NLS: Torquay United v Enfield Town 3pm 10th August 2024

Very much, so Phil, we certainly deserved the win and had quite a few chances to extend the lead so it would have been gutting to concede that injury time goal line scramble but some desperate last gasp defending kept our goal advantage.

So the gulls lined up as I suspected it would but after three minutes, Mussa was dispossessed, a trait noted in preseason and from there Enfield were able to break down the left deliverying a perfect cross and a glancing header to see the ball nestling inside the far post to the delight of the traveling support and to the shock of everyone else at Plainmoor.

To be fair to the team, they responded by slowly taking control, dominating both possession and territory. Threlkeld had our first chance, controlling a difficult bouncing ball very well to volley just over the bar. I really like him as a player, does the simple things very well but also showing quality at times such as in one instant, having a chance to shoot, but seeing it would be blocked, adjusted his kick into a good pass to the right hand side of the penalty area. Shortly after, we did get an equalizer when a free kick was headed out to Carson on the edge of the area and his shot slightly deflected off a defender straight into the back of the net.

It didn’t take long to take the lead either. Some good play by Mussa in midfield created space for Carson on the left and his cross was spot on the money for Ash to glance the ball at the near post into the far side of the goal. Mussa showed some good skill and strength at times to go past a number of Enfield players and think he’s going to be a firm fans favorite at the club.

I thought the team came out a little sluggish in the second half, perhaps waiting to weather a storm from Enfield that never really came. We slowly took control again as the half progressed, mainly by good use of substitutions with Hasani coming on just before the hour mark for Mussa, upping the tempo in midfield and he almost had an assist when a good pass on the edge of the area put Ash clear but his shot was very well saved low down by their keeper. When Ash came off, Seymour replaced him and with fresh legs immediately caused Enfield a lot of problems, hitting the back of the net on one occasion but correctly ruled offside. I think both him and Ash will score a lot of goals this season just by coming off the bench against tiring defenders, an option we didn’t have last season.

Slightly disappointing not to get a third goal with the number of chances we had, Hayfield in particular had a free kick in the same position as that against Tiverton, but unlike that game just hit it wide. It always meant we were vulnerable to a sucker punch which very nearly came in injury time, I think from a long throw where chaos reigned in the 6 yard box and how we kept two short range shots out I do not know, but we did and start the new era with a win.