TT MATCH VERDICT

Clive Hayward – @Byehorse

Clive reports back from Plainmoor

TORQUAY UNITED 3-0 CHIPPENHAM TOWN – NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH – 21.10.25

SUMMARY

In his pre-match radio comments, Paul Wotton apparently said this was “a game we should be winning tonight.” A result and a performance were eagerly awaited under the new lights, Chippenham and their 26 supporters came to town as the division’s basement club. They travel home still inhabiting that position, whilst Torquay did enough to move up a place to third.

The first goal came after 20 minutes, top scorer Jordan Young converting a free kick from 25 yards out. His shot had pace and bend, but Will Henry may feel he could have done better: he got a hand to the ball but couldn’t prevent it going into the top corner.

Callum Dolan showed his class tonight. A sublime touchline flick started an attack when many players would have been happy just to control the ball. He was denied a clear penalty after half an hour, brought down on the left side of the box: the contact was apparently not enough for referee Said Duchene (who otherwise had a reasonable game).

There were several good moves as United attacked the sparsely populated Family Stand, and the second goal arrived just before the break. Sunny-Blu Lo Everton with a beautifully struck effort which gave Henry no chance.

It was soon one way traffic again after the interval, and after 56 minutes Dolan darted to the byline. He pulled it back to Louis Dennis, who has been converting chances like that for more than a decade. He clipped it smartly inside the far post, and the cigars came out.

Chippenham, with the game long gone, made three subs and enjoyed passing the ball around for much of the rest of the evening. Torquay probably were guilty of relaxing a bit. The introductions of Fish, Morgan and Hayfield were not impactful, but the important headers were won and Hamon was a reassuring presence behind Dreyer and Dyer. The clean sheet was achieved, and we went home none the wiser about whether this team will make our modest dreams come true.

PLAYER RATINGS

1. HAMON – 8: Three or four routine saves and a decent one near the end to tip a long range shot around the post. He’s got a lovely right foot and put another 90 minutes between himself and Horsham.

3. FOULSTON – 7: More likely to pass it to Callum Dolan than try to beat his man. Nothing wrong with that. Steady at the back.

4. DYER – 7.5: Did what was needed. I’ve got everything crossed that he can repeat last season’s heroics.

5. DREYER – 8: Won his headers and excellent positional sense. A couple of times early on he read Koszela’s runs and was able to mop up easily.

26. THOMAS – 6: It wasn’t a difficult night fof the right back. He tried to join in going forward, but there was audible frustration from Bristows in the second half when he checked back onto his left foot rather than taking advantage of a good crossing opportunity. I think Denzel will return at Dorking.

18. WORTHINGTON – 7: Not his most challenging night. He got up and down to good effect, and passed it efficiently.

24. EVERTON- 7.5: The ex Yeovil man is sometimes overshadowed by more flashy colleagues, but he showed his class with a terrific strike which put the game to bed after 40 minutes.

10. DOLAN – 8.5: You can only beat what’s in front of you, and he was on a different planet to Chippenham tonight. Good feet, nice burst of pace. Made one and robbed of a penalty.

8. YOUNG – 8.5: I can’t really split our two wide men tonight. Youngy was a big threat, and his work rate was also excellent tonight against an old club.

27. JAY – 7: A decent night from the former Grecian. His recent haircut has made him less distinctive from a distance, and almost got him credited with Lo-Everton’s goal! He’ll certainly have scored many similar.

7. DENNIS – 8: Formed a promising partnership with Jay. Involved in several good moves and the veteran front man took his goal with ease.

Subs

11. MORGAN – 6: Couldn’t really impose himself.

17. FISH – 6: Sonny looks a long way from fitness, but you’ve got to start somewhere, and Cody Cooke’s injury dictates that we’re seeing him earlier than would have been ideal. He’s not ready to run in behind defences very often yet but did win a good tackle to send Jordan Young away late on.

20. HAYFIELD – 6: Very little to report.

16. PALMER – N/A: but his head remains massive.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – JORDAN YOUNG

Very close between number 8 Jordan and number 10 Dolan. The goal just edges it for him. Too sexy for Chippenham.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS – CALLUM DOLAN

See above. He always wants the ball, and normally tries to make something happen.

TACTICS

If we’re honest, Chippenham lived up to their billing as huge underdogs, and the gulf in ability makes tactics somewhat academic. There was a pleasing ability tonight to make the pitch big with Young and Dolan causing havoc on the flanks. Jay probably played as a “ten” to Dennis’ “nine”.

THE OPPOSITION

The away team desperately wanted to pass the ball out from defence and find pretty patterns around the midfield (and they managed this more regularly after Torquay’s third goal), but they looked blunt upfront and nervy in defence, meaning we could gain the upper hand and win comfortably.

THE OFFICIALS

Some decisions that riled the Yellow Army, including ignoring a strong penalty claim by Callum Dolan.

CONCLUSION

Job done. In Dolan, Young, Dennis, Lo Everton, Worthington, Cooke, Dyer and Dreyer we probably have enough class to win this division. We mustn’t take too much from tonight’s comfortable win because, as we have already discovered, most opponents will offer much more. Equally, any criticism of “taking our foot off the gas” is misplaced, in my opinion. We had and did more than enough tonight.

If people are unhappy with a 3-0 win they need to give their heads a wobble. Let’s go to Surrey on Saturday, stick together and hopefully stick it right up ‘em!