TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS SLOUGH TOWN

 1. Matt Jay makes another a big impact from the bench. 

Matt Jay once again proved to be a super sub for Torquay United as he helped to inspire the Gulls to recover from being a goal down to beat Slough Town at Plainmoor. 

Former Exeter City starlet Jay replaced Dan Hayfield in the 62nd minute and found the back of the net within a minute of coming on, as he fired home after a ball into the box from Caleb Roberts had been blocked. 

It was the third time that Jay had found the back of the net for United after also rising from the bench to score against Tonbridge Angels away and at home to Folkestone Invicta. On both of those occasions, Jay netted what turned out to be the winning, but this time he helped to inspire a comeback. 

2. Callum Morton nets his first league goal for his hometown club. 

After opening his competitive goal scoring account for the club in the FA Cup against AFC Stoneham, Callum Morton struck with his first league goal for the Gulls against Slough Town. 

Morton, who had entered the fray at half-time in place of Sean Robertson, pounced in the 70th minute after fellow sub Angelo Cappello had seen his effort parried by Slough keeper Kilian Barrett. 

He then turned provider, firstly for Jacob Beaumont-Clark on 87 minutes and then for Notts County loanee Luke Browne in the first minute of injury time. 

As well doubling his goalscoring tally to two, Morton also doubled his assist tally for the season to four, as he also provided assists for Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Matt Worthington in the FA Cup against AFC Stoneham and Tonbridge Angels respectively. 

3. Jacob Beaumont-Clark's brace. 

The early season departures of Jordan Young and Dylan Morgan deprived the Gulls of a source of over 30 goals, but Jacob Beaumont-Clark could yet play a major part in filling the void left by their moves to Worthing and Crawley Town, as he took his tally for the season to four with a late brace against Slough. 

Beaumont-Clark, who only had a handful of appearances for Everton Under-21s to his name before arriving at Plainmoor, is now firmly on course to hit double figures for the 2026-27 campaign. 

4. Competition for the right back slot. 

Throughout the 2026-27 season, the left-back slot has been heavily contested between Kian Jenkins and Tyler Hill, but there could also be equally strong competition for the right-back position between Harry Shield and Dom Bernard. 

In Bernard's recent absence through injury, former Plymouth Argyle youngster Shield has filled in and produced another solid display against Slough. 

It's something that will give manager Jimmy Ball plenty of food for though once Bernard returns from injury. 

5. Luke Browne's goal. 

Notts County loanee Luke Browne got in on the goal scoring against Slough as he drilled home a low drive from the edge of the penalty area after being teed up by Callum Morton. 

It was only Browne's third appearance since arriving at Plainmoor from Meadow Park, but there must surely be a possibility of his loan spell with the Gulls being extended. 

Older readers may recall reading Steak, Diana Ross: the diary of a footballing nobody by David McVay, which included a section on his loan spell with United from the Magpies. It is not known yet whether Browne decides to publish memoirs of his own playing career!

DEON ON THE SCORE SHEET FOR GOLDEN JAGUARS

 Torquay United striker Deon Moore signed off from CONCACAF Nations League duty with Guyana with a brace in the Golden Jaguars made it four wins out of four against Dominica. 

Moore netted a brace as Guyana won 8-1 to complete a double over Dominica, who they had beaten 5-1 three days earlier with Moore also finding the target. 

The results against Dominica followed a 1-0 win over Puerto Rico and a 2-0 victory over the Cayman Islands, as they secured promotion to CONCACAF Nations League Group A, progression to the competition's semi-finals and qualification for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. 

By appearing for the Golden Jaguars whilst with United, Moore joins a list of players who have appeared internationally for Caribbean nations, which includes Gregory Goodridge and Mark Hall (Barbados), Rodney Jack (St Vincent and Grenadines) and Tony Bedeau (Grenada). 

UNITED AND PARKWAY PROGRESS TO FOURTH QUALIFYING ROUND

 There will be a strong Devonian presence in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round draw after Torquay United and Plymouth Parkway both progressed from the third qualifying round. 

The Gulls will be appearing in the final qualifying stage of the competition for the first time since the 2023-24 campaign after they came away from Kent with a 1-0 victory over fellow National League South side Tonbridge Angels. 

Skipper Matt Worthington connected with a low ball from Callum Morton in the 55th minute to score his first goal of the season, as United secured their third away over the Angels in the last 12 months - after winning 2-1 on the final day of the 2025-26 campaign also winning by the same score line earlier this season. 

Current Southern League Premier South leaders Plymouth Parkway came from behind to beat Horsham at Bolitho Park. Ronan Silva put the Hornets in front in the first half before Parkway equalised in the 68th minute when Rio Garside headed home a Jenson Ireland corner. Three minutes later, another corner from Ireland was nodded home, this time by Reece Thomson as Parkway sealed their place in the next round. 

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS AFC STONEHAM FA CUP

 1. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton's purple patch. 

Sonny Blu Lo-Everton went into Saturday's FA Cup second qualifying round tie having scored two goals in two games for United in National League South, a figure that he increased on Saturday to five goals in three games with his first career hat-trick. 

