GOAL OF THE SEASON

Sam Jones – @samuellejones

Sam looks at the best goals scored by the Gulls this season.

This article is always a lot of fun to write as I get to watch a lot of goals. To remind myself of all of them, I had to go back and watch every goal we’ve scored this season. And we scored a lot, and some of them were even good. Scattered in amongst the pinballs from corners and Cody Cooke penalties a were some wonderful team moves, the odd thunderba**ard and a couple of beautiful curlers that would make even Lionel Messi salivate. I only chose seven for this list, but I could’ve chosen a lot more, with honourable mentioned going to Craske vs Hornchurch and Young vs Truro. Right, enough of this rambling, shall we get into it?

A: LIRAK HASANI VS DORKING WANDERERS (H)

We start this list off with everyone’s favourite type of goal: a ball hit as hard as possible from the edge of the box. The player responsible for this was Lirak Hasani, who scored an absolute left footed thunderbas**rd to help United to a 1-0 win over Dorking in August. In a cagey affair between two of the Leagues top clubs, Hasani opened the scoring after being found by Hayfield about 25 yards out. The former Gateshead midfielder took one touch and rifled it into the top corner. A beautiful strike, and a perfect way to open his United account.

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B: DAN HAYFIELD V CHESHAM (A)

The Gulls made hard work of a Bank Holiday visit to Chesham, and it took a last minute winner from Brad Ash (most likely his last goal for United) to grab the 3 points for the journey home. Dan Hayfield also scored a crucial goal in the middle of the second half and what a goal it was! Picking the ball up well outside the right of the penalty area, Hayfield looked up, most likely thought something along the lines of “why don’t I have a pop?” and did just that, lashing a low drive into the bottom left hand corner from around 25 yards out. A shame we didn’t see more goals from the midfielder, as his right foot can certainly pack a punch.

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C: OMAR MUSSA VS WORTHING (H)

The Moose was an enigmatic player last season. He would sometimes play like the League footballer he seemed to be destined to be, sometimes he played like he forgot how to kick a ball. But he endeared himself to the Yellow Army by always trying to make something happen. This was most obvious when he scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 win against Worthing. After going 1-0 down to a screamer by Jack Spong in the first half, the Burundian international got United back on level terms with a beauty of his own. After some nice interplay between Hasani, Jenkins Davies and Mussa himself, Hasani found our number 10 about 30 yards out from goal. He took a few touches, set himself and curled a beauty into the far corner, leaving the keeper with no chance. Foulston would score the winner 20 minutes later as United held on for a big 3 points.

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D: LIRAK HASANI VS WESTON-SUPER-MARE (H)

The second Hasani goal on this list was scored in an absolute ding dong battle against our fellow South Westerners. On a grim November night at Plainmoor, the young midfielder equalised for United after they had fallen behind to a Luke Coulson goal. Hasani’s short corner found Jenkins Davies, whose shot was blocked by a Weston defender. The ball rebounded to Hasani on the edge of the box, where he struck it first time, curling it round the despairing away keeper, off the post and in. It was a goal that helped United battle to a 4-2 win, even if young Hasani did get sent off 3 minutes into the Second Half. A beautiful goal, one reminiscent of peak Luis Suarez.

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E: JORDAN YOUNG VS WORTHING (A)

We all love a good free kick. Thinking back to Luke Young, Lemonhaigh-Evans and Armani Little, we’ve had some great free kick takers down the Bay in recent times. Jordan Young may be another one to add to the list, if his free kick at Worthing is anything to go by. In a feisty clash on the South Coast, Young’s sweet left footed effort caught everyone by surprise as it looped into the top corner past a despairing Haigh. Watching the replay, he fakes everyone out by acting as if he is going to cross it in, before taking a pop at a goal. A lovely free kick from United’s player of the season.

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F: MATT JAY VS CHELMSFORD CITY (A)

This is one of those goals that will be forgotten In the annuls of time, because a) United lost the game and b) the stands are so far away from the pitch at the Melbourne Stadium you wouldn’t have been able to see it. Thank God for Youtube. Matt Jay showed the quality he has by scoring an absolute worldie from just inside the Chelmsford half of the pitch. After winning possession in his own half, the Devonian Messi drove into their half, looked up and lobbed the keeper from about 45 yards to put United 2-0 up. Unfortunately, the Yellows collapsed to a 3-2 defeat but take nothing away from the strike by Jay.

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G: MATT JAY VS TRURO CITY (A)

We all thought this would be the moment didn’t we? A 1-0 win at title rivals Truro to send us on our way back to the promised land of the National League. Alas it wasn’t enough, but my word what a goal from Matt Jay. In a cagey encounter down in Cornwall, it was 0-0 after an hour in the winner takes all clash. Step up Matt Jay to break the deadlock in stunning fashion. He was found about 30 yards out, took a few touches and unleashed a rocket into the far corner past a despairing Lavercombe. It was a goal worthy of winning any game, and it did as United held on for a 1-0 win.