MATCH VERDICT
Alan Wills
@alanjwills
BRAINTREE TOWN 1-0 TORQUAY UNITED – MATCH SUMMARY
Despite our better judgement, and following four straight defeats, three musketeers made the two hour journey to Essex from Berkshire and North Hampshire.
Meeting up with the small number but hardy members of the Travel Club at the Orange Tree pub for a pre-match pint there was a glint of optimism that things might turn around, with players coming back from long term injuries like Aaron Jarvis, and possibly Jack Stobbs or Kevin Dawson.
Our blind optimism was somewhat dented when it was reported that Aaron Jarvis would not be playing today due to his wife having their baby. Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Jarvis on your new arrival. I’m a firm advocate that both parents should be there to bond with their child and support each other in the early stages.
However, I was very much looking forward to the bond being rekindled between our main strike force of Jarvis and Brad Ash, but that will have to wait for another day.
On the walk to the ground, we were very tempted to pray for a good result at Braintree Evangelical Church, which was signposted, but resisted the urge for divine influence and continued on our way to the Rare Breeds Meat Stadium.
Braintree’s home is a typical non-league ground. Clubhouse on the outside, and a bar on the inside for drinking on the terraces, and the usual burger and chips outlet. The terraces behind the goals were completely open, but with fairly steep steps for a good view of the action. There were covered stands on either side, with more terracing or seats.
A mural of the late Keith Flint from The Prodigy was a nice touch, but the overgrown wasteland with home appliances and rubbish dumped on it behind the far end terrace seemed to be a crying out for a more useful purpose.
The Torquay line-up had two changes from last Saturday’s 3-4 home defeat against Slough Town. Dan Martin and the injured “out for a few weeks” Asa Hall were replaced by Brad Ash and Ethon Archer. It’s always difficult to work out the formation in these Gary Johnson teams, but it seemed to be a 4-4-2.
The four at the back were Dean Moxey reverting to his traditional left back role, Ross Marshall partnering Austin Booth in the centre, and Arkell Jude-Boyd at right back.
Brett McGavin, Tom Lapslie, Will Jenkins-Davies and Ethon Archer were in midfield, with Brad Ash and Duane Ofori-Acheampong up front.
There was a nice surprise on the bench with Kevin Dawson appearing for the first time this season, together with Rhys Lovett, Dan Martin, Dillon DaSilva and Ronny Nelson.
The match started quite evenly with half chances at both ends, Halstead making a couple of good early saves. Then the game turned on it’s head with Braintree’s Alfie Pavey being sent off in the 26th minute for a reckless sliding lunge on Ross Marshall near the far touchline, leaving Braintree down to ten men.
Braintree continued their somewhat industrial approach when, five minutes later, Moxey was scythed down whilst in full flow down the left wing. He was down for several minutes, but seemed fine to carry on.
From then on, Torquay had the majority of the possession without creating much in terms of real chances on goal, with Braintree looking to create something on the break.
Torquay’s first corner came in injury time at the end of the first half, with a deflection of a Brad Ash shot. Ross Marshall’s header from the McGavin corner kick was off target and the ball almost knocked over my beer, which was protected by being leant against a step on the terracing behind the goal. I breathed a sigh of relief that the contents remained intact, and had another sip.
No shots on target by us in first half. An all too familiar tale. Time for the supporters to swap ends, as is traditional in this league.
There was again little of note in the first 15 minutes of the second half. McGavin had a shot way over the bar into the wasteland behind the goal. The ball was probably never to be found again.
At the other end, Braintree also hit a shot over bar and had a shot saved by Halstead from the left.
Then on 59 minutes, a clever corner routine produced a goal for Braintree, Blackwell hitting a shot across and over Halstead into top right hand corner. 1-0 Braintree.
Almost immediately, Johnson took Brad Ash off, and replaced him with Dillon De Silva. There were a few half chances for Torquay after that. A Lapslie shot was blocked, and then from the resulting corner, De Silva shot over from edge of area for another irretrievable ball into the wasteland.
Duane Ofori-Acheampong sent a ball through to Will Jenkins-Davies, but he didn’t control it, so the chance was lost.
On 75 minutes, Kevin Dawson came on for Tom Lapslie for his long-awaited first appearance of the season.
This wouldn’t be Lapslie’s last contribution though, as he was shown a second yellow card and sent off from the bench! Apparently, he had been trying to snatch the ball from the Braintree bench whom were employing some time wasting tactics.
Meanwhile Dawson himself did make a difference with his running and movement.
As the time ticked down, most of the chances were for Torquay, although Austen Booth did clear one off the line in a forage forward from Braintree.
Torquay had their first two shots on target in the last ten minutes of normal time. First, Arkell Jude-Boyd with cross-come-shot saved by goalie, then a header from Ross Marshall.
With 5 minutes to go, Dan Martin came on for Ethon Archer.
