TT MATCH VERDICT
Clive Hayward – @Byehorse
Clive reports back from Plainmoor
TORQUAY UNITED 3-2 FOLKESTONE INVICTA – 05.09.2026
SUMMARY
Despite throwing away a well-deserved 2-0 lead in two minutes of madness just after half time, United grabbed a much-needed win. Matt Jay struck late to give their manager and supporters a shot in the arm with an improved performance to earn a big three points against last season’s Isthmian League Champions Folkestone Invicta.
With summer making a comeback at Plainmoor, it felt like a new beginning after an awful August which has seen poor results, disjointed performances and what seems like the breaking up of much of last season’s squad.
United lined up with two young wingers, Jacob Beaumont Clark operating down the right and brand-new signing Angelo Cappello stepping into Dylan Morgan’s shoes on the left. Jordan Young was again conspicuous by his absence, and it looks as though club and player are going their separate ways.
After the away team had made the brighter start, Beaumont-Clark brought the house down in the 8th minute. Collecting the ball from Dom Bernard, he dribbled inside searching for a weakness and curled a left foot shot into Ted Collins’ top corner. He celebrated with the Pop Side. If ever Torquay fans had needed a pick-up today was the day and the young Mancunian delivered: 1-0.
United were now rampant. Sundire slipped Jenkins away to deliver a dangerous cross that just went begging. Sunny-Blu Lo Everton anticipated the bounce better than a Folkestone defender but couldn’t quite lift his finish high enough over the keeper. Beaumont-Clark flicked the crossbar from a tight angle. On 22 minutes they got the second goal: Lo Everton carried the ball into the heart of the away defence and slid Moore in for a chance reminiscent of his first against Dorking on the wonderful playoff night in April. His precise low finish gave the keeper no chance: 2-0.
Beaumont-Clark was denied by a full length save, and before half time Wannell hit the bar with a header with Beaumont-Clark unable to smuggle the rebound over the line.
Folkestone have made a great start to the season, and sat in third place before this afternoon. They started the second half by far the stronger, and after Savin had saved, one effort central defender Smith powered in a header from the resulting corner: 2-1.
Before you could say “game on” the visitors scored again. A horrible mix-up between Wannell and Hill saw Cappello exposed as last man. He looks to be a lively addition to the squad but he was easily overpowered. Thomas put Savin on to his backside and rolled in an equaliser to deflate Plainmoor’s fragile confidence: 2-2.
The crowd (down to 3100) stayed behind the players, but there were heart-in-mouth moments. The game was firmly in the balance. A Folkestone flick hit the bar with keeper beaten.
Callum Morton replaced a limping Beaumont-Clark just after the hour, and Matt Jay came on for tiring skipper Matt Worthington 2 minutes later. Frustration grew as the referee declined to give what looked like a series of obvious free kicks. Morton was booked for his protests and the Pop Side made its feelings very clear.
Fifteen minutes from time Toby Savin was replaced in goal by Zak Baker. Received wisdom is that he had been struggling with an early injury but he looked annoyed to be hooked.
On 77 minutes, Jay moved the ball quickly on the edge of the box but couldn’t quite get his shot away. United were rallying. Deon Moore battled away down the left and got a cross in. It broke to the fast-arriving Barnard, but the right back couldn’t keep his shot down.
Then came the moment that could turn out to be a turning point for United’s season, but which at the very least got everyone out of their seats. A Moore effort was saved and Jay showed his class. Slowing down when others might have snatched, he guided the ball home with the outside of his left foot. Plainmoor erupted, and Jimmy Ball and his coaching staff celebrated wildly: 3-2.
Thank goodness for that!
PLAYER RATINGS
1. Toby Savin – 5.5: A couple of good early punches, but he flapped badly at a second half corner. After Monday’s howler at Farnham it looks like this season could go either way for the former Shrewsbury stopper. There’s clearly a very good goalkeeper in there.
2. Dom Bernard – 6.5: Generally pretty good. No shrinking violet this one: he had some frank exchanges with Deon Moore about the standard of his distribution. We need his experience in what is going to be a new defensive unit in the weeks to come.
3. Tyler Hill – 5.5: He carried the ball out well on a couple of occasions, but on this week’s evidence he has very much looked a makeshift centre back.
16. Jake Wannell – 6: A mixed bag for August’s player of the month. At fault for the equaliser, but won most of his headers and came close to getting on the scoresheet himself.
15. Kian Jenkins – 6: I thought he did well, on the whole.
11. Jacob Beaumont-Clark – 7.5: : It’s quite a lot of pressure for a youngster, coming into the squad late as he has, and with metaphorical big boots to fill. It looks as though Jacob can handle it though. He blended skill and intelligence today, and is comfortable going inside or out.
6. Munashe Sundire – 6: Nash can tackle, and tries to cover every blade of grass. Some would say that with his first touch he needs to. A good shift on a hot day though.
18. Matt Worthington – 5.5: No lack of effort from the captain but couldn’t always put out the fires which were often raging around him.
24. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton – 8: Operating mainly “in the hole”, he showed his worth, with that vital ability to carry the ball and to create danger. The manager must surely persist with him in this form.
17. Angelo Cappello – 7: : I think he’ll be pleased with his start. Always wanted the ball and clearly loves to take on a full back. He’s not going to win many 50-50s but if we play to our strengths we may have a decent player on our hands.
19. Deon Moore – 8: Deon was a menace today, and he took his goal with aplomb. Come on!!
Subs
39. Callum Morton – 7: Put himself about, pleasing the Pop Side. Lost his temper with the referee, along with about 3000 others.
13. Zak Baker – 6: To be honest, Zak looked as nervous as a kitten on the touchline when waiting to go on. He didn’t have a lot to do. He’s got a big left boot on him. The direction finder was wonky early on, as he holed a couple into the crowd.
27. Matt Jay – 8: Form is temporary, class is permanent. He may not be the player he was when riding high with the Greians, but he’s got more than enough class to be a threat for us and he added another valuable goal today.
9. Cody Cooke – 6: What you see is what you get. Another Torquay player who couldn’t get a free kick for love nor money.
TUFC PLAYER RATINGS VOTE – Folkestone (h) – TORQUAYTALK
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – SONNY BLU LO-EVERTON
Positive. Deadly. Undroppable?
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Deon Moore. Rumours of Deon’s decline have been greatly exaggerated. He looked every inch a quality striker today.
TACTICS
A big, powerful centre forward, to enterprising wingers with an eye for goal and Sunny-Blu Lo Everton buzzing around in the hole. It’ll do for me. I couldn’t work out whether Jenkins was playing left back or wing back. If the latter, we might have started with a 3-4-3.
The malign influence of Pep Guardiola continues to leave non-league fans with their hearts in their mouths. You can call me a dinosaur if you like, but I remain very sceptical that many NLS centre backs are good enough to play split second passes across their own penalty area. I really wish they wouldn’t!
THE OPPOSITION
Decent. They brought a real threat. They won their league with ease last year, and although it’s early days I think Folkestone will win many more than they lose this season.
THE OFFICIALS
I’m almost speechless. There’s refusing to be intimidated by a big crowd, and then there is a bloody-minded refusal to give us a free kick under almost any circumstances. I genuinely believe that if someone had got a machete out and hacked off a Torquay limb Mr Warner would have giggled and waved play on.
CONCLUSION
Skin of our teeth in the end, but after Jimmy Ball had promised we would only be seeing players today who actually want to play for Torquay United this was a win he richly deserved.
COYY – Clive
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