TT REVIEW

Rachel Malloch – @Rachelvillavox

Rachel reports on United’s Pre-Season friendly

TUFC 5-0 CARDIFF U21S – 25.07.2026

SUMMARY

Time was when a 12 o’clock noon kick off against Cardiff City was a familiar feature of Torquay United league fixtures, a swathe of travelling supporters carrying a reputation for a somewhat belligerent nature, the pubs, shops and some residents around the ground not taking any chances and the inevitable increased police presence a matter of course.

Our last league encounter with Cardiff City was way back in December, 2000, a midday crowd of 2,500 watched a resounding 4-1 win for the visitors, a Tony Bedeau goal our only real moment of cheer. The away fixture, in April 2001, saw another defeat for the Gulls but on that day I recall scampering around full time and collecting a fair few coins that had been hurled in our direction standing in the away end terraces, certainly enough to get a couple of drinks in with the monetary cost of living 26 years ago.

Those 12 noon kick off years also saw Torquay rub shoulders and kick shins with the likes of Brighton – champions that season – Leyton Orient, Hull City, Blackpool and our neighbours Exeter and Plymouth. That season also saw Cardiff City win promotion to League Division 2 and Torquay battle against the tide of relegation with a nerve jangling and an away stand swaying – one part the huge away following and another the scaffolding holding the structure together – last game of the season win against Barnet, a win that saw the Bees slip out of the football league and only my second involvement in a pitch invasion since a nil nil draw at Swindon saw Villa get back into the top flight in 1988.

Cardiff again visited TQ1 for a pre-season match in 2018, Neil Warnock’s highly rated Bluebirds against Gary Owers conference relegated Gulls. An entertaining game all said and done, with a well taken Ruairi Keating goal and a season that saw the sacking of Owers, the appointment of Gary Johnson and a promotion party as NLS champions.

Fast forward on, 8 years later to the long, hot summertime July, 2026, one that has scorched the land and has seen the Plainmoor sprinklers challenging the UV rays to do their worst on a parched but thankfully verdant pitch. Some lucky enough to be sat in the Family Stand at half time got a refreshing soaking and an impromptu hydration break.

After collecting our Plainmoor passes from the reception office, the 1003 supporters who donated the ‘Pay what you Want’ in the main took to the Popside terraces, with a sprinkling sitting in the Family Stand (every pun intended) and across Bristow’s bench too.

Torquay United have continued their heavy pre-season schedule with some really encouraging performances, some standout performances from many, including the strength and pace of Isaac Westendorf, the poacher instincts of Deon Moore and Callum Morton, some solidity in the midfield with club captain Matt Worthington, the ever combative Dan Hayfield and the tireless talents of Sonny Blu Lo Everton, eye catching turns from Trialist A aka Harry Shield and some lovely football from wing back Sean Robertson.

Cardiff City U21s arrived at Plainmoor yesterday on the back of some pre-season matches including a 0-0 draw with Chelsea U21s, a narrow defeat away to Yeovil Town, a victory at Bath City and a draw against Poole Town. There were some good individual performances and a very assured eye catching performance from their young no. 5 centre half, defender Gabriel Keita. One to watch with his strength on the ball and aerial ability.

Yesterday saw further suggestions that Torquay United under Jimmy Ball have assembled a variety box of talent, experience, clout, pace and skill and unlikely to be slouches to any challengers, most likely we can be assured that this squad will be a competitive force in the coming NLS season.

A 5-0 scoreline which saw somewhat naïve, clumsy defending from the youngsters from Cardiff, whilst no doubting some promising names for the future, there was no shortfall of technical ability, ultimately though it was quite evident this was a men against boys meeting with neither Torquay goalkeepers Toby Savin for the first half or indeed Zak Baker for the second being involved much at all, one save from a quick passage of play from the U21s in the first half aside.

Matt Worthington, Deon Moore (2), Jordan Young all finding the scoresheet in the first half and a tidy close range volley from Matt Jay the only goal late on of the second half.

What has been an observation of note during these pre season games has been our wide players, their pace and measure of running the channels and the ability to get decent crosses into the box. With the likes of Moore, Morton, Westendorf and Cody Cooke – who made his return to the fray after shoulder surgery and his subsequent absence to the squad – and after some lovely movement and passing play on the left wing from Kian Jenkins saw his cross provide Cooke with a thumping header which fell just inches wide at the far post.

Cody Cooke’s introduction was naturally met with an affectionate response, a few beats of the Popside drum and leaving it in no doubt that he is in your head, in your head……Cody, Cody, Cody……a couple of winces too when he landed heavily on that shoulder, but all seemingly in order and unscathed.

Some admirable work from match day ballboys the Wade brothers, Dylan Morgan venturing over to sign my nephew’s shirt, Jimmy Ball answering the come hither semaphores from us in the terraces, Jimmy taking it all in good spirit when acknowledging it was actually a signing for a Morgan not Ball with a shirt signing! Certainly the body language and affable vibes from our coach would indicate he was satisfied with further minutes in his players’ tanks.

So, the penultimate friendly, a comfortable 90+ minutes, no injuries despite the second half getting a bit overheated with some over youthful exuberance, shirt pulls and a flaying elbow or 2, Trialist A continuing to look a very, very good prospect indeed, some flashy Sean Robertson showboating, and now with every reason for supporters positivity as we go to the final ‘friendly’ against Exeter City this Friday evening at 7:30pm, a game that will fill the ground for what hopefully will be a morale booster performance before the curtains are raised for the beginning of our NLS campaign 2026/27 at home to Horsham on Saturday, 8^th August, where it all suddenly gets very real in pursuit of the holy grail of promotion.

Jimmy Ball’s Yellow Army!