United 3
(Dennis 9′, Young 11′, Cooke 41′ pen)
Enfield Town 1
(Parcell 60′)
United got 2025/26 off to a flyer, as they secured an opening day victory over Enfield.
United did all the damage in the first half, with Louis Dennis, Jordan Young and Cody Cooke firing The Gulls into a three-goal half-time advantage. Former Torquay youth team prospect Mickey Parcell did get Enfield on the board following the change of ends, but it wasn’t enough to deny The Gulls the three points.
For the first game of the season, boss Paul Wotton opted to name three new names in the starting line-up, with Dennis, Matt Worthington and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton taking their place in the XI, whilst another, Munashe Sundire, took his place on the bench. Also on the bench was Aidan Edwards, who continues his stay with the Club after figuring in United’s pre-season friendlies this summer.
Having weathered a brief early storm from Town, Wotton’s men settled and struck in the ninth minute.
Cooke’s flick-on was perfectly timed to set Dennis on his way, and after taking a touch, he slipped a low shot to the right of the onrushing Rhys Forster to get the new campaign up and running.
Just two minutes later, the lead was doubled as Jordan Young curled home from just inside the box.
The Yellow Army were now in full voice.
That being said, James Hamon was more than playing his part at the other end, with The Gulls’ No.1 coming up with a fine smother to deny Lamar Reynolds from close range.
Five minutes before the break, a penalty put the hosts in total charge.
Young’s jinking run drew a clear foul, and after the referee pointed to the spot, Cooke slotted home in style to make it 3-0 at the change of ends.
The second half saw Enfield do their level-best to drag themselves back into contention, and it was a former Gull that pulled one back in the 60th minute, as Mickey Parcell steered the ball home from eight yards out.
United were still creating chances of their own as they sought to build on their lead, but Hamon was kept busy at the other end as the clock continued to tick down.
Wotton’s side held firm though, and the Yellow Army celebrated the beginning of the new campaign just as they did the last – with an opening day victory.
It’s great to be back.
UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 3 Jay Foulston, 4. Jordan Dyer, 5. Sam Dreyer, 7. Louis Dennis, 8. Jordan Young (6. Munashe Sundire, 75′), 9. Cody Cooke (27. Matt Jay, 75′), 11. Dylan Morgan (20. Dan Hayfield, 75′), 18. Matt Worthington (c) (29. Aidan Edwards, 90+4′), 24. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 26. Jordan Thomas (16. Ed Palmer, 85′).
SUBS NOT USED: 13. Matt Wonnacott (GK), 15. Jadyn Crosbie.
Yellow Card: Dyer 19′, Dreyer 43′, Young 44′
ENFIELD TOWN: 1. Rhys Forster, 2. Avan Jones, 3. Jospeh Payne, 4. Hayden Bullas (14. Bayley Brown, 81′), 5. Xavier Benjamin (17. Matt Macarthur, 79′), 8. Sam Youngs, 9. Tommy Wood (23. Harry Lodovica, 75′), 10. Lamar Reynolds, 11. Billy Leonard, 16. Ruaridh Donaldson, 20. Mickey Parcell (c).
SUBS NOT USED: 13. Adi Connolly (GK), 15. T’Sharne Gallimore.
Yellow Card: Payne 50′
Attendance: 3,859 (179 away)
