MATCH VERDICT

Rob Dand

Rob reports back from Plainmoor

TORQUAY UNITED 3-0 WEYMOUTH FC – 21.04.25

SUMMARY

Weymouth’s relegation to the Southern Premier was confirmed on 5^th April after a 4-1 away defeat at the hands of Eastbourne Borough, one of the six teams who could remarkably still win this mad little league. 16 days later, and with a respectable draw at Maidstone and a win against fellow strugglers Salisbury under their belts, the Terras arrived at Plainmoor with a presumed twinkle of confidence. Relegated teams rarely turn up at Plainmoor and roll over, but unfortunately for the 150+ travelling fans, that’s more or less what happened during a dominant display by the Gulls.

The early passing interchanges were slick and threatening, like an oily panther, to the extent that this writer was compelled to use words like ‘lovely’ and ‘nice’ out loud on several occasions, to no-one in particular. Barely three minutes in, a Jordan Young corner on the Torquay right found Jordan Dyer at the back post, who made a strong connection and guided the ball into the net for the opener. The yellows continued to impress as the half went on, and it was clear that their intentions were to go for the kill at the first sniff of any blood in the water. Indeed, after Matt Jay had tickled home the Gulls’ second, Dan Hayfield picked the ball out of the net and delivered it dutifully to the halfway line. The yellows wanted more, and sensed that Weymouth were there for the taking. Goal difference might well play a part on the final day of the season – in truth that won’t be what costs us so much as that series of silly results at the end of January and beginning of February – so it was pleasing to see a more ruthless streak to a side that haven’t always shown that quality throughout this campaign.

Once the second goal went in, the wind was firmly in the sails of the home side, and a wave of countless attacks (not true – I just didn’t count them) bore down upon the Family Stand goalmouth during the second half. Omar Mussa had one of his better days, striding forward confidently and drawing fouls, but there were good performances all over the pitch. Jay Foulston became the second defender to get on the scoresheet as the game approached the 70-minute mark, running onto a Jordan Young throughball and steering the ball into the net. While Ed Palmer, Sam Dreyer, Will Jenkins Davies all had good opportunities to extend the lead, it wasn’t to be on this occasion.

PLAYER RATINGS

James Hamon – 7: Another fairly quiet afternoon for the recipient of the trophy for most appearances in the season. Got to wear his sun hat, though, which he always seems delighted about.

Jordan Thomas – 8: Managed both attacking and defensive duties really well. Overlapped deliciously.

Jordan Dyer – 7: Another fantastic headed goal and a shame that his game was cut short by what looked like a hamstring complaint.

Sam Dreyer – 8: Commanding and confident. A majestic Clydesdale of a defender.

Jay Foulston – 7: Popped up with a goal and the defence always feels more solid with him in it,

Dan Hayfield – 8: Excellent distribution and made an incisive run and cross for the 2nd goal.

Omar Mussa – 8: Playing right on the margin between frustrating time-waster and underappreciated genius – today he was the latter.

Lirak Hasani – 7: Mainly operated from deep. Lots of energy but hounded off the ball on occasion.

Matt Jay – 7: A cheeky goal and another classy display from a very consistent player who absolutely should not be playing in this division.

Jordan Young – 7: Definitely a quieter day for Jordan today, but it’s testament to the influence of Torquay’s newly-crowned Player of the Season that he can have a quiet day and still notch up two assists.

Cody Cooke – 7: Had the ball in the back of the net about four years after the referee had blown for a foul.

SUBS:

Will Jenkins Davies – 6: Will be disappointed not to have troubled the back of the net with a late free header.

Offrande Zanzala – 6: Allowed Wotton to rest a tired-looking Cody Cooke but rarely influenced play in a major way.

Ed Palmer – 7: Deputised well for Dyer. Headed anything over three feet high and had a half-chance on the volley. Fluffed a late long throw in frankly comical fashion.

Oscar Threlkeld – N/A: Relieved Dan Hayfield with less than 10 mins to go.

Matt Carson – N/A: Late sub for Jay Foulston. Put in a couple of decent crosses.

TUFC PLAYER RATINGS VOTE – Weymouth (h)

MAN OF THE MATCH – OMAR MUSSA

The man is an enigma. Possibly motivated to turn in a good performance against his former employers, but definitely managed to find those extra bursts of effort from somewhere that so often tip the balance in a 50-50 situation. You rarely know what’s going to happen next – could be some close-control dribbling, could be a 30-yard cross-field ball, could be something far less productive – but a confident Omar Mussa with the ball at his feet and the wind in his sails is a good thing for Torquay United.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Jordan Young – I don’t want to repeat myself but I’m pretty much going to. Jordan couldn’t find himself on the ball as much as I’m sure he would have liked to today, and by his own high standards wasn’t quite as clinical as we’ve seen him this season. But just because his name’s not on the scoresheet doesn’t mean he’s not a key part of the team – two great deliveries was all he needed in the 90 minutes to lay on two goals for his side.

TACTICS

An unchanged 4-3-3 which is proving very effective in these closing stages of the season. When Wotton’s first choice XI is on form, we’re hard to break down, move the ball well and generally create chances from a whole host of situations. Mussa in that deeper role is proving to be a late-season twist that M Night Shyamalan would be proud of.

OFFICIALS

Not much to do for the officials today, apart from have a passionate chat – about jeans presumably – with the casually-attired Weymouth manager Warren Feeney (who Google’s AI software proudly tells me was tasked with leading Weymouth out of the National League South – mission accomplished, I guess). There were some free kicks that maybe shouldn’t have been, there were some fouls that weren’t given. One time, a throw in was taken 6mm to the left. The world continued to turn and nobody really cared.

OPPOSITION

History has taught us to be wary of the already-relegated also-rans with nothing to play for. Especially those with only two players on the bench. Alas, Weymouth were the rare exception to that rule and offered very little apart from a very snazzy away kit. They distributed the ball poorly from the back, with a frankly incredible amount of unforced errors leading to the ball ending up out of play. They carved out a couple of half chances in the second half but it always looked like Torquay would have to push the self-destruct button if they were going to get anything out of the game. Sorry, Terras fans.

CONCLUSION

3-0 it finished, and although the Gulls remain glued to Truro on the same number of points, the goal difference is now one better than it was at the start of the day. It’s still probably the Cornish side’s title to lose, but their opponents on Saturday are St Albans, who are still fighting for their league status – as are Enfield, who play Worthing. How are your nerves, Yellow Army?