate quality.

8. MF: Asa Hall – 5.5

Gave a little midfield solidity.

17. RW: Dillon De Silva – 6.5

Quite lively thoughout, but in all honesty he should have been able to rip Dover apart and it didn’t quite happen.

30. LW: Ethon Archer – 6

Ethon Archer is a hard player to dislike. Very positive attitude to the game. Fairly low success rate, in truth, but beavered away on the left hand side.

11. ST: Bradley Ash – 6

Little in the way of quality service. He worked fairly hard on his return and one thing’s for sure, he will have to chase plenty more lost causes over the next few weeks!

Subs

4. MF: Tom Lapslie – 5.5

Lucky to avoid a booking for a crude challenge and did little to affect the game. Lovely to have the little fella back though!

10. ST: Lewis Collins – 5

Didn’t avoid a yellow card for an innocuous but illegal pull back.

Rate the TUFC Players Here

MAN OF THE MATCH – BRETT MCGAVIN

It has to be really, for the goal which is only thing that anyone will remember about this game in a week’s time.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Ross Marshall, who managed to channel his natural aggression today. Rather than laying into long-suffering supporters or taking an early bath, he rattled into some well timed challenges and combined quite well with De Silva.

TACTICS

To give the home side credit, they made more attempt to pass the ball today than has been the case of late. It wasn’t pretty at all, and although Dover never threatened they are plumb-bottom of the league and not too much credit can accrue.

To me, it looked like a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Hall and McGavin sitting deep (just as well, with their lack of pace) with Archer left, Jenkins-Davies central and De Silva wide right and Ash blowing out of his posterior up front!

OPPOSITION

Dover never gave up. They lost Bailey Akehurst in the warm-up. He cut a disconsolate figure relying on two sticks to move slowly down the touchline to sit on the bench. Poor lad. I doubt a 6 hour coach trip tonight will do him any favours either.

I watched their manager’s post-match interview. He declared himself really pleased with their performance and produced the normal platitudes about Torquay being a good side. We’re really not, but we had enough. It looks like damage limitation for Dover, and sadly they’re in a place where 1-0 defeats are to be cherished.

THE OFFICIALS

Today’s referee must have been bullied as a child, probably at somewhere like Waterside Caravan Park. One or two of our penalty claims were dubious, but he gave us nothing all day and he obviously hates the English Riviera more than Basil Fawlty hates food inspectors.

CONCLUSION

You can only beat what’s in front of you, and a win’s a win. We remain 18 points behind Yeovil, a gap which can only be closed by an earthquake- or 6 triangles. It’s a disgrace that the rest of our season will now be defined by a scramble to try to get a playoff place. I guess we just have to get on with it.