MATCH VERDICT

Danny Burnell

Danny discusses the game at Worthing

WORTHING 2-2 TORQUAY UNITED – 11.02.25

SUMMARY

Torquay made the long trip east on Tuesday night, and unlike the dire display in the Trophy last month, they were rewarded with a deserved share of the spoils. Paul Wotton made two changes to the side who ran out 2-0 winners on Saturday, with Morgan & Threlkeld replacing Hayfield & Jay.

The home side, as expected, started the brighter, and what has now become a customary for a Worthing side, passed the ball neatly on their 4G carpet. Hamon needed to be alert on a couple of occasions as ‘The Rebels’ tried to take charge early on. The impressive and improving Finley Craske had United’s first opportunity as his header from a Young free-kick sailed harmlessly wide. It wasn’t long before Worthing had something to show for their domination, as Joe Partington headed home with relative ease from close range, following the home side’s first corner of the match.

Not wanting a repeat of the previous meeting, Torquay needed to find their feet fast, and they did just that with Dylan Morgan taking the game to the opposition full backs. A jinking run from the afore mentioned winger earned a free-kick in a dangerous place, and when Jordan Young stepped over it, you knew it was only nestling in one place (optimistically, granted). Fortunately for the Yellows, Young obliged with a superb effort out of reach of Haigh’s fingertips to level up the game 1-1.

A frantic first 20 minutes finally settled down as United found their shape, and with Young finding the ball, any chance of Torquay bringing home some points look likely to rest on his shoulders. It was a game that required concentration. Long spells without the ball, followed by a long punt up field, often caught the United back-line off-guard. Hamon guilty of entering ‘no-mans-land’ as Nash’s lob whistled just past the right hand post. Matt Carson found some renewed confidence and often put in crosses that any striker would dream of, but alas, to no avail. Something Worthing did replicate at the other end to devastating consequences for the Gulls’.

United were unable to stop Wheeler crossing from the by-line and Nash found space in the 6 yard box to head Worthing into the lead 7 minutes from the break. It was back to the drawing board for Torquay, but they had a golden opportunity to level before half-time as Dreyer’s delicious through ball found Morgan. The former Yeovil man was perhaps too honest as he elected to stay on his feet, in what would almost certainly have been a straight red for the Worthing stopper. As it was, United were down, but not out, as they trudged down the tunnel for a Wotton de-brief.

The second half started in much the same vein, with the side in Red happy to control possession in the middle third. Torquay knew they would get chances, as they did in the first 45, as they tried to stay patient in this game of cat & mouse against a side vying for promotion. The manager didn’t wait too long to change dynamics as surprisingly United’s brightest spark, Young, and Morgan, made way for Jay & Mussa. It was the livener that the Gulls’ needed with the Burundi international getting into promising positions in key areas. Some neat footwork on either flank forced opportunities, and raised belief among the Yellow Army that at least a point will be heading back home to Devon. Worthing were edgy, you could sense it. Never a team to stop playing to their philosophy, errors crept into their play, and United sensed blood as they hounded down a, what would be, deserved goal. Hamon remained alert at the opposite end with a series of sweeping duties that Trigger’s broom would have been proud of.

With the game at a lull, the man in the middle took centre stage with a series of game-changing decisions. Firstly, Worthing defender Sam Beard saw a deserved red 15 minutes from time for a late lunge on the marauding Jordan Thomas. But any hope that the man advantage would prove advantageous were extinguished 5 minutes later, when now-Captain Dreyer saw a similar fate for an apparent ‘last man haul down’. Covering defenders made the decision questionable, but the Referee had the opportunity to level up the game, and took it without hesitation. Harsh, as United looked to be staring defeat down the barrel.

