MATCH VERDICT

Peter Wade

Pete reports back from Plainmoor

TORQUAY UNITED 2-2 SALISBURY – 11.03.25

SUMMARY

Just how disappointing was that…. Two away wins on the bounce had given us all hope that we could be players in the run-in in the National League South, but this game is a solid reminder that we probably won’t be. Salisbury had lost five of their last seven matches yet largely outplayed us in the first half and but for running out of steam might well have give us our second home defeat of the season.

One of the oddities about this TUFC side is that we can play some lovely football, create beautiful goals, defend with heart and soul but we cannot dominate games even against the likes of Salisbury.

Paul went into the game with the same starting line up and must have been furious at half time: in front of another 4000+ crowd we had to come out strongly but within the first 10 mins we could and probably should have been two down. We were losing all of our individual battles all over the pitch against a team who seemed to want it more (some good if true cliches in that sentence). Hamon made an excellent save from a thumping Dyer header and that was how the match went, mad as it sounds.

Our passing was poor, as was our ball retention, yet in attack we looked capable of doing damage. This is exactly what we did when Jay brought a good save out of the Salisbury keeper with a lovely chip/shot from the edge of the box. From the corner, a long and deep one, the header was won but hit the bar, Jay following in looked certain to score with a header but somehow the keeper clawed it away only to see Zanzala poke it in from two yards. But this was against the run of play and Salisbury went straight up the other end and but for the assistant referee’s intervention would have done. Why do AR not put their flags up any more to warn everybody of a possible problem? At this point my notes read: “Come on boys get into the game”. There were odd good phases but we just kept giving the ball away and when on 46 minutes 45 seconds a raking long ball caught us out, the ball eventually ended up in our net and we could not complain.

Yes, the second half was better, we got on the front foot more more, but conceded a freak goal. A shot/cross flies into the keeper’s back top corner from way out also looks bad for Hamon, but I’m not sure what he could have done really when he is in the middle of the goal expecting a cross. Mussa and Threlkeld began to influence the game as Salisbury sat back and began to tire. On 63 minutes Mussa whipped a fierce ball across the box which nobody could reach, he was looking good and making space. On 72 minutes a freekick was awarded out on the left and Young did what Young does; a wicked whipped left foot cross was met by Zanzala who saw his header hit the bar, but a clearance found Jenkins Davies and he drilled a low shot into the net. 18 minutes (+7 extra ones) to go, so drive on lads – well it did not really happen. Jay shot over, Young did the same, Mussa and Craske dragged shots just wide but it all just petered out. Desperately disappointing on a night when we lost ground on most of the other contenders, we will need to be a lot better on Saturday, but as we know, in this league anything can happen.

PLAYER RATINGS

James Hamon – 6: Couple of decent saves but not much he could do about the goals.

Matt Carson – 5: Decent going forward but has to work on stopping the crosses coming in, but he was isolated far too often, where was left midfield half of the time?

Sam Dreyer – 5: Probably the worst game I have seen him have this season and this from a player who would have got my player of the season vote at the beginning of the evening.

Jordan Dyer – 6: After a dodgy first half he was solid.

Jordan Thomas – 5: A decent full back’s display but too many misplaced passes.

Lirak Hasani – 6: Thought he was one of the better players in the first half. A busy but rather lightweight player

Dan Hayfield – 5: Like most players didn’t win his battles and passing was poor.

Will Jenkins-Davies – 7: Busy as always and a well taken goal. See PoM below

Matt Jay – 5: Just does not seem to quite know where he is supposed to be playing at times it seems to me – another who just could not get into the game.

Offrande Zanzala – 6: Battled all night, took his goal well and set up the second but having to play 90+ minutes at present means he fades.    

Jordan Young – 6: A frustrating night really could not get into the game enough to influence it. Yes he is quality and does some great things but gave the ball away too often, as he did for their first goal. Lovely ball in for the equaliser mind.

SUBS:

Oscar Threlkeld – 6: Nice and calm and passed the ball well when he came on.

Omar Mussa – 6: His usual trickery was on show came close to the killer ball several times.

Jay Foulston – 6: Good to have him back, he was assured but also missed too many passes.

Finley Craske – 6: Did a good job on the right, so close to the winner when he raced onto a pass into the box.

Ed Palmer – n/a

TUFC PLAYER RATINGS VOTE – Salisbury (h)

MAN OF THE MATCH – WILL JENKINS DAVIES

Like those in the stadium, I’ve gone for Will Jenkins-Davies, whose goal at least won us a point. He is busy but like Hasani a bit lightweight.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Foulston and Dyer in the second half.

TACTICS

 Paul went for a 4.3.3 this time – but we just never got into the game enough to allow our passing and skills to shine.

OFFICIALS

The referee had a better game than when she was at Plainmoor earlier in the season. Like most referees these days doesn’t give enough free kick, especially for centre forwards who get rough housed all the time. But solid overall and didn’t let herself get bullied by the players.

OPPOSITION

You cannot help but wonder why they are where they are, as they would have been sitting in the dressing room thinking how they didn’t take all three points home.

CONCLUSION

Very, very disappointing; as Chris said in his pre-match comments we have five very winnable home games to come, well that’s one gone with two points lost. Yes Paul’s mantra of ‘you will never go away thinking we could have given more’ was true but we have do better than this, especially with the passing, if we want to mix it at the top

SOCIAL MEDIA

COYY – Peter

OTHER ARTICLES

DONATE TO TT

The TT Site now has a donations page here

Any donations much appreciated!

TT PARTNERS

X – INSTAGRAM – YOUTUBE – FACEBOOK – BLUESKY