MATCH VERDICT

Danny Burnell

Danny reports back

SALISBURY 0-1 TORQUAY UNITED – 05.11.24

SUMMARY

Cody Cooke produced the fireworks on bonfire night as Torquay took the points back to Devon.

Palmer & Tonks, the former recovering from his brutal assault at the hands of St Albans, replaced Dyer & Craske in the starting XI as Torquay travelled to Wiltshire on a dark, misty autumnal evening.

The game started slow, with neither side gaining control, but it was Salisbury who dictated the tempo. The Whites’ knocked it about, albeit with little purpose, only occasionally advancing into the final third. That is more than can be said of the Gulls’ however, who looked lacklustre in and out of possession, often sloppy on the ball, and second to every dual. When passes were eventually strung together, usually down the left side, it was encouraging, and it was Mussa first to test the keeper, but his daisy-cutter lacked the conviction to trouble the Salisbury stopper.

Dreyer headed wide from a Carson corner, but in truth, it was a half bereft of any moments of magic. Cooke failed to make it stick up top, and in fairness to the home side, their press caused Torquay concern with possession regularly being turned over. It was relief all round when referee put mouth to whistle to signal the end of a half that will not live long in memory of the 1100 in attendance and many more watching from home.

The second half carried on much in the same vein, but United were at least beginning to pose a threat befitting of a team sat in a play-off position. Torquay’s best outlet continued to be the overlapping Foulston who took up some dangerous crossing positions. The Gulls’ were finally starting to click, and two free kicks in as many minutes from dangerous positions really ought to have been exploited further. As it was, both Hayfield and Young’s efforts pinged harmlessly against the Salisbury wall.

Hamon continued to be a virtual spectator in the mist, but was alert enough to handle minor threats when they occured. It was on 68 minutes when Jenkins-Davies & Hasani entered the fray in what would prove to be the spark the Gulls’ needed. It was the latter who nearly made an instant impact with a lovely defence splitting ball to Young. The new signing could only watch in anguish as his left foot curler rebounded off the post to safety, but the screw was turning (at least), and the energy levels had risen ten-fold. The game opened up and it was United finally winning those 50/50’s, the home side looked jaded and out of ideas as more and more passages of play fell the way of the Devon side.

This was by no means a performance to write home about, but it was when the clock struck 84 minutes that the crucial moment occurred as another one of the substitutes, Craske, was hauled down inside the Salisbury box. Salisbury could have no arguments with the decision as the defender, caught round side of his man, dragged the former Plymouth man down WWE style. Cooke slotted home with a calm aura to give the Gulls the much sought after lead. The Whites’ would still have 15 minutes to grab an equaliser but in truth, it was never forthcoming. Some dogged defending saw Hamon’s sheet stay clean, the first time since Hampton away.

A classic it wasn’t that’s for sure. Torquay will play better and lose, but ultimately sometimes it’s not about how you win them, it’s about winning them. Sharper opposition may have exposed Torquay’s frailties, but thankfully for the Yellow Army that was not the case. Torquay remain just shy of the 2 points per game ratio, but with 3 of the next 4 at home, I should think Gulls’ fan can feel satisfied with the current state of play.

PLAYER RATINGS

1. James Hamon- 7: A spectator for much of the game, and only one shot to really concern himself with. Did well on crosses, solid enough display.

16. Ed Palmer – 6: Steady defensive display. Defence often exposed by lack of midfield cover, but did what he needed to do.

3. Jay Foulston – 6: See Palmer above.

5. Sam Dreyer – 7: MOTM – see below

17. Finn Tonks– 5: A very quiet day, with most of our ‘good’ play coming down the left. Struggled to impact the game and tired late on before he was replaced.

14. Matt Carson – 6: Linked up with Foulston well. Involved when we got the ball down and started to play a bit. Steady.

18. Oscar Threlkeld – 5: Poor first half, misplaced passes aplenty. Fairly anonymous, will have better days but seemed off the pace.

20. Dan Hayfield – 5: Starting in the midfield duo, but failed to influence or impose on the game and left large gaps in the first half. Improved in the second half, but again, off the pace and will have better days.

10. Omar Mussa – 7: Best of the midfield trio and did, in fairness, try to get the ball down and play. Very hard to stop when in his stride. His work rate has improved significantly since his debut, and a run in the team will do him the world of good.

19. Cody Cooke – 6: Again, difficult night for lone frontman. Struggled to make it stick, but took the penalty with aplomb under the pressure cooker.

8. Jordan Young – 6: Difficult night for him, as with so many, but quality is evidently there to see. Unlucky with his shot hitting the post but is a great carrier of the ball. Exciting prospect for sure.

Subs:

22. Will Jenkins-Davies – 7: On for Threlkeld and provided a much needed injection of energy. Terrier like in the middle of the park and unlucky not to score.

7. Lirak Hasani – 6: Impact provided but on a lesser scale than WJD. Nearly provided the perfect assist for Young.

4. Jordan Dyer 6: Slotted into the Palmer role seamlessly.

2. Finlay Craske 6: Not much to mention, but involved with winning the all important penalty.

10 Brad Ash n/a – Limited time to make an impact.

TUFC PLAYER RATINGS VOTE – Salisbury FC (a) – TORQUAYTALK

MAN OF THE MATCH – SAM DREYER

Difficult to pick out a MOTM in a game deprived of class, but Dreyer again shows maturity beyond his years with a solid defensive performance. A young head on old shoulders and no doubt a future EFL player in the making. Dealt with what he needed to do back there, and didn’t put a foot wrong. Calmest of the 22 men on the field and a real find.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

354 of the Yellow Army, making their voices heard on a dreary November night. Led to believe (as per the commentators) that was Salisbury’s second highest away attendance, beaten only by a play off semi final! Fantastic support once again for this special club.

TACTICS

A system we have come accustomed to seeing, with Mussa & Young playing off Cooke, Carson & Tonks providing the width. Changed to a 4-4-2 (remember that one) with the introduction of Ash.

OFFICIALS

Excellent. Assertive, anonymous and wasn’t easily swayed. Officiated the game well with a minimum of fuss. It’s easy to criticise when they are poor (majority of the time by the way), but credit where’s it due, a strong performance from Lisa Benn.

OPPOSITION

Semi-dominated a very poor first half, without really testing us. They tailed off massively in the second half as we started to gain some control. Expected more in front of goal from the highest scorers in the bottom half of the league, but Hamon remained idle throughout and was rarely troubled. Their priority will be staying up, but will need to improve if they are to do so.

CONCLUSION

A game devoid of any real quality, but it’s the Gulls’ who head home with the 3 points. Upon reflection, Torquay probably just shaded it over the 90 minutes. It lacked the spice & energy of a team searching for promotion, but a wins a win, and it keeps us firmly in the hunt for top spot.

It was a game of fine margins and ultimately one mistake decided this contest. Subs are there to change games, and change it they did. Energy was injected against a tiring side, and moments of relative quality became over so slightly more frequent.

There are certainly areas of improvement in this Torquay side, this is by no means a perfect solution, but in reality, we are 4th and 3 points off top with this brand new side. I think 99% of us would have bitten hands off if that was the offer to us last April. Promotion remains the aim and it’s there for the taking. You won’t need anywhere close to 100 points to be winning this league come May that’s a cert!