United were already 2-1 in front when Lo-Everton opened his account for the afternoon when Callum Morton threaded a ball through him to calmly slot home. Then in first half injury time, Lo-Everton struck with his second with a strike from the edge of the penalty area following a short corner routine from the Gulls. 

In the second half, he added his third when he pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area to complete his first hat-trick, becoming the second Torquay United player under Jimmy Ball's reign as manager; the first being Dylan Morgan against Bath City on Easter Monday 2026. 

After the match, Ball stated that he believed Lo-Everton needed to score more goals to reflect his ability, and that he is more than capable of scoring double figures. 

2. Callum Morton's first goal for his hometown club. 

After growing up supporting the Gulls, Callum Morton finally signed for Torquay United during the close season, and scored his first goal for the club at Plainmoor against AFC Stoneham. 

Morton started up front as the focal point of United's attack and he turned home a cross from Sonny Blu Lo-Everton in the seventh minute to open his account for the Gulls. 

He will no doubt be hoping that he gave manager Jimmy Ball something to think about regarding his selection for future matches. 

3. Taylor Scarff's debut. 

Saturday's match also saw new signing Taylor Scarff make his debut for the Gulls after joining from Plymouth Parkway. Scarff, 26, who has also been capped by British Virgin Islands, started his career in the academies of Liverpool and Yeovil Town before appearing for Cornish side Mount Gould and Tavistock before joining Parkway. 

In the opening minutes, play was briefly held up when he underwent treatment for a blood injury, but he carried on once he had been patched up. He was eventually replaced by Monashe Sundire on 56 minutes. 

His arrival gives Jimmy Ball another option in the centre of defence, alongside Oludare Olufunwa, Jake Wannell and, once he returns from injury, Jordan Dyer. 

4. A first FA Cup in three years. 

Saturday's victory over AFC Stoneham was the first FA Cup tie that Torquay United have won since they beat Hungerford Town 5-0 on September 30, 2023, under Gary Johnson. 

Since then, United have twice exited the competition in the second qualifying round against Bishops Cleeve in 2024-25 and against AFC Totton, then managed by Jimmy Ball. 

5. A tribute to Kevin Miller. 

In his post-match interview, Jimmy Ball paid tribute his former Exeter City teammate and former Torquay United player and goalkeeper coach Kevin Miller, who died recently at the age of 57. 

Miller had loan spell with the Gulls from Southampton in the 2006-07 season, and later worked as a goalkeeper coach under Kevin Nicholson during the 2015-16 campaign. 

KEVIN MILLER 1969-2026

 The South West football community received a shock recently following the sudden passing of former Exeter City and Torquay United goalkeeper Kevin Miller at the age of 57. 

Miller originally joined the Grecians in 1989 from Newquay, and he played a starring role in the City that won the Fourth Division title in the 1989-90 campaign under Terry Cooper. It was a side that is still fondly remembered by Grecians' fans, and his teammates included the likes of Scot Hiley, Richard Dryden and Chris Vinnicombe, all of whom, like Miller, would go on to grace a higher level. 

In 1993, Miller followed Cooper to Birmingham City before moving on to Watford, where he won the Hornet's player of the year award twice, as his form at Vicarage Road helped him to earn a £1.5million move to the Premier League with Crystal Palace. 

A transfer to Barnsley then followed where he stayed for three years before making the return to St James Park in 2002. However, his return coincided with the season that the Grecians were relegated from the Football League under the ownership of John Russell and Mike Lewis, which also saw Uri Geller serve on the club's board. The season also saw the club go through three managers in John Cornforth, Neil McNab and Gary Peters. 

Further spells in the Football League followed for Miller with Bristol Rovers, Derby County, Southampton and Torquay United before he returned to his native Cornwall to sign for Bodmin Town. 

After he retired from playing, Miller worked as a goalkeeper coach for Torquay United and Exeter City, as well as a stint as manager of Exmouth Town. At the time of his passing, he had been working as goalkeeper coach at Wigan Athletic, a role which saw him reunited with former Grecians boss Gary Caldwell. 

His sudden passing is a huge loss to his family and friends and football in the South West has lost one of its true heroes. 

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS DORKING WANDERERS

 1. Jake Wannell's sending off. 

True to form, Torquay United's National League South encounter with Dorking Wanderers lived up to its billing, as both teams scored four goals between them. 

However, the drama didn't stop there. 

The Gulls spent the last 11 minutes of normal time, as well as the seven minutes of injury time added on, playing with ten men after skipper Jake Wannell received a second yellow card, after speaking to referee following a foul on leading scorer Deon Moore. In addition to this, United also played the closing stages with a makeshift centre back pairing after new signing Oladare Olufenwa went off injured to be replaced by Tyler Hill, who later found himself playing alongside central midfielder Dan Hayfield, who entered the fray after Wannell was dismissed. 

After the match, Wannell took to Twitter/X and when describing the incident said: "To clear up the sending off, the ref said five minutes prior that one more tackle on Deon would be a yellow. I simply asked the ref after another foul on Deon I said you told me it would be a booking for there player. Which is apparently dissent. No swearing whatsoever."

