TT MATCH VERDICT

Joe Uglow – @Joe_Ugs

Joe reports back from Plainmoor

TORQUAY UNITED 7-0 Eastbourne Borough – 22.11.2025

SUMMARY

After a difficult week off the field for Torquay United, attentions turned to the 16 players available to Paul Wotton to see if they could lift the mood and put a tough couple of weeks behind them. In came Dan Hayfield & Dylan Morgan for Matt Worthington & Callum Dolan, with Louis Dennis chosen to lead the line ahead of Sonny Fish.

United came flying out the blocks and in truth could have been 2-0 up inside the first five minutes. First, Jay’s cross found Dennis who’s flick towards goal was just the wrong side of the post. The tempo was high and minutes later Foulston sent a low ball into the path of Young who couldn’t quite force the ball home. In the 7th minute it was third time lucky as Thomas’ cross found Dennis, this time he steered the ball into the back of the net. 1-0 Torquay.

Plenty of chances followed but Eastbourne rode their luck, including a disallowed goal for Jordan Young when he poked home the rebound after Sonny Blu Lo-Everton let fire with a thunderbolt of a strike from 25 yards. Offside, was the decision from the linesman. In the 30th minute though, it was 2-0, Eastbourne struggled all afternoon to contain Louis Dennis, who was a constant menace to their back-line, latching on to a lovely ball behind the slow Eastbourne defence, he made no mistake one-on-one with the keeper. Eastbourne looked shell-shocked but they did manage a rare foray into our box, a deflected shot looped up onto the crossbar, and Hamon made a cracking save to keep the ball out of the net as their striker looked to nod in the rebound.

Morgan and Young were enjoying themselves on both wings, enjoying plenty of the ball, creating chance after chance, it wasn’t long till one of them got in on the act. Again Dennis was involved receiving the ball with his back to goal in the area, a neat back heel released Jordan Young who made no mistake. 3-0.

Wave after wave of attack continued and the knock-out blow was delivered just before half time. The impressive Morgan received the ball in acres of space on the left and drove into the box, he faked to shoot on his right and then passed the ball through the defenders legs and into the bottom corner of the net with his left. 4-0 just before Half-time!

The best half of football I’ve seen under Wotton’s management, Eastbourne could have had no complaints if it was six or seven. Could we come out and match it in the second half?

The boys picked up second half where they left off in the first, front footed, passing forwards ‘through the lines’ and it wasn’t long before Dennis released Jay through on goal, but his shot was well saved by the keeper. Minutes later, Dennis found himself in acres of space, through on goal with no Eastbourne Centre-Halves anywhere near him, he carried the ball towards goal and calmly slotted home for his hat-trick to make it 5-0! Straight from kick off United won the ball back from Eastbourne and this time Morgan found himself bearing down on goal, he checked inside and smashed the ball home to make it 6-0!

Eastbourne looked out for the count and there was still more misery to come. Hamon played an excellent cross-field ball over the top of their defence, finding Jordan Young, who managed a lovely lob over the onrushing goalkeeper to make it 7(SEVEN!)-0 .

65th minute and job well and truly done for Louis Dennis & Matt Jay who were given the last half an hour off, with the two Sonny’s replacing them; Fish & Sharples-Ahmed. Fish looked lively and should really have made it eight when Morgan tee’d him up on the edge of the six yard box but he couldn’t quite find his feet with the goal at his mercy. Morgan was withdrawn for young Aiden Edwards, but still we came forward, looking dangerous with each and every attack, Eastbourne would have had no qualms if we’d reached double figures.

Torquay saw out the game, with a strong defensive display ensuring a ‘Cleano’ as well as seven goals. An excellent response to what must have been a very tricky week for the Squad, Management Team and Board.

PLAYER RATINGS

1. HAMON – 8: Brilliant save at 2-0 & cracking assist for the seventh.

3. FOULSTON – 8: Defensively sound, attacked down the left at will, looked to have a really good understanding with Morgan. Took a broken nose for his troubles, keeping out a late attempt at a consolation.

