MATCH VERDICT

Clive Hayward – @Byehorse

Clive reports back from Enfield

ENFIELD TOWN 1-4 TORQUAY UNITED – 30.11.24

SUMMARY

In the end, it was the comfortable win and the three more points we all had hoped for.

After a needless penalty won in the first minute by Sam Youngs and converted by him in the second, Torquay asserted their dominance, breaking the home team’s hearts with a double strike before half time and another goal just afterwards. Enfield didn’t give up but they were badly outgunned- particularly in midfield- and Will Jenkins-Davies’ third goal of the week ensured that the score line accurately reflected the game.

Walking through the industrial estates and along the dual carriageway doesn’t give a great initial impression of the Enfield area, but we’ve all got to make a living, and the “Queen Elizabeth II stadium” is an athletics stadium backed by acres of football pitches which we in Torbay can only dream of.

Clearly it wasn’t designed with football primarily in mind, but I watched the game from the balcony of the famous art deco clubhouse where one-way beer queues and 1930’s architecture gave a convivial backdrop of the kind we may miss ever-so-slightly if we leave this league behind at the end of the season.

Back to the football, and although Omar Mussa was soon terrorising the Enfield right back, it was a fairly nervous half an hour before the Yellows were able to overcome their early setback. First Mussa’s deadly cross was too much for the home keeper, with Jordan Thomas swooping for his first Torquay goal, and then Torquay Boys’ Grammar School product Will Jenkins Davies shot low through a crowd of bodies.

After the interval, Young was deadly following a short corner from Thomas, and the match was dead as a real contest. The away following were able to chat, sing and bounce their way through a chilled second half, and sub Brad Ash made a fourth for the burgeoning Jenkins-Davies.

Not enough train crew at Paddington meant a late return to the Bay, but it really doesn’t matter then you’ve won.

PLAYER RATINGS

James Hamon – 7: A generally quiet afternoon for the angler. One decent save to his left in the first half.

Jordan Thomas – 8: A player who looks set for a good career. Tough, intelligent & quick enough, he scored one and made one on a day when the full backs were able to make hay.

Sam Dreyer – 7.5: Sam probably thought it was going to be a long afternoon when his mate conceded a needless penalty early doors, but he needn’t have worried. I have pinched his rating from Sofa Score, who might have had a better view than me.

Jordan Dyer – 6: Normally dependable at the back, but did make a rod for his own by giving away that early penalty at the back. As normal he continues to tag-team with Ed Palmer.

Jay Foulston- 7: Nowt daft from the young South-Welshman.

Lirak Hasani – 6.5: Are we calling him Larry now? He was part of a midfield that eventually overran the part time minnows. He does seem to be growing in confidence so his enforced 3 game absence now will be a setback. Good things to come from the songsmiths’ favourite.

Will Jenkins Davies – 8.5: He’s starting to look like he can run the show. Whilst his parent club shipped ten goals this week he has scored 3 for his adoptive one, and he was my POTM- see below.

Dan Hayfield – 7: What you see is what you get. Another lung-busting 90 minutes for the new Tom Lapslie.

Omar Mussa – 7.5: More productive than of late. Able to run at Enfield with good effect and made the critical equaliser before being withdrawn after an hour.

Cooke – 6.5: No goal for the leader of the line, but he remains integral to the promotion push. He got a short rest at the end.

Jordan Young – 7.5: Continues to get more out of one foot than some players do from two. In the sort of game where we would expect him to show his ability, he did just that. His early withdrawal makes me wonder if he may have picked up a knock?

Subs:

Oscar Threlkeld (for Mussa 59) – 7: I can’t remember too much, but he won his half hour one nil.

Matt Carson (for Young 64) – 6.5: Minutes for Matt, who finds himself squeezed out by the recent formation change and a little dip in form (which is probably to be expected as he finds his way in men’s football).

Palmer (for Dyer, 71) – 7: A fantastic header of the ball. Has rarely let us down before or since his fractured eye socket.

Ash (for Hasani 76) – 7: Ran hard and made a goal. Pleased for him.

Jeffers (for Cooke 88) – N/A

TUFC PLAYER RATINGS VOTE – Enfield Town (a)

MAN OF THE MATCH – WILL JENKINS DAVIES

I think it has to got to be WJD. Praised by the Manager in the Thursday press conference, he has the potential to run riot in the second half of the season and if Argyle don’t want him, I wonder if there is a conversation to be had? I learned this week that he went to my old school too, so I am now extremely biased towards him. He “has a great engine” and he is now adding goals to his ability to carry the ball and snap at people’s heels.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Jordan Thomas. You don’t have to be called Jordan to play for Torquay and yesterday you didn’t need to be called Young to score. But it helps, and it was great to see our “young” right back get on the scoresheet after he has impressed everyone with his attitude in his short time here.

A hard luck story though for the Torquay fan with the one minute Golden Goal ticket!

TACTICS

Four at the back again. I prefer that myself, and the 4-3-3 employed allowed Young and Mussa to stretch a limited Enfield defence. It shows that Paul Wotton may be less tactically rigid than we first thought.

OFFICIALS

It was a clear penalty and it’s always easier to stomach mistakes when you win. Not that I remember many.

OPPOSITION

The locals are glum. Results since promotion to this level have spoken for themselves and the blokes I was talking to in the second half said that with some of their best players having been allowed to leave they don’t know that an Isthmian League promotion challenge is likely. That would be a shame, because despite having to make do and mend with facilities Enfield Town seems to be packed with good people.

KEY MOMENTS

It would have to be the equaliser from Jordan Thomas. Hands up though: I was getting my round in at the time, so I have relied on other accounts for this one!

CONCLUSION

They always say you shouldn’t get too high after a win or too low when you’ve lost. Things can change so quickly- which is one of the reasons we love football so much- but after an incredibly hard-fought point at Borehamwood last Saturday, Tuesday’s epic against Weston and yesterday’s feelgood afternoon, it feels like the good times are starting to roll.

Fire her up, Skipper!!