MATCH VERDICT

Rachel Malloch – @Rachelvillavox

Rachel reports back

TORQUAY UNITED 2-2 CHELMSFORD CITY – 02.11.24

SUMMARY

It’s been a busy time since that Hornchurch away defeat; there’s been Halloween, a pagan festival where it was once a chance to celebrate the lost relatives and the after life, something still practiced in the subculture of Mexico, hoodwinked by religion to bestow and exalt their saints, ultimately press ganged by our North American friends as an excuse to dress up in a supernatural themed costume whilst taking the kids around the neighbours to trick or treat them, a tradition that has taken off in recent years here in blighty, so much so that along my mum’s road tiptoeing through the pumpkins is a black bin bag in the shape of a body bag. Glad to see it was taken down this morning.

Oh and in other news, Torquay United signed Jordan Young, a player who was quite brilliant in the National League South last season under the tutelage of Yeovil and while it seems young Young had become unsettled following their promotion to the National League, Paul Wotton and his scouting team were quick to snaffle up his services and give him the number 8 shirt.

From Halloween to bonfire night, another macabre celebration that stemmed from a conspiracy to dismantle parliament by a chap called Guido Fawkes and his cohorts. In fact we take on Salisbury on the official bonfire night remember remember……..but as I’m sat writing this, the sound of whizzing, pinging and popping fireworks surrounds me. And Kettering have just taken the lead at Northampton in the FA Cup on the telly. It’s not cobblers, it’s magic!

New signing Jordan Young was predictably straight in the team, with the returning Oscar Threkeld, following his absence last weekend through illness, lining up in midfield with Dan Hayfield and Omar Mussa, an attacking line up of Jordan Young and Codie Cooke conjuring much anticipation. The defensive set up of James Hamon, Sam Dreyer, Jay Foulston, Finley Craske, Matty Carson and Jordan Dyer completing the afternoon’s XI. 4 changes in fact from the Hornchurch defeat, with Lirak Hasani on the bench joining Brad Ash, Ben Seymour and Dean Moxey and Finn Tonks. No sign of midfielder Will Jenkins-Davies.

Torquay were quick off the blocks and were splaying the ball around comfortably, and it only took them 5 minutes to go ahead, a lovely run by Young waltzing around the Chelmsford defence with a shot blocked that fell invitingly to Codie Cook who despatched his shot with aplomb. Then just 8 minutes later, a Torquay corner, won following a barnstormer shot from Young, saw a lofted Mussa corner only partially cleared and falling at the feet of Young to blast into the net from just outside the box.

Another chance fell to Young who just cleared the crossbar after some neat football from Mussa to create the chance. 30 minutes was Torquay’s time.

Then Chelmsford decided to get involved in the game and peppered James Hamon’s goal with a few half chances and a rich vein of pressure almost reaped rewards.

Then a deep cross into the box found the head of Chelmsford forward Hyde, little power but with some precision that seemed to float into the far corner, what seemed a good height for Hamon to get a touch to it, but it sailed into the goal.

The game was halted following what looked like a shoulder injury to a Chelmsford player at a time when Torquay were pushing forward, and while a stretcher appeared, the player eventually walked off the pitch clutching his arm.

Torquay then won a corner and again, from a clearance Sam Dreyer drilled the sweetest shot past the Chelmsford keeper, the crowd were wild, the referee pointed to the centre circle yet……the linesman seemingly performing semaphore with his flag ushered the referee over and moments later the whistle was blown for the goal to be disallowed. Frustration and confusion, disappointment for Dreyer for what would have been a first United goal for the central defender.

Into the 2nd half and Torquay had plenty opportunity to put this game out of sight, with Cooke, Threlkeld, Mussa and again Young all having great chances to add to the scoreline. A lovely move and turn by Mussa had 3-0 all over it, yet somehow he wellied the ball over the bar, with some suspicion of a deflection but a goal kick was given.

