Torquay United's win showed boss 'desire and character' he wants

Torquay United manager Paul Wotton said that watching Saturday’s FA Trophy win from a different viewpoint showed him the ‘desire and character’ he wants from his players this season.

It was a tough cup tie decided by a brilliant free kick by Dan Hayfield - and Wotton, watching from the stands because of a one-match ban, called it ‘cagey’.

But, after Truro had a first-half goal given, and then disallowed because of a foul on Torquay goalkeeper James Hamon as Dan Ronney struck the ball, Hayfield struck in the 53rd minute with a free kick that found the far corner of Dan Lavercombe’s goal - and it will be Torquay, not Truro, who are in the hat for Monday’s third round draw.

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Football advisor Neil Warnock and Wotton’s assistant Mike Edwards were in the dugout, while Wotton sat behind them. And the manager said: “It was a tight encounter, a pretty cagey cup tie really. I didn’t think there was a great deal in the game. I thought we worked tremendously hard.

“We knew before the game we would have to deal with endless long throws and entries in the box. They are pretty direct. So I thought we stood up to that very, very well. I thought we defended our box really well. James Hamon hasn’t had a great deal to do.

“In the first half, on the transition, we had a couple of opportunities but that little bit of quality let us down in the final third, which we are working endlessly on. It was a clean sheet, I don’t think the goalie has had a great deal to do in the second half. It was a tight game. Obviously we will play them again in the not-too-distant future.

“We are really happy, it has been a tough fortnight, it has been a little bit frustrating, we are still unbeaten in November now. I thought our desire and character was excellent today. Obviously, seeing it from a different viewpoint in Bristow’s Bench, you get a great view of the game, and I thought we stood up to it. It’s a cup competition, we are in the next round, so we are really happy with that.”

Making his debut was 23-year-old right wing back Jordan Thomas, who signed on loan from Yeovil Town on Friday. He played well in the place of Finley Craske, who is out with an injury which might see him miss four to six weeks. I thought he was top class,” said Wotton about Thomas. “He wants to be here, you can see it in his eyes, he wants to run.”

After a busy period, Torquay now have a week off before going to Boreham Wood next Saturday. Then it’s current National League South leaders Weston-super-Mare who come to Plainmoor for a big game under the lights on Tuesday night. That one will be worth wrapping up warm for,