TT REVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

SONNY’S PURPLE PATCH

Sonny Blu Lo-Everton went into Saturday’s FA Cup second qualifying round tie having two goals in two games for United in National League South, a figure that he increased on Saturday to five goals in three games with his first career hat-trick.

United were already 2-1 in front when Lo-Everton opened his account for the afternoon when Callum Morton threaded a ball through him to calmly slot home. Then in first half injury time, Lo-Everton struck with his second with a strike from the edge of the penalty area following a short corner routine from the Gulls.

In the second half, he added his third when he pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area to complete his first hat-trick, becoming the second Torquay United player under Jimmy Ball’s reign as manager; the first being Dylan Morgan against Bath City on Easter Monday 2026.

After the match, Ball stated that he believed Lo-Everton needed to score more goals to reflect his ability, and that he is more than capable of scoring double figures.

MORTON’S 1ST FOR THE GULLS

After growing up supporting the Gulls, Callum Morton finally signed for Torquay United during the close season, and scored his first goal for the club at Plainmoor against AFC Stoneham.

Morton started up front as the focal point of United’s attack and he turned home a cross from Sonny Blu Lo-Everton in the seventh minute to open his account for the Gulls.

He will no doubt be hoping that he gave manager Jimmy Ball something to think about regarding his selection for future matches.

SCARFF DEBUT

Saturday’s match also saw new signing Taylor Scarff make his debut for the Gulls after joining from Plymouth Parkway. Scarff, 26, who has also been capped by British Virgin Islands, started his career in the academies of Liverpool and Yeovil Town before appearing for Cornish side Mount Gould and Tavistock before joining Parkway.

In the opening minutes, play was briefly held up when he underwent treatment for a blood injury, but he carried on once he had been patched up. He was eventually replaced by Monashe Sundire on 56 minutes.

His arrival gives Jimmy Ball another option in the centre of defence, alongside Oludare Olufunwa, Jake Wannell and, once he returns from injury, Jordan Dyer.

A CUP WIN AT LAST!

Saturday’s victory over AFC Stoneham was the first FA Cup tie that Torquay United have won since they beat Hungerford Town 5-0 on September 30, 2023, under Gary Johnson.

Since then, United have twice exited the competition in the second qualifying round against Bishops Cleeve in 2024-25 and against AFC Totton, then managed by Jimmy Ball.

A TRIBUTE TO KEVIN

In his post-match interview, Jimmy Ball paid tribute his former Exeter City teammate and former Torquay United player and goalkeeper coach Kevin Miller, who died recently at the age of 57.

Miller had loan spell with the Gulls from Southampton in the 2006-07 season, and later worked as a goalkeeper coach under Kevin Nicholson during the 2015-16 campaign.

South West Football: KEVIN MILLER 1969-2026