It was becoming palpably nervy around the ground as with so many missed opportunities and the inability to put the game to bed and those nerves turned to dejection as from an Chelmsford attack, the ball seemed to fall invitingly into Hamon’s hands but the Torquay keeper fumbled, a game of bagatelle ensued without any defender able to clear before the Chelmsford captain tapped home to equalise in the 82nd minute.

There was still time for a wave of attacking sequences from Torquay, with Hayfield’s drilled shot in the final minutes ricocheting off a defender and flying over the bar.

Then the much maligned, too often inconsistent and indecisive referee Stacey Pearson blew for the final whistle. 2 points dropped, no question of that. A good performance but ultimately sloppiness and errors proving costly.

PLAYER RATINGS

1. James Hamon- 4: neither assured or commanding, wasteful with his kicking, potentially could have done better with the 1st goal, definitely should have done better with the 2nd. A very unimpressive performance.

4. Jordan Dyer – 6: a few shaky moments but generally did well.

3. Jay Foulston – 6: solid enough.

5. Sam Dreyer – 6: as above

2. Finley Craske – 6: as above

14. Matt Carson – 7: always willing to use the ball, often yelling at Hamon for the throw out but our keeper often opting to go with the hoof kick the ball route. Pinged in some telling crosses that deserved something.

18. Oscar Threlkeld – 5: too many misplaced passes, slow to track back, didn’t offer a huge amount as a holding midfielder, often sloppy and the 2 good goal-scoring chances that came his way scuffed.

20. Dan Hayfield – 7: worked hard, had a great chance to win the game

10. Omar Mussa – 7: a quiet first half but did much better 2nd, involved and his work rate was unquestionable. Some good hold up play and a lovely move that was only let down by the slipshod finishing.

19. Cody Cooke – 7: worked hard, he always does, had the measure of the centre halves and won plenty aerially. Took his goal well and combined well with Young.

8. Jordan Young – 9: MOTM see below

Subs:

7. Lirak Hasani – 6: busy when he came on but unable to impact the game very much.

TUFC PLAYER RATINGS VOTE – Chelmsford (h)

MAN OF THE MATCH – JORDAN YOUNG

Jordan was terrific, full of energy, running, pace, a whirlwind! He caused the Chelmsford defence problems all game with his directness and ability to beat the player. An excellent debut, a super goal and had chances that on another day he would have scored. Well worth that ‘undisclosed’ fee, whatever it may be!

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Omar Mussa and Codie Cooke. Both worked their socks off all game and always probing and attempting to make things happen.

TACTICS

I’m guessing that was a 4 3 3, with Mussa sitting behind the front 2 of Cooke and Young in an attacking shape. I wonder whether an earlier change might have harvested a winning result, Hasani coming on late for Mussa when the struggling Threkeld might have been the more sensible switch.

OFFICIALS

Ruddy awful.

OPPOSITION

They played the ball around competently and took their chances well. They’ll be the happier club tonight for the point and their supporters gleefully singing “2 nil and you fluffed (PG rating) it up”, well they weren’t wrong there were they.

CONCLUSION

A good performance from Torquay United, some lovely football on display this afternoon with enough chances to win this game comfortably but for some slapdash final balls and cloddish finishing. A sparkling debut from Jordan Young to excite us all, a 2nd half from Omar Mussa showing glimpses of what he does. Concerning is the ravine of creative prowess in midfield and another unconvincing performance from the goalkeeper. These are areas that I am sure, and would hope that the coaching set up will analyse and will see that as the season goes on, if no improvement, will be costly.

I did a similarly honest match report last season. I was admittedly brutally honest about a certain Brett McGavin performance that saw this particular player block me on XTwitter. I do hope that my bluntness is taken as the constructive criticism it is meant and is packed with a whole lotta love and no malice or ego denting intended!

I would also add that this squad was compiled in the space of time that would have featured in 80s kids show Record Breakers and in that regard is some small miracle we have such a solid, industrious and competent squad of players. However if we are going to progress and iron out the sloppiness, then the glaring areas that need improving will be evidenced in the players market be it loans or otherwise I would imagine in the coming weeks.