When Popside remains full and bouncing, confidence will remain high

Every Wednesday in the Herald Express, our Torquay United correspondent Richard Hughes takes a sideways look at what's going on in the world of the Gulls. This week, he talks about action that gets the Popside popping

If you look closely during Patrick Tinkley’s clever PopEye video on the Torquay United website, you will be able to spot a man with a child on his shoulders, so excited he looks fit to burst.

I shall tell you why he is so excited after I have explained what Patrick’s PopEye video is – for those of us who are being left behind by all things social media and slightly modern.

Patrick splits the screen across the middle and the bit at the top shows a piece of action from a game, while the bit at the bottom shows the Popside’s reaction in real time.

It’s a fascinating watch, especially when the piece of action concerned is Jordan Young’s rather marvellous run that led to Cody Cooke’s goal in the 2-2 draw against Chelmsford City on Saturday.

And in the video, there’s a man with a child on his shoulders bouncing up and down in anticipation of what is to come.

Excitement had been building about seeing new forward Young in action since he was signed for an undisclosed fee from Yeovil Town last week. Looking at his form for the Glovers in the National League South last season – and his performances for them in the National League this time around – it was no surprise to see him named in the starting 11. And fans didn’t have long to wait to see what the player might be capable of – with the jumping man in the crowd showing just what a moment in football can do to you.

It was in just the second minute that Young picked up the ball in Torquay’s half after an early attack by Chelmsford had been batted away. He moved effortlessly with the ball past Chelmsford midfielders and onto the right, from where he cut inside, through another two Chelmsford players, to skirt along the edge of the 18-yard box. The whole run took mere seconds but it seemed to last forever.

On the video, you can hear the Popside collectively shouting ‘shoooooot’ but when he did, with a left foot that looked like a wand all game, the shot was blocked. Never mind, the ball popped out to Cody Cooke and the striker wrapped his foot around the ball to put the Gulls 1-0 ahead.

Some things that happen in football just make you jump up and down with excitement.

With Torquay at Salisbury last night, with the game being played after our Herald Express deadline, I can only hope there was more of the same from Young, who had three shots before managing to get his first goal for the club in just the 13th minute. A second shot had to be tipped over the bar, and his third – boom, back of the net after Chelmsford had made a right hash of clearing a corner in one go.

But this is Torquay United, so then came the frustration that has been a bit of a regular thing at Plainmoor this season. One goal back by Chelmsford was followed by a perfectly good Sam Dreyer goal being chalked out by the referee, and then there were some missed chances – including one by Young – that should have sewn things up before the visitors’ later goal.

But, Torquay remain unbeaten at Plainmoor this season and if points are dropped – like they undoubtedly were on Saturday – at least it’s not all three. Unbeaten at home by November is no mean feat and although this ‘work-in-progress’ team can be as frustrating as it can be electrifying, no one said it was going to be easy.

Personally, I think the National South is a harder division again this time around. Last season was a weird one because of all that went on, but this season teams seem to be one step up better.

Which means Paul Wotton has to unearth a few more Youngs yet – and the manager says he is still looking to bring in at least one.

Let’s hope that is another player that gets bodies on the Popside bouncing. For certain, while the Popside remains full and bouncing, the confidence will remain high.