4. DYER – 8: Solid, dependable performance, won all his battles.

5. DREYER – 8: Incredibly solid at the back, like Dyer, won his battles, and pushed us up the pitch at every opportunity. Let him keep the armband!

26. THOMAS – 8: Defensively sound and got himself an assist, seems to be enjoying a good run of form which is positive.

20. HAYFIELD – 9: Covered so much ground and was at the heart of a lot of what we did well. Joining in the attacks and running beyond our front two was key and Eastbourne couldn’t live with it.

24. LO-EVERTON – 9: Really starting to see what Sonny Blu is all about, so good on the ball, tenacious in getting it back when out of possession, has a decent shot on him too, and stung the hands of the Eastbourne keeper with a cracking shot in the first half.

11. MORGAN – 9: A statement performance from Morgan, who now has an excellent opportunity to make the left wing spot his own. That was the Dylan Morgan we saw in Pre-season, a constant thorn in Eastbourne’s side.

8. YOUNG – 9: Exceptional again, Eastbourne knew he’s all left foot, but still couldn’t stop him. Took his two goals brilliantly and very unlucky to not get a third when he rounded the keeper but the ball just escaped a final touch.

27. JAY – 8: Very good performance from Jay, and perhaps a bit of an unsung hero of the attacking four, given that he didn’t manage to get a goal. Pressed from the front, was involved in lots of good attacking play & Eastbourne couldn’t live with some of his intelligent play.

7. DENNIS – 10: Unplayable, dropped deep, picked up the ball and played through Eastbourne with ease, but also got behind their defence countless times, a real Man of the Match performance capped off with his Hat-Trick.

Subs

17. FISH – 7: Lively and full of energy, should have scored but was caught flat footed not expecting Morgan to square it, I think.

22. SHARPLES-AHMED – 7: Showed some neat touches and passes, tricky to come into the game and show too much of what he’s capable of as the damage was done by the time he was introduced.

29. EDWARDS – 6: Came on and battled well in an unfamiliar left wing position.

2. AKYEAMPONG – N/A

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Louis Dennis

A constant thorn in Eastbourne’s side, they couldn’t live with him. Scored three, provided a very clever assist and was at the heart of everything good about our performance.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Dan Hayfield – Not had the minutes this season that he would have liked, and I’m sure he’d be the first to admit he had a bit of a shocker at Dorking, but that was the Dan Hayfield of last season and then some; full of energy, getting involved in attacks and breaking up play in the middle of the park. The best I’ve seen him play in a yellow shirt.

Dylan Morgan – Had a really good pre-season and started the season well but after injury disrupted his season has had to bide his time on the bench. With Dolan now unavailable for selection he got that opportunity and he certainly took his chance, an excellent performance on the left, Callum who?

TACTICS

4-2-3-1 as we typically line up, the front four were never still, swapping positions constantly which created all manner of problems for Eastbourne. Neither of Lo-Everton or Hayfield sat deep, instead both took turns to play the box-to-box midfield role, which got us up the pitch.

THE OPPOSITION

One of the worst sides i’ve seen come to Plainmoor. Defensively they looked shot and couldn’t cope with our quick passing play. Their side midfield didn’t help either, failing to track runners throughout. Thought they may try and change shape after the second went in but they stuck to their shape and were on the canvas by half time. Bit of an odd one as they had one of the biggest budgets last season, reportedly over £1million, and there’s no reason to believe that’s been reduced this season. Looked a shadow of the side we played last season.

THE OFFICIALS

The ref didn’t have too many contentious decisions to make and generally seemed to make the right calls.

KEY MOMENT

A cracking save from James Hamon in the 32nd minute kept the score at 2-0. Had that gone in then Eastbourne may have grown in confidence but his quick reflexes kept a headed rebound out after the ball had come back off the cross bar. A pivotal moment in the first half, which allowed us to continue our onslaught up the other end.

CONCLUSION

This week’s events off the field had potential to derail our season, or conversely it could galvanise the squad and create a real siege mentality that can be harnessed to put a really good run together, off the back of two impressive away displays. Luckily it looks like its the latter as the lad’s put in their best performance of the season. A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon Plainmoor, bring on Worthing!