Image by Torquay United.
Torquay United Vs Weymouth
National League South, Plainmoor, Monday 21 April, 3PM
Not too much longer to go, Terras fans!
With just one more match after today, a home clash versus Chelmsford City, this is the final time our Terras travel on the road, this time to the West Country.
Our opponents are led by Paul Wotton, a man who not only has experience of managing south-west wides, having previously spent five years at Truro City, but was also a captain under a certain Warren Feeney.
Our manager will be familiar with his leadership, which has seen a team who finished below us last season end up one point off the table-toppers this time round.
With just two games remaining, anything is possible for “The Gulls.”
However, they are up against the mighty Terras, who were able to take two points off them last time round…
HOW TO FOLLOW…
We are delighted to announce that the ever-brilliant Ben Ashelford will be on commentary this afternoon; click HERE to access his in-game thoughts.
Live updates will also be provided across our social media platforms, followed by post-match reaction being uploaded after the final whistle.
LAST TIME ROUND
The last time these two teams faced each other was on Boxing Day, but while this is usually a period of festive cheer, only one side was in good spirits.
Unsurprisingly, that team wasn’t us…
The Gulls had been enjoying their Christmas, flying above all others at the top of the table.
Meanwhile, we were rock bottom by a point, behind 23rd-place St Albans City, although their suspended match meant that the perfect opportunity to leapfrog the Hertfordshire outfit was presented to us.
We just had to do one thing that we hadn’t done all season – win a league game at home.
The first half was a cagey one, but we looked to end it still level with the title-challengers.
Until Will Jenkins-Davies took the lead just before halftime.
But, with a player like Brandon Goodship at our disposal, all we needed was one chance.
Which is what we got five minutes after the break, when our goal machine finished off a counter-attack to draw us level.
Goal no.99 for the legendary marksman.
But, as we’ve seen so many times this season in this league, the opposition can always strike back in a flash.
Seven minutes after Goody’s goal saw Jordan Young loop a free-kick delivery towards ex-Terra Cody Cooke, who headed beyond Will Buse to score his second in as many games and restore United’s lead.
After our initial hard work saw us rescue ourselves from being a goal behind, we now had to do the same once again with 33 minutes of regular time remaining.
But, as I mentioned a few paragraphs ago, when you have a player like Goodship…
You know the rest.
With less than 10 minutes remaining, substitute Brooklyn Genesini fired in a cross from the right-hand side, which saw fellow-sub Andy Robinson delicately flick the ball into Goodship’s path.
With the opportunity to score his 100th goal for the club and draw us level, there was going to be no other outcome as the scoreline was now 2-2 with less than 10 minutes of regular time remaining.
Following our equaliser, our goal machine reached his 100-club milestone, and we picked up a point against one of the league’s big hitters.
TIGHT AT THE TOP
But any points dropped for The Gulls today could see them crashing into the sea at exactly the wrong time.
While Wotton’s side are just one point off table-toppers Worthing, there are four other sides in the play-off places who still have a chance of automatic promotion.
With Worthing hosting fourth-place Dorking Wanderers in a high-quality crushing clash, the other teams will look to take advantage of one side inevitably dropping points.
Our opponents today will be hoping it isn’t them…
