TUST

TUST FAN ZONE

DYLAN’S MAGIC ROUNDABOUT EASTER MONDAY HAT-TRICK BOOSTS UNITED

UNITED’S WOMEN’S TITLE DECIDER AT FOREST GREEN ON SUNDAY?

WE’RE AFTER YOUR TORQUAY UNITED MEMORIES

Last weekend just got even better on Easter Monday. Sunshine, a bumper Plainmoor crowd including a decent 200 from Bath, a great atmosphere, a hat-trick and three more welcome points.

And what a transformation in the players who have clearly taken on board all the new ways of Jimmy Ball who has got the team and the Yellow Army bouncing.

Happy fans full of positive anticipation on arrival and happy, smiling faces leaving to go home.

“I love scoring goals” – Dylan Morgan. Last week manager Jimmy Ball challenged Dylan publicly to score more. The result? A Morgan hat-trick against Bath City.

As Man of the Match, I asked him in The Cove after the game, before he was interviewed, about his hat-trick. It was the first of his professional career.

I said, after the manager’s comments, he could have sulked but he took on the challenge. In fact, he was annoyed he hadn’t scored more!

There’s no doubting Ball has inherited a pretty decent squad with as he puts it ‘firepower’. And his ‘ammunition off the bench’ is going to play a vital part in whatever happens next.

He has also drilled into the squad the importance of clean sheets and the players’ reaction to the Bath goal, which was virtually given to them, was evident.

There might only be three matches for most of the teams to play before Saturday’s fixtures but as Ball says, “When everything is possible, it’s exciting.”

Let’s have a look at the latest Form Guide last six matches:

1. Worthing +8 16pts

2. Chesham +9 15pts

3. Maidstone +5 15pts

4. Torquay +8 13pts

5. Ebbsfleet +3 12pts

13. Hornchurch +2 8pts

14. Chelmsford +1 8pts

15. Hemel 0 8pts

17. Dorking -3 7pts

We all know the importance of finishing in either second or third place should the automatic slot be out of reach.

This fans’ zone was written before the Slough match but without putting a jinx’s on the result United have hit some decent form at the right time.

The excitement of football that makes us all hooked is the roller-coaster ride matches take us on, trying to predict results and voicing our opinions.

Last season National South went to the last set of fixtures and it’s looking as if this season’s end is going to be just as tense.

Easter Monday Non-League Crowds: The outstanding attendances: York v Altrincham 8,162, Torquay v Bath 4,430, Hartlepool v Rochdale 4,203, FC United v Hednesford 4,043, Weymouth v Dorchester 2,945, Folkestone v Ramsgate 2,592.

United versus Slough might be another big game but there’s an even bigger Torquay fixture this weekend as United’s Women have a season defining ‘winner- takes- all’ game against Forest Green at The New Lawn on Sunday.

Forest Green are third, eight points behind United who lead the table but Forest Green have two games in hand. A tight 1-1 draw last month gives no clues as to how Sunday’s match will go.

For those travelling there’s free entry but otherwise you can follow the drama on TUFC Radio.

At the beginning of the month the FSA (Football Supporters’ Association) published the results of a survey they commissioned with 8,000 responses on VAR. Maybe not surprisingly, three quarters of respondents don’t support VAR.

91.7% said VAR removes spontaneous joy of goal celebrations.

Only 3.3% said the match-going experience is better with VAR.

86% expressed concerns about expanding VAR. You have a view about VAR? fanszone.tu@gmail.com.

Thank you so much for the kind comments I receive about these fans’ zones as you obviously enjoy reading the contents.

Now here’s your chance to take part.

Send me your memories of either a big Torquay game you attended, give us a flavour of the day, the atmosphere, the events or maybe tell us about your first ever Torquay game that makes you a life time fan. I’ll publish your stories in the coming weeks. Send to: fanszone.tu@gmail.com.

TUST’s Ian Twitchin Trophy alongside the Exiles Player of the Season Trophy will be presented with the club’s Player of the Season and Young Player after the Hemel Hempstead match next Saturday.

Yesterday TUST members received news about how there are exclusive limited places at the Club’s Gala Awards Evening on April 22nd, you have until Sunday evening to be in with a chance of being involved.