MATCH VERDICT

Dom Roman – @DomRoman

Dom discusses the game at the Woodspring Stadium

WESTON-SUPER-MARE FC 1-1 TORQUAY UNITED – 25.02.25

SUMMARY

United came into the game at the Optima Stadium needing to make amends after the Chelmsford (a) collapse, and made four changes to the line-up. There was a welcome return for not one but two centre backs in the form of Sam Dreyer and the much-missed Jordan Dyer…oh and Threlkeld and Mussa came in as well!

There was a bright start for the Gulls, with Jay, Mussa and Young probing and Cooke firing wide after some decent interplay. But the momentum in our play did not continue and as the half wore on the Seagulls started to take charge, with the busy Pearson a livewire and Reuben Reid (yes he has been around forever) using all his experience to help push United back.

And then a goal for the home team. A teasing corner was zinged into the box, Torquay defenders struggled to clear and James Dodd’s shot somehow found the net after ricocheting off some desperate Gulls players. More away day problems and more groans from the sizeable away support who headed into the game fearing the worst. WSM remained the better team in the 1^st half and Pearson really should have done better when slid through on goal, thankfully he over-elaborated and the chance went begging. At 2-0 down it would have been a long way back.

Into the second half and United, no doubt returning to the pitch after a few choice words from Paul Wotton, pushed a bit harder and started to win loose balls that gave us glimmers of hope that an equaliser was incoming. In the 56^th minute Jordan Young gathered the ball in the area and managed to get a trademark low left footed shot away, which the keeper could only softly palm to his right. Matt Jay was the quickest to react to make it 1-1. It looked possibly offside but to our delight the lino kept his flag down. Game on.

What happened after that was a lot of scruffy NLS football! Weston regathered themselves and put some dangerous crosses in, but Dyer and Dreyer were up to the task, they also wasted some counter attacking chances. Whilst at the other end United, who gave Offrande Zanzala a 2^nd half debut, lacked the real belief to score a 2nd to take the 3 points, with Cody Cooke hurt badly with a nasty knock to the head. It finished 1-1 and whilst a decent point, Torquay could really have done with more. 

PLAYER RATINGS

Hamon: 6 – WSM had opportunities but rarely tested James, who made some decent catches and was unlucky for their goal.

Thomas: 5 – Jordan had a very poor first half and then composed himself for the second.

Dreyer: 7 – As so often this season Sam stood out – MOTM – See Below.

Dyer 6.5 – Struggled a bit in the first half but improved as the game went on.

Carson: 6 – Not a bad evening from Matt, got stuck in and put in some nice crosses.

Threlkeld: 5 – Made very little impact in midfield, and found their number 4 Kadji a tough opponent.

Hayfield: 5 – Did what he usually does and worked hard, but little to report.

Mussa: 4.5 – Lively first 10 followed by a poor next 45, including a late challenge that put his match in jeopardy (the ref decided on a yellow card). Still not proving himself worth a starting place in the team.

Young: 6 – Came alive more in the 2^nd half, gaining possession in better areas, and integral to the goal.

Jay: 6 – Sharp for his goal. Not involved as much as we need him to be, but getting fitter.

Cooke: 6 – Usual industry but few chances for the striker. Nasty knock in the 2nd half. 

Subs:

Zanzala: 6 – Enthusiastic debut from the striker, wanted to make an impression but got little service and shanked his one opportunity wide.

Palmer/Hasani: N/A

MAN OF THE MATCH – SAM DREYER

Sam Dreyer continues to look like the one Gulls player who could perform at EFL level in the near future, winning headers and showing his usual commitment and appetite for the battle. Having the Dreyer/Dyer partnership back is a relief and they’ll need to be at their best against Boreham.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Let’s not go crazy but I’ll mention Jordan Dyer for his usual reading of the game and defensive resilience that helped keep WSM out in the 2^nd half.

TACTICS

Four at the back for Wotts this time, with Carson and Thomas pushing forward, and Jay looking to make something happen behind Cooke, whilst Mussa took up a left wing position and Youngy stayed on the right. Very few shots from the Gulls, and too little imagination and interplay, considering the players we have available. As Jonny Jones said to me afterwards, we’re caught between using direct tactics and playing through teams with sharp passing, and are not achieving either with great effect. The team lacks balance and a real identity at the moment, and that’s why every game is close and many of them finish without us grabbing 3 points!

OFFICIALS

The Lino nearest us didn’t seem to want to contribute much, but then kept his flag down when Jay tapped home, so all is forgiven! Otherwise the ref had a decent game I thought, waving play on and letting the game flow…well sort of flow until the next mis-placed pass or bad touch!

OPPOSITION

You can see why Sam Pearson was wanted by Paul Wotton. His movement off the ball did cause us problems, but thankfully he went to pieces in the box! Defensively they were physical and in midfield Dylan Kadji looks a decent prospect. In the end they lost momentum and settled for a draw, but are probably disappointed it wasn’t more.

CONCLUSION

Despite the pleasurable company of the GEV team and my good mate Luke Hunter (plus conversation with others), this won’t be an evening that lives long in my memory. United just make football look jolly hard at the moment, and during the 1^st half even our usual work-rate was not up to scratch. We upped it in the second and that will please Paul Wotton, but the lack of quality and cohesion on the ball, and most importantly the failure to test the keeper (apart from the goal) are familiar problems that have lingered all season. I’m convinced there is more to come from this squad, and I think extra gears can be found, but with a title challenge now looking very unlikely and the play-offs not looking a sure thing, there is pressure on the manager to ease up on the brakes and find the accelerator. Otherwise we’ll be stalled in the NLS for another year….

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COYY – Dom

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