If Torquay United are to challenge for promotion this season, they will need to be far better than they have been at the start of this National League South season.
A horrible bank holiday Monday defeat at Farnham Town, where they lost 2-0, has left the Gulls 19th in the table. They looked clueless at times against a team that were nothing special in a dreadful game in Sussex.
One win in six games is not good enough from a squad that promised so much. Manager Jimmy Ball will have some explaining to do after a performance in which the Gulls barely got out of first gear.
The absence of centre back Sam Dreyer from the squad was the big surprise when the team was announced an hour before kick-off. After losing Jordan Dyer to what could be a season-long injury, the last thing Torquay fans want is to lose his partner. With the Football League transfer deadline looming, Dreyer's absence looked ominous.
Tyler Hill started alongside Jake Wannell, with Jordan Young and Jacob Beaumont-Clark also in the team. They replaced Callum Morton and Cody Cooke, while Isaac Westendorf was back on the bench.
A good run by Young almost set up Sonny Blu Lo-Everton in the seventh minute, but his cut-back was slightly awkward. That was about as good as it got early on. Darryl Sanders had a header comfortably saved by Toby Savin in the 15th minute as Torquay struggled to get a grip on the game. Wannell blocked a Sanders strike in the 24th minute, and Bobby-Joe Taylor shot wide a couple of minutes later.
Matt Worthington won a free kick on the half-hour. Young sent the ball into the box and Deon Moore headed over. Lo-Everton was tripped on the right side of the box in the 33rd minute, but his poor cross from the resulting free kick was deflected for a corner.
At the other end, Jack Spong shot over from a good position. Taylor had another shot well held by Savin. Young then rolled a terrible shot harmlessly wide. A shot inside the box by Young was blocked, perhaps by a hand. Just before the break, a flicked-on pass fell nicely for Moore, who hit the ball over the bar with the help of the goalkeeper's fingertips. It was a dreadful half of football.
There were no changes for the Gulls at half time. Savin had to get down low to stop a Taylor shot within 30 seconds. Nobody was in the six-yard box when Lo-Everton crossed the ball low and hard into what should have been the danger area. There was a scary moment when Savin blasted the ball into an attacker, but it ran out of play wide of the goal. A through ball by Worthington found Moore, whose turn and shot was good but too high.
On the hour, Sanders curled a ball into the penalty area. Hill went to head it, so Savin left it, but Hill then
Torquay United Suffer Dismal 2-0 Defeat at Farnham Town