TTT MATCH VERDICT

Rachel Malloch – @Rachelvillavox

Rachel reports back from the game at Plainmoor

TORQUAY UNITED 1-2 HORNCHURCH FC – NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH – 01.11.25

SUMMARY

Records are made to be broken, or equalled or reached against the odds, and in football, this is like shifting earth tectonic plates to create shattering highs or crashing lows. Word around the ground at TQ1 was all about the ‘fortress Plainmoor’ unbeaten record versus a team in Hornchurch who are currently causing tremors in the National League South having got to 17 league games unbeaten, home and away.

Very often Paul Wotton the Torquay manager’s pre-match amble has been to judge every team and every game as ‘we know we are in for a tough game’ whether lofty or lowly, but today, we all knew that we were indeed in for a tough game against Hornchurch.

The remembrance observed minute’s silence following the emotive ‘Last Post’ bugle was respected impeccably by the 3,492 crowd, with 87 making the trip from Essex.

Torquay started brightly and were gaining plenty possession early on, but Hornchurch looked dangerous too. Both teams produced some good attacking movement but neither side troubled the respective goalkeepers.

A moment of lovely skill from Callum Dolan saw him break into the Hornchurch area only to be felled, and the referee showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot. After recent penalty mishaps from Jordan Young and last week’s Dorking game with Louis Dennis, the upended Dolan stood over the ball smashed it straight down the middle to give Torquay the lead. This was to be effectively one of the few times Torquay’s attacking play would see a shot on target.

Moments later Jordan Young was put through and with a one on one situation, struck the ball straight at the keeper.

Then following a carbon copy incident to Torquay’s penalty, this time Hornchurch player Josh Rees was at the end of a challenge in the box deemed to be a foul and dangerman striker Henry Hearn despatched it to the corner, past a despairing dive from James Hamon, to equalise.

There was certainly plenty of good football on display from both teams, Torquay having the better of the chances created but with first Matt Worthington and then Lo Everton finding space outside the area, both players shooting boots let them down. This was to be a theme for the afternoon. Set pieces, too, in dangerous positions, with both Young and Dolan finding their efforts in the stands than underneath the crossbar.

The second half was in much the same vein, both teams playing some competent build up play but lacking the quality in the final third.

There was a moment of Keystone Kops to the Hornchurch 2^nd goal and ultimately, the winning goal, with firstly Worthington slipping then both Dreyer and Foulston going to ground too and with a precision strike, Hornchurch forward Balanta made it 2. There certainly didn’t appear much power behind it but it snuck into the far corner with a luckless James Hamon watching it nestle into the corner.

The remainder of the game was very much Torquay United with the lion’s share of possession, but Hornchurch were resilient and strong in defending the line and but for more precision from the Torquay attacking players, an equaliser was left wonting. Torquay were wasteful in their set pieces, and generally profligate in chances created.

Changes really needed to be made a lot earlier than the 70 minutes Torquay manager Paul Wotton afforded forward Sonny Fish (replacing Matt Jay) and then then Lo-Everton being replaced by Dylan Morgan. 20 minutes to impact a game of this stature is a big ask. Fish, to his credit, went in guns blazing and looked lively, almost creating a great chance keeping the ball in and crossing into the box but none of his fellow team mates could get a toe on it.

6 minutes added time saw Torquay huff and puff but the NLS league leaders held on to maintain their unbeaten run.

So, Torquay United can no longer boast the fortress Plainmoor mantle, Hornchurch meanwhile continue to impress and now lead the table by 5 points with a worrying 10 points gap between Torquay and a game in hand.

Torquay players worked hard this afternoon, no questioning their effort and endeavour, but all said and done, we barely stung the Hornchurch ‘keepers gloves and the quality in the final third was scrappy and rushed.

PLAYER RATINGS

1. HAMON – 7

3. FOULSTON – 7

4. DYER – 7

5. DREYER – 7

26. THOMAS – 6

18. WORTHINGTON – 5

24. EVERTON – 6

10. DOLAN – 7

8. YOUNG – 6

27. JAY – 6

7. DENNIS – 6

Subs

11. MORGAN – 6

17. FISH – 7

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – CALLUM DOLAN

Callum Dolan, for me, was the one player who looked likely to unlock the Hornchurch defence. Guilty of a few wayward attempts on goal but then this was indicative of plenty of the attacking play this afternoon. Wasteful, wayward and rash, more focus and precision and we could, just could, have got something from today, but Dolan took his penalty well and for that he gets the nod.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Sonny Fish, he looks good on the ball, an eager runner and was often attempting to get behind the defence with runs that invariably in his 20 minute cameo were getting overlooked. He’s strong, got a bit of pace, and gave every impression that we have got a very good player in the our squad. He may not be a Cody Cooke type battering ram target man (and oh how we missed Cooke in the final third today!) but Fish looks every inch a decent player, and he’s still only 21! Well played Sonny.

TACTICS

4-4-2/4-2-3-1 – Similar arrangement to last time at Plainmoor, though Louis Dennis often roamed back into midfield, whilst Matt Jay moved into the striking role. The result was patches of smart attacking play outside the area, but little oomph inside it.

THE OPPOSITION

The best team Torquay United have played this season, strong in all areas, athletic and it’s plain to see why they are currently running away with this division. Well drilled, with a very good coaching set up and put in an outstanding away performance this afternoon. Harry Hearn is a young centre forward with great strength and right now, the type of player we covet. A very, very good team.

THE OFFICIALS

Referee and the linesmen got most decisions right.

CONCLUSION

15 games played, won 7, drawn 3 and lost 5 and now 8^th in the table, 10 points behind today’s opponents who have a game in hand. It’s only early November and there is a whole lot of football to be played, but right now, the complexion isn’t great. It doesn’t take a genius to see that huge improvements are needed in our away matchday performances.

Today we played our part in a highly competitive encounter and with several players employing more composure in front of goal and wearing their shooting boots it could have been a better outcome. There’s a gaping hole where a Cody Cooke or a comparative big, brave, muscular centre forward needs to be.

This is a good squad of players, great things can generate from them, we have seen their quality, albeit in fits and starts (the compass is shaking at the away performances) but today brought, I imagine, these players, certainly the supporters, crashing down to earth in that the HMS full steam ahead NLS ship has run aground and while the trade winds haven’t entirely blown it off course, the next stage of this season needs to improve, and quickly.