MATCH VERDICT

Ben Wade

Ben reports back from Welling (a)

WELLING UNITED 2-0 TORQUAY UNITED – 07.09.24

SUMMARY

Before the game got under way, The Gulls had picked up 16 points from the first 7 NLS fixtures. TUFC were stood 2^nd in the table whilst opponents Welling were 18th.

The game got under way and it was frantic and the ball was getting turned over regularly. Carson’s cross was narrowly too far in front of Seymour as former Gull Rhys Lovett collected. It was not a pretty or positive start from either team and frequent free kicks occurred. Welling often had half chances but couldn’t really create the final pass or finish that was so often needed. A series of United corners then followed with Matty Carson producing quality chances that didn’t quite drop to a United shirt.

The big target man for the home side was giving fouls away a lot and was busy around our three central defenders. Welling were very physical and posed a different problem than other teams who could manipulate the ball and play it around more. Towards the end of the first half, a booming long throw from Moxey hit the defender and found it’s way to Cooke who put it into the net from a tight angle. The linesman immediately had his flag up for offside although it clearly came off the red shirt to the striker. It was clear to see on replays as well. That wrongly disallowed goal put a spring in Welling’s step as the teams walked in at 0-0 at the interval.

TUFC started strongly from the off in the second half and Tonks’ cross was cleared. The hosts recovered and the period leading up to the hour mark was evenly matched. After an attacking phase, Hasani was given the ball on the edge of the box and curled it right footed past Lovett in goal and onto the post. Cooke then headed against the bar from a corner shortly afterwards. That excited the fans as the Gulls were pushing for that opening goal.

The second half seemed to fly by and 70 minutes in, we made our first change. Bizarrely, it was wing back Craske replacing centre midfielder Collins. Craske would be a midfielder to try to drive us up the pitch. Just a few minutes later, a like for like sub saw Brad Ash come on for Seymour.

A low cross came in and the Welling attacker fluffed his lines with his right foot, it hit his standing leg, wrong-footed Hamon and found it’s way into the net. An unfortunate way to concede an opener.

Down our end, the number ten had an accurate attempt on goal which was briskly tipped around the post by Hamon. Into the final ten minutes, we made two changes at separate times. First, Hasani, who hadn’t impacted the game, went off for hit and miss Mussa. Then, captain Threlkeld made way for Crosbie.

After we put some pressure on to try to rescue a point, Welling doubled their lead in the last minute of added time. One of our defenders was dispossessed on the ball and their player ran through on goal and calmly dinked it past Hamon as it trickled into the net to secure three points.

PLAYER RATINGS

James Hamon- 6: One good save, and could do nothing about the two goals.

Fin Tonks – 5: Whenever he plays, he is a busy runner on the wing but didn’t contribute much going forwards in this one.

Dean Moxey – 7: Still a fighter. Always will be.

Sam Dreyer – 6: Didn’t have many blocks or interceptions to make. He did not seem to win most of the duels with their target man.

Ed Palmer – 6: Did OK and barely had an affect on any of the play, whether it was defending or going forward.

Matty Carson – 7: Gives quality crosses and play that others do not.

Oscar Threlkeld – 6: An away day to forget for our captain. For the team more than him as an individual.

Roddy Collins – 6: Ran around and battled, but created little.

Lirak Hasani – 5: Little impact apart from his one shot that hit the woodwork.

Cody Cooke – 6: Against the bigger defenders, he struggles to win things and it does not seen to drop for him in the box.

Ben Seymour – 5: He is similar to Ash but you don’t trust him in certain scenarios as much. The wait for a goal continues.

Subs:

Finley Craske – 5: Gave the ball way a few times. His midfield role didn’t work.

Brad Ash – 6: Him running over to get the ball and putting it on the six yard line to hurry up Lovett sums it up. Commitment.

Omar Mussa – N/A: No time to do anything. Game time and a good performance is needed for confidence.

Jadyn Crosbie – N/A: His time will come.

MAN OF THE MATCH – DEAN MOXEY

Dean Moxey is my man of the match. Aged 38, when he is needed, he gives the team the excellence on the ball, steel defending and pivotal long throws that create goalscoring opportunities.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Oscar Threlkeld and Matty Carson grab my honourable mentions. Threlkeld is a reliable base in midfield and never really has what you would call a bad game. The same could be said for Carson, who I like and is direct in his approach play. He drives at them which others don’t.

TACTICS

Too direct and predictable. We need to have that fluidity in movement, passing and creating plus scoring chances.

OFFICIALS

Gave a lot of fouls. Most of them were correct, but a few unnecessary. The linesman were unnoticed, apart from of course, the obvious looking error which stopped us from being one up at the break.

OPPOSITION

‘Gave it a hoof’ would be a way to describe the Welling game plan. Fair play to them because it worked, with a lot of luck on the way and in the end they managed the game out well.

CONCLUSION

An away day that won’t live long in the memory of Gulls’ fans. A still satisfactory first eight games. Sitting 5^th currently. Lets give it our all next week in the FA Cup. COME ON YOU YELLOWS!!!!!

SOCIAL MEDIA

Goal disallowed.

Not sure why as the ball comes back off the Wellin defender and Cody is onside also.

Looked fine to me.#tufc pic.twitter.com/IarsLnMK7Y
— TORQUAYTALK (@TORQUAYTALK) September 7, 2024