TALKING POINTS
Steve Harris
@steveharris84
Steve discusses the Gulls win at Plainmoor
HALL & MOXEY IMMENSE
For all of this season, Torquay United have been crying out for a wise old head at the back, and against Hampton and Richmond with Asa Hall and Dean Moxey, who have a combined age of 75, in the centre of defence, the Gulls kept their sixth clean sheet of the season in the league – and only their second in the current calendar year.
Not only did skipper Hall convert United’s 28th minute penalty, he also showed great leadership qualities throughout. In addition to this, he was a commanding aerial presence – winning numerous headers – allied with good positional sense.
Meanwhile, Moxey once again proved himself to be excellent at reading the game and made a crucial goal-line clearance to deny Hampton wide man Ruaridh Donaldson on 57 minutes.
ASH STEPS UP
In the absence of Aaron Jarvis and Duane Ofori-Acheampong, it was left to Brad Ash to lead United’s forward line as a lone striker. It’s a role that requires a certain type of forward, as the player in question has to play with their back to goal and rely on support from their attacking midfielders to make it work.
However, Ash excelled in that position and went close to scoring on a number of occasions and it was a foul on him that won the penalty, which was converted by Asa Hall, and that proved to be decisive.
DEVON DAY
With Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle not in action due to the international break, a number of fans of the Grecians and the Pilgrims headed to Plainmoor to offer their support to the Gulls in the light of the news of Clarke Osborne’s intention to place the club in Administration.
Both clubs have been in administration themselves, the Grecians in 2003 and the Pilgrims in 2011, and their presence boosted the attendance, which stood at 3,029 – a figure that also included 66 Hampton and Richmond fans. This was the highest crowd of the day in the National League South.
NEIL WARNOCK
Also present in the crowd was former United caretaker boss Neil Warnock, who famously helped the Gulls to avoid relegation in the 1992-93 season. Warnock is currently an advisor to one of the consortiums interested in buying the club.
He would no doubt have been impressed by the resilience on display, as many of his teams were famous for being organised and hard to beat.
OTHER RESULTS
The importance of United’s win was further underlined by the fact all of the teams below them in the National League South table failed to win. Truro City, Taunton Town, Havant & Waterlooville and Dover Athletic all lost while Dartford and Eastbourne Borough both drew.
This sequence of results leaves the Gulls five points clear of the drop zone.
COYY – STEVE
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