Kevin Dawson forced himself into the penalty area and his shot was saved by the Braintree keeper. There was a cross from Dan Martin over De Silva’s head for goal kick, and Boyd headed over from a corner.
In the 7 minutes of injury time, Boyd received a yellow card after clipping a Braintree player running down the left.
There was time for a few more chances from Torquay though. Firstly, a great cross from Dawson to Moxey was passed to Martin but he shot just over and Jenkins-Davies put a ball through into penalty area but nobody read it, and it was wasted.
The final effort was from Duane Ofori-Acheampong whom was on target with a header from a free kick, but it was easily saved by the keeper.
There were a few shouts at the players and management from the travelling Yellow Army at the final whistle, but I got the impression that those more vocal have long since given up on the team, and gave the game a miss.
Very very disappointing again, but a nice away day nonetheless.
PLAYER RATINGS
1. GK: Mark Halstead – 6
Some good saves from Mark again to keep us in the game, but will be disappointed at being beaten for the goal at close range.
5. CB: Austen Booth – 6
Probably a decent defender at this level, but he’s being brought down by the severe lack of confidence within this team. The defence did better today though, after conceding 15 goals in the last 4 games. Vital clearance off the line in the second half.
6. CB: Ross Marshall – 6
Not a bad game today, but I would have marked him down further had he knocked over my beer. Lucky escape there! Had a few attacking headers at goal, but nothing on target.
21. LB: Dean Moxey – 6
Reverted back to his normal left back role, and solid in defence, but not much going forward. Managed to play out the game after an injury scare
2. RB: Arkell Jude-Boyd – 6
Tried to be involved in the play, and I think he would be a great asset in a team playing well with his willingness to get forward.
30. LW: Ethon Archer – 5
I like Ethon, but he didn’t really do anything of note in this game.
14. MF: Brett McGavin – 5
A shot way over the bar in the second half and a few corners is all I can remember seeing on Brett, who had a pretty ineffective game.
4. MF: Tom Lapslie – 6
Clearly committed to the cause, despite things not coming off for him and the team at the moment. Always a danger of being booked, even when not on the field of play, but perhaps the sending off from the bench was a bit harsh.
18. RW: Will Jenkins Davies – 6
I expected a bit more from him after his goalscoring adventures last Saturday, but despite his efforts, nothing really came off for him today.
11. ST: Brad Ash – 5
I think Brad only had one shot which was deflected for a corner. Very disappointing, and was replaced after an hour.
19. ST: Duane Ofori-Acheampong – 5
Employed mainly to be a thorn in the side for opposition defenders, but never really seemed likely to score or create anything of note.
Subs
17. RW: Dillon De Silva – 5
Other than two or three wayward shots on goal, he didn’t really create anything after coming on for Brad Ash on the hour mark.
28. MF: Kevin Dawson – 7
He’s going to be a really important player in the final 14 matches of the season. Made a difference when he came on with his dynamism and was always looking to give and receive a pass. I hope his fitness stands up though, and he doesn’t get injured again.
3. LW: Dan Martin – N/A
Very late substitute, but got involved with a cross for Dillon De Silva to head towards goal, and a shot just over in injury time.
MAN OF THE MATCH – KEVIN DAWSON
Despite only being on the field for about 20 minutes, I felt that Kevin was head and shoulders above everyone else. None of the players in the starting line-up can come out of this game saying that they played particularly well in my opinion.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Tom Lapslie for his commitment, but perhaps he’s a bit too committed at times, leading to his sending off from the bench.
TACTICS
4-4-2. Moxey and Jude-Boyd at full back with Marshall and Booth in the centre of defence. Lapslie and McGavin flanked by Jenkins-Davies and Archer in midfield. Ash and Ofori-Archeampong up front.
OPPOSITION
Braintree were there for the taking really, especially after being reduced to ten men. I didn’t think that they were up to the same standard as other opposition we have played recently in and around the play-off places. Fair play to them though for taking the opportunity that a poor Torquay team provided to them. There is clearly a special bond between the players and fans, as every single player made a point of walking along the front of the terracing behind the goal after the game shaking the hands of fans, and thanking them for their support. The very definition of OneClubUnited.
THE OFFICIALS
Probably a slightly harsh sending off for Alfie Pavey. Maybe should have been a yellow. Tom Lapslie’s sending off whilst on the bench after being substituted was a joke. Other than that, didn’t seem as bad as other officials we have come up against in this league.
CONCLUSION
Overall, a performance just not good enough again, and FIVE defeats in a row, going into another away match at Farnborough on Tuesday. The travelling Gulls fans were left to ponder what might have been whilst the Braintree fans and players vociferously celebrated the victory together in a moment of perfect unity that seems very far away from the experiences that we are having from this very disunited club at this moment in time. Oh, and we’re down to 12th in the league and effectively 6 points off the playoffs.
This season is quickly turning into a disaster, and one to forget.
COYY – ALAN
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