TT MATCH VERDICT
Ben Wade
Ben reports back from Plainmoor
TORQUAY UNITED 1-1 HAMPTON AND RICHMOND BOROUGH – 29.08.2026
SUMMARY
On a windy Saturday afternoon in the Bay, Hampton and Richmond Borough got us under way and applied some pressure in the opening few minutes. It was Torquay who started to develop opportunities though, with the hosts putting numerous crosses into the box without finding a yellow and blue shirt. A piercing long ball from Callum Morton in the 23rd minute was headed up by the away goalkeeper. It only fell to Deon Moore who had his strike saved into the path of Cody Cooke to finish for 1-0!
Shortly after, Moore’s ball across the box for Sonny Blu Lo-Everton was just cut out as The Gulls looked to double the advantage before the half hour mark. For the remainder of the first half, Hampton had their moments but we were vastly in control with the referee controversially waving away a couple of penalty claims. With just moments of the first 45 minutes left, the visitors recycled a corner and Fernandez headed home to level against the run of play.
With a few missed chances before the interval, United were keen to start the 2nd half brightly and a statement of intent after 52 minutes was the substitution of Young on for Sundire as Torquay attempted to push back the away side despite being against the wind. Just three minutes after the first sub, newly signed Jacob Beaumont-Clark replaced Cooke and looked lively on that right flank. Seconds before the hour mark, Torquay continued to dominate with Young slipping through Jenkins who was barged off the ball.
The referee once again signalled no foul to the frustration of the home crowd. Not long after, Matt Jay came on for Callum Morton on the left side of the attack but multiple stoppages in play caused little momentum to build. With five minutes of additional time in play, Jordan Young stood over a 30-yard freekick but the wall deflected the ball behind for a corner. Hampton managed to clear eventually and celebrated the point jubilantly.
PLAYER RATINGS
1. Toby Savin – 6: The headed goal conceded was unstoppable and didn’t do much wrong despite a dodgy save that spun just wide.
2. Dom Bernard – 7: Provided good balls down the right-hand side and was defensively solid.
5. Sam Dreyer – 7: Forming a great partnership with Wannell, so clean sheet though.
16. Jake Wannell – 7: Looks so assuring a sturdy at the back.
15. Kian Jenkins – 7: Should’ve won a penalty and was sharp in the left back spot.
6. Munashe Sundire – 5: He was slightly shaky and part of the reason we couldn’t control midfield before being replaced early on in the second half.
18. Matt Worthington – 6: The main drive in our side and put in a couple of crunching tackles, caught out of position a bit.
24. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton – 7: This man needs to start more. He has the creativity and vision that we have lacked at times.
19. Deon Moore – 6: Made really promising runs and great movement but ultimately unable to finish one of many chances.
9. Cody Cooke – 7: He came back into the side and was his usual self, a good presence and found the back of the net. Right place, right time.
39. Callum Morton – 7: Looked pretty creative and bounced back from his poor performance at Dagenham.
Subs
8. Jordan Young – 6: Was fairly ineffective in his inverted midfield role, slightly odd decision to have him there.
11. Jacob Beaumont-Clark – 6: Showed moments of energy but wasn’t able to conjure up a moment of quality.
27. Matt Jay – 5: A wide role is not his position; he couldn’t do anything to change the result.
TUFC PLAYER RATINGS VOTE – Daggers (a) – TORQUAYTALK
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – SONNY BLU LO-EVERTON
My Player of The Match award goes to Sonny Blu Lo-Everton. He has more spark and creativity than all the players on the pitch and has great vision to pick out other players. Despite, no chances that he created being converted today, his work-rate was valuable and kept the crowd going at times.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
My two honourable mentions go to the centre back pairing of Jake Wannell and Sam Dreyer. They both are secure and confident on the ball to help us play out from the back positively. They played phenomenally but again, no three points.
TACTICS
With a narrow forward line, we played a 4-3-3 with Morton on the left and Moore on the right. Once Beaumont-Clark came on, Moore moved through the centre.
THE OPPOSITION
Hampton & Richmond Borough were OK throughout the game but offered little and blatantly time wasted which went unnoticed. I can see why they are in the lower league positions. Their fans were absolutely thrilled with the point.
THE OFFICIALS
The lino on the Bristow’s Bench side made a few poor offside calls and flagged for a TUFC corner when the ball was touching the line. The referee was very poor. He ignored the obvious time wasting throughout the game and ignored the new rules of counting down on set pieces, throw-ins and goal kicks. Numerous valid penalty claims were not given. Minimal added time came from a second half with seven substitutions and so many injuries, instances of time wasting and stoppages in play.
CONCLUSION
As Jimmy Ball always says, the support from the Yellow Army is amazing with 3529 fans in support, 3501 of which were home fans. Keep backing the boys, the goals and wins will come.
Keep the faith.
Up the Yellows!
COYY – Ben
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