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Torquay United boss 'can't believe what he saw' as Gulls drop points

Dean Moxey of Torquay United celebrates scoring Torquay's second goal during the National League South match between Slough Town and Torquay United at Arbour Park, Slough on 21 January 2025. Photo: Josh Smith/PPAUK
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“I can’t believe what I have just seen,” said Torquay United manager Paul Wotton after watching his side drop two points at Slough Town on Tuesday night.

After making hard work of the game, the Gulls went 2-1 ahead through defender Dean Moxey in the 89th minute. But, six minutes into injury time, they allowed Slough to score an equaliser that meant the team dropped from first to second in the National League South table - with Wotton blaming it on poor game management.

Wotton repeated: “I can’t believe what I have just seen in the last minute of that game! The game’s over. We have got the ball in the corner, we decide to cross it, they break and we don’t get anywhere near close enough to stop a cross - and they score with the last kick of the game.”

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In a decent first half for Torquay, Jordan Young gave the Gulls a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute after he capitalised on a mistake by Slough player-manager Scott Davies. Slough got their first equaliser through Johnny Goddard in the 61st minute. But when Moxey struck with a minute of the 90 to go, it looked like it was all over. However, that break fed the ball to Dan Bayliss and it was 2-2. Heartbreaking.

Wotton also has injury concerns now after three key players - midfielder Oscar Threlkeld, and defenders Jay Foulston and Jordan Dyer - all came off injured. With a home game against Hampton & Richmond Borough to come on Saturday, those players will be sorely missed if they aren’t available.

Sam Dreyer of Torquay United walks out before the National League South match between Slough Town and Torquay United at Arbour Park, Slough on 21 January 2025. Photo: Josh Smith/PPAUK
Sam Dreyer of Torquay United walks out before the National League South match between Slough Town and Torquay United at Arbour Park, Slough on 21 January 2025. Photo: Josh Smith/PPAUK

“I think they are three muscle injuries,” said Wotton. “I am not sure how serious they are. I think the game was there for us in the first half to go and get the second and the third. And we didn’t do that because of a little bit of naivety on our part. We are a little bit young and we made some strange decisions again. But we restricted Slough to zero in the first half.

“I think because of the substitutions that we were forced into, the game changed in the second half. We are digging in and we are battling but we are not playing particularly well. But we get the second goal and we managed it out fine, and then the last 50 to 60 seconds ... It’s insane game management. It’s really, really poor on our part.”

It was the Gulls’ second draw on the road, after the 1-1 at St Albans City on Saturday. And both draws came against teams in the lower reaches of the table. But Torquay are still unbeaten now for 14 games - so that’s something...

Wotton added: “We have had two away games now - two points should have been six. We are under no illusions of that. Players have to learn from that.”