MATCH VERDICT

Chris Wade – @tufcchris

Chris discusses the game at Plainmoor

TORQUAY UNITED 0-1 HAMPTON & RICHMOND – 25.01.25

SUMMARY

Torquay hosted Hampton & Richmond ready to try and claim three points after two frustrating draws on the road in the last week. But as the afternoon unfolded, the frustration for the week was only just beginning.

Paul Wotton’s starting eleven showed three changes form Tuesday’s 2-2 draw at Slough. Finley Craske returned in place of the injured Jay Foulston, with Jordan Thomas switching to left back, Ed Palmer started in place of the also injured Jordan Dyer, and new marquee signing Matt Jay surprisingly started in place of Omar Mussa. Fellow midweek signing Manny Ilesanmi started among the substitutes.

I have been critical of us starting games slowly at Plainmoor, but this was arguably the best first 20 minutes of the season, minus the all important goal. Some nice early interplay ended with Craske fizzing across over and Thomas not quite being able to flick it in, the first of many saves for Chelsea loanee Max Merrick in the Hampton goal. Following another corner, Matt Jay had a shot blocked that was goal bound.

In a 4-2-3-1 formation, there was always an overload and Dylan Morgan was always an option on the left side, cutting in and blasting a shot that was tipped over. Captain Oscar Threlkeld volleyed over, also from a corner. The ever dangerous Jordan Young also cut in and fired a shot wide of the right post. It was all United. But Hampton grew into the game, bravely playing out from the back and being confident on the ball. But Morgan remained a menace, having another shot palmed over before the break. Dan Hayfield was also denied by more brave defending. An enjoyable if frustrating first half.

The second half continued in similar vein, with United pressing high up the pitch and pushing Hampton in. Another chance came and went with Ed Palmer heading over when free in the box. But when you don’t score, you leave yourself open and Torquay were punished on 56 minutes, when a long diagonal ball caught them square at the back, and Mauro Vilhete brilliantly controlled the ball and volleyed a shot past the onrushing James Hamon. He looked marginally offside and the linesman wasn’t level, a full three yards behind the play, but it was a brilliant finish.

But undeterred, United kept going. Will Jenkins-Davies replaced Threlkeld moments after Omar Mussa was introduced in place of Morgan. Hayfield had a header pushed away by Merrick, Jordan Young was twice denied when falling with his weaker right foot, and WJD had a shot palmed wide. Manny Ilesanmi was introduced in place of the quiet Cody Cooke and Lirak Hasani took over from Dan Hayfield for the last 10 minutes.

The referee clearly didn’t want to make a decision, as a cowardly rake down the back of Thomas’ Achilles, throwing him dramatically into the away dug-out got only a yellow card. And worse followed. Already booked, Alfie Williams deliberately blocked a quick Torquay free kick and Mr Warner went to his pocket, saw who it was and panicked. Poor. But the chances kept coming with Torquay camped in their half. One Hasani flick from a corner hit the side netting, another was incredibly pushed away by the outstanding Merrick. In the 93rd minute, the final disappointment saw Thomas flick a cross from Mussa agonisingly past the far post. And that was that.

PLAYER RATINGS

James Hamon – 6: Very quiet afternoon for United’s number one, and did all he could for the goal.

Finley Craske – 7: One of his better offensive displays, getting forward and delivering several crosses, especially in the first half.

Sam Dreyer – 7: As dependable as usual, although the diagonal ball over his head was his undoing again. It’s not the first time and needs to be addressed.

Ed Palmer – 7: First league start for a while and was solid, winning all of his headers. Could/should have scored in the second half.

Jordan Thomas – 7: Despite being on the wrong flank, he delivered another proactive and forward thinking performance. Unlucky not to score on a couple of occasions.

Oscar Threlkeld – 6: Surprisngly fit to start, he was solid in midfield. He went out to try and block the balls in high areas could have scored in the first half. Withdrawn after an hour to protect him.

Dan Hayfield – 6: Quietly went about his business in midfield on his birthday, and also had two shots that were not quite goals.

Dylan Morgan – 7: A lively performance and was denied on several occasions in the first half. He is on the list of players that needs to deliver more.

Jordan Young – 8: MOTM Please see below.

Matt Jay – 6: Some nice touches and can clearly see a pass, but he faded as the game went on and will need some time to adjust. Undoubted quality.

Cody Cooke – 6: A quiet afternoon for United’s top scorer. He battled as hard as always but didn’t have any sights of goals.

Subs:

Omar Mussa – 6: What a frustrating figure he continues to be? Plenty of post match debate amongst the TT crew about him. He has such ability and touch, and always affects the game. But he has to produce more end product. Some think his brain works quicker than his team mates, some think he is wasteful. Either way, there needs to be more end product.

Will Jenkins Davies – 6: Came on and was his usual busy self. Joined the list of players to be denied by Merrick.

Emmanuel Ilesanmi – 6: A promising debut for United’s new Derby loanee. He looks big and strong and drove forward well on a couple of occasions. I look forward to seeing more of him in the coming weeks.

Lirak Hasani – N/A: Only came on late but nearly scored twice, including Merrick’s best save.

TUFC PLAYER RATINGS VOTE – Hampton (h)

MAN OF THE MATCH – JORDAN YOUNG

It has to be Jordan Young again. He is so dangerous and has such a lovely touch that he can affect a game at any moment. He is a constant threat and looked like scoring several times. His quality is going to be key in the closing stages to the season.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Ed Palmer was solid on his first start for some time in the league, and Dylan Morgan was a livewire in the first half. It would be remiss of me to not mention Max Merrick in the Hampton goal. Good with his feet, confident on the ball and made some incredible saves. Some may argue that Chelsea could do with him in goal now.

TACTICS

Paul has moved to a 4-2-3-1 formation this week and it produced some of the best interplay of the season at home. There were overloads all over the pitch, and the width that Morgan and Young gave in the first half saw us maraud down the flanks at will, also producing space for Craske and Thomas to overlap time and again. I like the way the formation looked, and Matt Jay in the number 10 position will produce quality and impact games more than he was able to today. This formation looks to be the way forward with the squad that has been very well assembled by the owners.

OFFICIALS

Little happened in the first half, but Harry Warner showed himself to lack courage and self-belief in the second half. An awful and cowardly hack at Thomas could have resulted in a red card, and the way that he went to his pocket for a yellow when Williams blocked a free kick (a yellow all day long) and he bottled it was incredible. All you ask is for things to be correctly officiated. It wasn’t a hard thing to have to give. Poor. The goal was also borderline offside but the linesman had no chance as he was three yards behind play the whole game.

OPPOSITION

It was an interesting tactical battle. PW had alluded to their unique style of play during the week, and their confidence on the ball was a joy to see. They moved the ball around and Torquay did their best to squeeze them in. But only on a couple of occasions did United steal the ball high up, and they beat the press well. They were limited in their dangerous attacks and take three points from that game 1 in 10. But they certainly rode their luck and enjoyed it at full time. Fantastic display from the goalkeeper.

CONCLUSION

A frustrating end to a frustrating week. 9 points have been on offer this week, and they really should all have been taken on the performance levels that we have seen. But not taking chances and making the most of our territorial advantage is really starting to hurt us now and has to be stopped for us to maintain a title push. Tuesday at Chippenham almost becomes must win, with trips to Maidstone and Worthing to follow with Eastboune coming to Plainmoor in-between. Interesting times to come in this open and unpredictable NLS season.