2. Deon Moore and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton amongst the goals. 

During a seven day spell which saw the Gulls secure seven points from a possible nine with wins over Folkestone Invicta (3-2) and Maidenhead United (4-0) and a draw with Dorking Wanderers (2-2), Deon Moore and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton found themselves amongst the goals. 

Moore was on target against Folkestone and then opened the scoring against Dorking. Lo-Everton scored United's second against Maidenhead after sub Matt Jay teed him up for a shot from 20 yards, which saw him open his account for the season. He then drilled home a low free-kick to level matters in the 68th minute. 

With Jordan Young and Dylan Morgan having departed, and Louis Dennis seemingly on the verge of his departure, Moore and Lo-Everton seem destined to take on the mantle of being United's main source of goals. 

Don't be surprised to see both hit double figures this season. 

3. Caleb Roberts and Tegan Finn. 

After making their debuts away to Maidenhead United in midweek, the majority of the Plainmoor faithful got their first glimpses of Plymouth Argyle loanees Caleb Roberts and Tegan Finn in the flesh. 

Both were involved the thick of the action in the first half as Roberts had a shot from distance turned behind for a corner by Dorking keeper Glenn Morris in the sixth minute and he later had a shot blocked. 

Finn, meanwhile, played a role in United's opener as his shot was stopped by Morris in the 23rd minute which landed in the path of Deon Moore who duly slotted home. He later had an effort that hit the post, as the Gulls dominated the first half, but still only went in at the break at 1-1. 

In recent seasons, Adam Randell and Will Jenkins-Davies have become key members of the United squad after joining on loan from the Pilgrims. Indeed, Randell went on to captain the club before moving to Bristol City in the summer of 2025, after he returned from a season long loan at Plainmoor in the 2020-21 season.  

Roberts will be with the Gulls until January 2027 and Finn has joined initially for a month. However, don't be surprised to see those deals extended. 

4. Still unbeaten at home. 

United's draw with Dorking keeps their home unbeaten record for 2026-27 intact, but United boss Jimmy Ball will be disappointed that they have only one once in five encounters at Plainmoor. 

In terms of their overall play, the Gulls have created enough chances to win more at one game in front of their own fans, and hopefully they will make that dominance count on a regular basis. 

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS FOLKESTONE INVICTA

 1. A first home win of the season. 

After three successive draws, Torquay United finally tasted victory in front of their own fans with victory over Folkestone Invicta. 

First half goals from Jacob Beaumont-Clark and Deon Moore set the Gulls on their way before they were pegged back early in the second half, as Liam Smith and Donell Thomas struck for Folkestone. 

However, despite weathering the storm for a long period in the second half, substitute Matt Jay struck to score his second goal of the campaign after fellow sub Cody Cooke had been denied by Folkestone keeper Ted Collins. 

The result proved to be a massive boost for all concerned and hopefully they'll be plenty more to cheer about at Plainmoor in the coming week and months. 

2. Jacob Beaumont-Clark.

Over the years, Torquay United have unearthed a number of players who might be regarded as 'rough diamonds' who they've polished up and sold on for a profit. 

Examples range from Mike Mahoney and Colin Lee in the 1970s through to the likes of Phil King and Lee Sharpe in the 1980s, Rodney Jack amongst others in the 1990s, David Graham in 2000s and names such as Eunan O'Kane and Angus MacDonald in more recent times. 

After a fortnight which saw Dylan Morgan and Sam Dreyer both depart Plainmoor for 'undisclosed fees' - the Gulls might have discovered another prospect who could earn them another fee in the form of winger Jacob Beaumont-Clark. 

In what was his third appearance for the club, Beaumont-Clark received the ball from right-back Dom Bernard and cut inside onto his left foot and found the top corner with his first goal for United. 

It was a contender for goal of the season, if ever there was one. 

If Beaumont-Clark can continue to replicate his display on Saturday on a regular basis, then he will soon attract interest from higher up the pyramid. 

3. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton. 

After being in and out of the United side this season, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton was restored to the 'number ten' role just behind lone striker Deon Moore which he occupied during the latter stages of the 2025-26 campaign. 

It was a move that paid dividends for United manager Jimmy Ball as Lo-Everton provided the assist for United's second goal as he ran at the Folkestone Invicta defence before threading the ball through to Deon Moore, who calmly slotted home. 

In the second half, Lo-Everton showed a different side to his game as United looked to get back into the game after conceding twice. By playing in a more advanced role, hopefully in addition to getting more assists, he'll get more chances to score goals himself. 

4. A turning point. 

In the 2008-09 season under Paul Buckle after an indifferent start, which saw them win only once in the opening seven league fixtures, the Gulls beat Northwich Victoria 2-1 thanks to a late penalty from Tim Sills. 

The result proved to be a turning point for United as they remained unbeaten in their next 13 matches, as they lifted themselves back into promotion contention in a season in which they went up via the play-offs. 

If the Gulls do indeed end up celebrating a return to the National League at the end of the current campaign, hopefully after winning a play-off final at Plainmoor, Matt Jay's winner will be looked back on as a turning point for the Gulls season in a similar way to Sills' penalty is often viewed as being.