Weston-super-Mare 1
(Dodd 24′)
United 1
(Jay 56′)
United came from behind to earn a battling point on Tuesday evening, as it ended all-square at the Optima Stadium.
James Dodd’s first-half strike opened the scoring for the hosts, before Matt Jay restored parity shortly after the break. Both sides probed for a winner without success thereafter, leaving both sides with a point to show for their efforts.
Paul Wotton made four changes to the starting eleven that lost out to Chelmsford three days ago, with Jordan Dyer, Sam Dreyer, Oscar Threlkeld and Omar Mussa all returning at the expense of Finley Craske, Ed Palmer, Dean Moxey and Lirak Hasani. New man Offrande Zanzala began his Torquay career on the bench.
After a closely-fought first quarter of the game, Weston took the lead following a corner on 24 minutes.
The delivery to the back post was headed back into a packed goalmouth, and with The Gulls unable to clear their lines, the grounded Dodd fired his rising shot into the net off the crossbar to open the scoring.
After a fairly even opening, that goal seemed to lift the home side, and they continued to boss the remainder of the first period.
The second half was only eleven minutes old when Wotton’s men drew level.
Jordan Young’s strike from fifteen yards was goalbound, and with home stopper Max Harris forced into a low parry, the ball fell straight into the path of Jay, who duly lashed home the loose ball from eight yards.
With the scoreline level once more, the match began to open up.
Sam Pearson continued to pose a threat down the Weston left, however Torquay’s well-marshalled defence ensured James Hamon’s duties were kept to a minimum.
Likewise, Jordan Young was keeping the Weston backline occupied at the other end, and although neither side looked content with a share of the spoils, the two teams could not be separated, as it ended honours-even in Somerset.
Onto Saturday, with another stern test at Plainmoor, as Boreham Wood make the trip down to Devon.
WESTON-SUPER-MARE: 1. Max Harris, 2. Keiran Thomas, 3. Jordan Bastin, 4. Dylan Kadji, 6. Sam Avery, 8. James Dodd, 9. Reuben Reid, 10. Sam Pearson, 11. Luke Coulson, 15. Emlyn Lewis (c), 16. Pedro Borges (21. Oliver Bray, 83′).
SUBS NOT USED: 7. Jacob Jagger Cane, 12. Morgan Lewis, 14. Josh Seberry, 18. Ollie Jenkins.
Yellow Card: Borges 71′, Lewis 88′
UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 4. Jordan Dyer, 5. Sam Dreyer, 8. Jordan Young, 10. Omar Mussa (17. Offrande Zanzala, 55′), 14. Matt Carson, 18. Oscar Threlkeld (7. Lirak Hasani, 81′), 19. Cody Cooke (16. Ed Palmer, 90+3′), 20. Dan Hayfield, 26. Jordan Thomas, 27. Matt Jay.
SUBS NOT USED: 2. Finley Craske, 22. Will Jenkins Davies.
Yellow Card: Mussa 18′, Carson 78′
Attendance: 1,992