Torquay comeback was 'most unenjoyable game of football'
Paul Wotton has seen his side lose just two of their last 14 matches
- Published
Coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 on one of your longest away trips of the season and open up a three-point gap at the top of the table should be a cause for celebration - but not so for Torquay United boss Paul Wotton.
The National League South side, who beat Dover Athletic in a game that needed a pitch inspection before going ahead, got their fifth win in a seven-game unbeaten run.
But Wotton was less than impressed: "I think that's one of the most unenjoyable games of football I've had since I've been managing," he told BBC Radio Devon.
"Tough conditions, the pitch was really heavy - you don't realise how bad it is until you actually walk across it.
"A seven-hour trip to get here in the rain and the traffic and stuff after a hard game on Saturday, 2-0 down after 20 minutes, it could have been 3-0 down, and to go in at 2-2, I thought we were fortunate."
Cody Cooke's two goals before half-time got Torquay back in the game
Ruben Soares-Junior had given the hosts a fourth-minute lead after a defensive mix-up and they almost doubled that a minute later when a second goal was ruled out for offiside.
The Kent side did get their second in the 11th minute when Ryan Hanson fired in from the edge of the area against his former club.
Cue the fightback - striker Cody Cooke converting Dan Hayfield's 27th-minute pass to make it 2-1, but moments later Jacob Mensah crashed an effort off the Torquay bar as they almost restored their two-goal advantage.
It was to prove to be a crucial point in the game as moments later Cooke made it 2-2 with a superb curling effort from the edge of the box that nestled in the top corner.
The victory came thanks to Sam Dreyer's goal 20 minutes into the second half - the central defender fired through a crowded penalty area after Dover failed to deal with a corner.
"Two brilliant finishes from Cody Cooke, and then second half was just a war of attrition," Wotton added.
"We couldn't play the way we wanted to play. We didn't play out from the back once because you couldn't.
"I think it's a really important three points. I think we showed good character.
"It took us a while to get going, but it's just about winning and it's a big three points."
The win was a third successive away victory for Wotton’s side after beating previous leaders Hornchurch on Saturday to go to the summit of National League South.
They face another massive test this coming Saturday when they host second-placed Dorking Wanderers in a win that could put them six points clear if results go their way.
Torquay fans probably won't mind another unenjoyable game though, if they can get an 18th win of the season.
