TT REVIEW

Danny reports back on the win at Plainmoor

TORQUAY UNITED 2-1 SALISBURY – 10.03.2026

SUMMARY

A win. Remember one of those. Well, thankfully after a utterly miserable run stretching 7 games without a win, the Gulls’ got back to winning ways with a dogged, gritty performance over strugglers Salisbury.

The injury-hit Yellow’s were yet again forced into changes as Hamon made way for new McDons loanee Seb Stacey. Sonny Fish made a rare start in plaice of Matt Worthington, who made up a bench of just three, including the sub goalkeeper.

Any danger of United’s injury luck easing were firmly eradicated when right-back for the evening Nash Sundire hobbled off after just four minutes. Worthington, fresh from his red card on Saturday had little time to ‘sit and think about what he had done’ before entering the fray in a like for like swap.

You’d be forgiven for thinking this was a play off team hosting a bottom half side as both teams struggled to find any real quality. The away side, whilst having plenty of the ball, were careless in the final third and rarely troubled United’s recent acquisition. Torquay’s joy when it did come, mainly stemmed from the left hand side, with Dylan Morgan a thorn in the Salisbury side. A couple of half-chances came and went, as did one for Sonny Fish who saw his backheel calmly gathered by a certain Mr Buse.

As the half time whistle closed in, the away side upped the anti and so nearly took to lead as they rattled the bar from 10 yards out. As it was, the game remained goalless in what was a pretty drab affair.

In what was perhaps the sorriest sight of the season so far, Kieran Wilson doing keepy-uppy’s at HT as a lone sub, whilst our visitors had the luxury of almost fielding an entire different XI.

As it was, it was United who came out the stronger in the second half and before long they made that count as Dylan Morgan superbly fired the Devon side into the lead. A loose ball in the midfield saw the winger pick up the ball, run at his man and rifle his shot past the helpless keeper to make it 1-0. A moment of rare quality in the game, and for just the second time in 2026, United had scored the first goal!

With energy levels low and options from the bench limited, United sat back allowing the Wiltshire side to have possession in areas where they could do little damage. On the occasions the did break the Yellow’s backline, their quality, or rather lack of, showed in the final third as Stacey, whilst commanding and comfortable, had very little to do in the United goal.

With the game entering its final 10 minutes, the home side looked leggy. Chances for both sides continued to be few and far between, but with that, a sudden burst of energy from Dan Hayfield saw him courageously win the ball in a dangerous position. As he drove deep into the Salisbury half, he showed calm and composure to pick out a team mate in Matt Jay, who, in equal measures, showed finesse to slot the ball into the back of the net. 2-0 and the Gulls’ were on course for a much needed 3 points.

If there was any danger of a nice relaxing final 8 minutes, that was soon put to bed when Salisbury hit back to half the deficit. However, with just 3 minutes added on, much to the delight of the Plainmoor, a depleted, energy-sapped Torquay saw the game out with relative ease and secured a much needed win to boost their play-off credentials.

PLAYER RATINGS

15. STACEY – 7: Solid debut for the loanee who rarely put a foot wrong. Some smart saves and a commanding presence in the box.

3. FOULSTON – 6: Captain for the evening, did mostly what he needed to do. Got caught a couple of times leading to dangerous situations.

16. PALMER- 7: Commanding and won most of his duels against an ineffective front line.

28. TIZZARD – 7: Same as Palmer, and no doubt his best performance since joining.

6. SUNDIRE – N/A: Limped off early

20. HAYFIELD – 8: See MOTM

24. LO-EVERTON – 6: Fairly quiet evening for the midfielder.

8. YOUNG – 6: Fairly quiet, got into some menacing positions but unable to capitalise.

27. JAY – 7: Neat finish when Torquay needed it most.

11. MORGAN: 8 – United’s most dangerous player and took his goal well.

17. FISH: 6 – Worked hard without really threatening.

Subs

18. WORTHINGTON – 7: Came on and did a sound job at RB.

23. WILSON – 5: Late sub for Fish.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – DAN HAYFIELD

In a game where Torquay had to look to their senior players for some responsibility, Hayfield did just that with a commanding performance in the middle of the park. Got the team on the front foot regularly, and topped off his energetic performance with a superb assist for the second goal.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Sponsor’s MOTM Dylan Morgan and deservedly so. A threat down the left and always looked to cause problems. The two CB’s have had a torrid time of late, conceding 17 goals in their previous 5 games. But last night, they put in a big performance when the depleted Gulls’ needed it most.

TACTICS

THE OPPOSITION

Very limited. A side who have scored just 10 goals away from home this season, and its easy to see why. Torquay allowed them plenty of the ball, but did little with it. With the form of United, and how low on numbers they were, they probably seen this as a good opportunity to all but secure safety.

THE OFFICIALS

A bit of a mad 10 minutes after Torquay went a goal up, but overall a sound performance from all officials.

CONCLUSION

Far from a polished performance, but results are the priority at present. Hamon, Thomas, Dreyer, Dyer, (Sundire?), Dolan, Dennis & Cooke are all side-lined for the foreseeable, and be under no illusions, the new manager will have a job on his hands to get this squad properly firing again. Two points gained on Dorking last night, but as we should all know by now, the realistic aim is to finish in a decent spot within the play-offs. Home advantage will be key, as will a confident, fully fit squad.