TT BLOG

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

Steve discusses a PSF win for the Gulls

A dominant first display sealed a comfortable victory for Torquay United over their League Two opponents Newport County.The two teams finished 27 places apart in the football pyramid last season, but the Gulls defied that gap as first half goals from Dylan Morgan, Jordan Dyer and Louis Dennis secured the win.

United manager Paul Wotton made two changes to the sides that faced Buckland Athletic in their first pre-season friendly; new signing Matt Worthington came into the midfield and donned the captain’s armband whilst Cody Cooke started as a lone striker with Dennis playing behind him in the number ten role with Matt Jay dropping to the bench.

The Gulls forced two corners inside the opening three minutes – the second of which was nodded behind by Dyer. In the fifth minute, summer signing Sonny-Blu Lo-Everton tested County keeper Jordan Wright with the long range effort that the Exiles custodian gathered comfortably.

On 16 minutes, Newport mustered their first chance as Michael Reindorf curled a shot from 20 yards wide. In the 21st minute, Corey Baker-Richardson and Reindorf both saw shots blocked before Trialist cleared the cross bar.

United then edged ahead on 23 minutes when Morgan cut inside before curling home following good work from Dennis and Jay Foulston. On 28 minutes, Dyer headed a corner from Jordan Young against the bar, but moments later he connected with a cross from Young to double United’s lead.

Young threatened with a free-kick in the 38th minute, which Wright tipped behind for a corner. United then forced another corner, which the Exiles’ defence failed to clear as the ball fell to Dennis who smashed home the Gulls’ third on 39 minutes.

In the wake of many changes in the second half, United kept a strong defensive shape and kept the visitors at bay until injury time when they scored a late consolation through substitute Bobby Kamwa.

COYY – Steve

Matt Winstanley discusses some of the new Gulls…

Louis Dennis was absolutely fantastic today, going forward and defending wise, he was covering some ground in that first half and he fully deserved to get on the score-sheet.

Matt Worthington is the captain in the middle we so desperately needed, don’t get me wrong, Threlkeld was okay, but he wasn’t the captain we needed, where as Worthington is very vocal on the pitch, passing and moving into space, always looking for the ball, he could be vital for us this season with the armband.

Trialist A (Denzel Akyeampong), what an absolute unit, his vision in that back line was phenomenal, pushing and shoving players off the ball, looking for an easy pass, so calm and composed, i’ll be happy if he gets signed up.

Sonny Lo-Everton looked very good aswell today, liked to put in a tackle and liked to make some decent forward runs, same as Dolan when he came on.

I know it’s only pre-season and is very early doors, but this team looks ready to roll this year and i honestly feel we are cooking something very special at the club, as always, onwards and upwards.