Undeterred, United continued to press, and a succession of corners saw the away side mightily close to equalising. The increasingly dangerous Mussa, just as he was in the corresponding fixture, proved to be a constant thorn in the Rebels’ side, as he floated in the gaps left in the now 20 man field. Just as the game appeared to be heading for a (standard away plastic pitch result), Hayfield saw his long accurate ball latched onto by the ever-willing Cooke. Just as the Gulls’ #19 looked to unleash his effort, Worthing’s Partington made sure his contribution to the game wouldn’t end with his goal, as he dragged down the Torquay frontman. After a long pause, Cooke converted, albeit with a touch from the keeper, to level up the match going into 2 minutes of the allotted 5 minutes stoppage time. The game drifted out with a minimum of fuss, as it was a share of the points in West Sussex, which the Gulls’ would undoubtedly be more pleased about. Desmond.

PLAYER RATINGS

Hamon: 7 – Not a huge amount to do. Largely managed what was thrown his way. Not at fault for the goals, and played the sweeper keeper role to good effect.

Thomas: 6 – OK. Not much to mention about the lad’s performance, but found himself in some promising positions.

Palmer: 6 – Steady, if unspectacular. Dealt with most things at the back. Was caught on occasions against a lively Danny Cashman.

Dreyer: 7 – Another solid performance from our key man. Mightily unlucky to get sent off, and will be a huge miss with absences of Dyer & Foulston still being felt.

Craske: 7 – Carried on from Saturday, another mature performance from the young defender. Unlucky to not get MOTM at the weekend, unlucky to not get MOTM this evening.

Carson: 7 – Steady performance, not too dis-similar to Thomas on the other flank. Knows how to whip in a teasing cross.

Threlkeld: 5 – Anonymous for large parts of the game.

Hasani: 5 – See above. Midfield two struggled to influence the game against a possession hungry Worthing midfield.

Cooke: 6– Cut a very frustrated figure throughout the game, and not getting the rub of the Ref’s green. The one chance he did get, he created the opportunity to win a penalty and converted with confidence.

Young: 7 – Classy player who doesn’t shirk his responsibilities. Always wants the ball, and more often than not, makes something happen. Capped off with a beautiful free-kick.

Morgan: 6 – Had moments, but too infrequent. Had the beating of his man on occasions, but often to no avail.

Subs

Mussa: 8 – See MOTM.

Jay: 6 – Largely ineffective for his 30 minute stint.

Hayfield: 6 – Lovely ball to Cooke which lead to the penalty.

Moxey: N/A

TUFC PLAYER RATINGS VOTE – Worthing (a)

MAN OF THE MATCH – OMAR MUSSA

A player getting MOTM after playing just a third of the game doesn’t usually sit well with me. But kudos to Mussa, he changed the dynamics of the game and created chances aplenty. Really sharp on the ball, and able to fizz balls into dangerous positions. Remains an enigma, but on this form, a player who walks into any NLS side.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Finn Craske. Thought he was MOTM worthy against Eastbourne, and solid again tonight. Collectively not as sound defensively, but alongside Dreyer, dealt with most from one of the leagues more potent front lines.

TACTICS

A familiar looking formation, with Young & Morgan in behind Cooke. Thomas & Carson providing the width.

OFFICIALS

A 66% key decision success rate for the Referee tonight, with two of the three key decisions being nailed. Dreyer seeing red was seen as the perfect opportunity to appease the home crowd and level it up. Otherwise, fairly poor and inconsistent.

OPPOSITION

A good passing side, and a side who havn’t lost in the league since late November. They will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season, and could prove to be tricky Play-Off opponents should that situation arise. However, 4 points from them this season is something not many teams will lay claim too. Notably tailed off in the second half, and looked vulnerable to a mistake or two. As we saw in the Trophy game, they are a side who like to win games in the first half.

CONCLUSION

Our Tuesday night record remains intact. Zero defeats from nine on that score, and tonight had all the elements to break that impressive sequence. A plastic pitch miles from home, against THE form team in the division had all the makings of a miserable night, but as it panned out, a relatively successful one. Maidstone & Boreham Wood slipping up further cements Torquay’s play off claims, but whilst it was those two seen as the main challengers just a few weeks back, that baton now lies in the hands of tonight’s opponents & Dorking. A 3 game tricky run for the Gulls’ has yielded a not so shabby 4 points, as it’s all to play for as we get to the business end of proceedings.