MATCH VERDICT

Dom Roman

@DomRoman

TRURO CITY 1-2 TORQUAY UNITED – NLS – 08/04/24

This is not a drill, Torquay United have won away from home! The first half started in very scrappy fashion, Truro attempting to take the game to the Gulls, whilst we seemingly used the selection of Big Duane as an excuse to launch the ball high and hopeful. The striker was booked early on for a clumsy challenge, and then after another foul, Aaron Downes had seen enough and took DOA off for Ethon Archer. At that moment the game swung in the direction of the United beetroots!

Suddenly the midfield began to get a hold of proceedings and United’s passing showed signs of life, with Archer finding space to exploit down the left and Jude-Boyd pushing down the right. It was the latter who scored the first goal, and what a goal it was! Cutting in sharply from the right, a shot didn’t really look on, but AJB knew better, curling a delicious left footer past the despairing Truro keeper and into the bottom corner.

Torquay had cast off their early (and ugly) route one approach and were playing something resembling progressive football! The 2nd goal followed, and this one was a team goal, with neat interplay and Dean Moxey finding space down the left. The veteran still has a trick or two up his sleeve, and zipped a perfect cross along the edge of the 6 yard box. The invitation was there and Brad Ash obliged by sticking the ball in the back of the net. The striker apparently aimed a little banter at the Yellow Army, I’m not sure that’s necessary after such a wretched season, but he clearly felt the need to have his say!

And that was the half, United in complete control, but would there be a sting in the tail? Well the second half did occasionally look worrying, with United retreating too far back and allowing Sullivan and Hinds to bring down the ball. There was a few moments of concern and ex-Gull Sullivan came closest for the White Tigers, whilst a few long balls and set pieces were just about dealt with by the elder statesmen Hall and Moxey.

At the other end, opportunities arose for United to score the 3rd and put the game to bed, with the likes Jenkins Davies, Archer, Ash and sub Collins allowed space to counter, but their decision making went slightly to pot at the crucial moments and the game remained just about in the balance. Indeed Collins could have bagged a goal just after 90 mins, but Truro intervened and seconds later a cross was headed firmly into the net by Ed Palmer…they couldn’t could they? No, was the answer but only after one more set piece set pulses fluttering (this is Torquay after all!). In the end the ref blew his whistle to confirm a deserved victory for a United team that needed to deliver, and for once did!

QUICK RECAP – TRURO CITY 1-2 TUFC, NLS

PLAYER RATINGS

1. GK: Mark Halstead – 6

Halstead had very little to do.

21. LB: Dean Moxey – 8

A strong performance defensively and a tremendous cross for the 2nd goal.

23. CB: Ollie Tomlinson – 7

Ollie did okay, apart from a rash challenge for a booking.

8. CB: Asa Hall – 7

Solid enough, though retreated too far back in the 2nd half as Truro pushed.

2. RB: Arkell Jude-Boyd – 7.5

Good lad is Arkell, all effort and push – capped by another splendid goal.

14. MF: Brett McGavin – 6.5

Early doors Brett was bypassed but eventually made tidy passes and kept the midfield ticking over.

27. RW: Jack Stobbs – 6

Stobbs was industrious, but didn’t stand out on this occasion.

18. MF: Will Jenkins Davies – 6.5

Quietly effective, some decent runs and passing.

4. MF: Tom Lapslie – 7

More energetic tonight, pressed well and helped United get on top.

11. ST: Brad Ash – 7

Kept running as always and was in the right place to finish Moxey’s cross.

19. ST: Duane Ofori-Acheampong – 3

Some silly early fouls and rightly hooked by Downesy.

Subs

30. LW: Ethon Archer – 8

Archer made all the difference from the bench, quick feet and skilful, well done to him – MOTM.

10. RW: Lewis Collins – 6

Won a couple of challenges.

5. CB: Austin Booth – N/A

PLAYER RATINGS VOTE – TRURO CITY (A) NLS

MAN OF THE MATCH – ETHON ARCHER

A game changer tonight. Truro allowed him too much space on the left wing and he was constantly involved in the action, making United a lot harder to play against after coming on for DOA. Could have scored in the 2nd half as the game got stretched, but showed his potential again.

TACTICS

Looked like a 4-4-2 at the start, but then rotated into something like a 4-3-3 as Archer entered the fray. This suited United by making them more fluid with the ball and helped them open up a Truro side that looked comfortable in the first 20 mins. Well done to Downes for making the change and influencing the game for the better.

OPPOSITION

Truro City looked at it during the first 15 mins, but then allowed Torquay to dictate and their energy and enthusiasm dropped as the 1st half wore on. Wotton clearly gave them a good push at HT, and they did rally in the second half, giving United plenty of prods but lacking the quality to score, until it was too late. A team not lacking character and they’ll need it with a tough schedule ahead.

THE OFFICIALS

The officials had very little to decide on tonight. There was a Truro penalty claim in the 2nd half that was waved away, apart from that a couple of bookings, but generally happy to keep the game flowing, so job done.

CONCLUSION

Torquay didn’t have to win tonight, but with nerves jangling after the Welling loss, let’s be honest it’s a good job they did! We’ll know more about the table after Dartford and Eastbourne have played, however this does look like a big win and you could sense the relief on the players faces at full time. If NLS safety and new ownership is secured in the coming days then maybe we have some light in the end of this dark 23/24 tunnel for Torquay United, and maybe we’ll have positive things to drink to on the last day against Havant. In the meantime there is still games to be played, only 3 left of this testing season, and we’ll make it together Beetroot (Yellow) Army! Well done to those who travelled to Gloucester tonight, heroes all of you.