FL2: Torquay United vs Bristol Rovers - 26th December 2013

The 2005 match was bloody painful to watch, as it was our usual capitulation in the final ten minutes or so of a match! I seem to remember watching it from behind the goal of the now family stand, but as I've never been in the family stand, was it still the mini-stand, or is my mind slowly giving up! 

Closed at noon today Pete (something to do with Christmas I guess, Bah! Humbug!). Can you not do the online booking thing for collection on the day?

Oh well, mind giving up it is then!

Alas, family commitments mean I can't make this one but will be keeping a close eye on the score and hopefully we can keep this mini-run going! Same line up please, despite Jayden back with us.

Take that,7 points from possible 9, seems we moving in right direction....enjoy your Boxing Day fellow gulls......si

A disappointing performance as Torquay struggled for long periods to get anything going. Bristol Rovers played the better, more incisive football but luckily did not punish Torquay who escaped with a point. Crowd a pathetic 3,461, 700+ from Bristol Rovers but I've given up complaining about making these matches all tickets with no purchases on the day. Last season we had 5,500+ for this fixture when it was not all ticket. Sponsors MOTM Mozika who was sporting a Terry Butcher type head bandage in the second half after a nasty head collision.

As with many other home games this season, Torquay's best spell was the first 10 minutes of the game as they took the game to Bristol Rovers. Torquay's penalty came as a result of a free-kick just outside the penalty area in a central position. Bodin struck it, the ball apparantly hit an arm and the referee pointed to the spot. Marquis calmly slotted the ball home sending the keeper the wrong way. So 1-0 up, playing well against a Bristol Rovers team who had barely got out of their half. But as on so many occasions this season that was as good as it got. Bristol Rovers got their act together and had Torquay hanging on in there. Poke came to the rescue a couple of times saving well with his feet when rovers were clean through. Harrold scored with a header from close range from a corner. Mozika nearly scored after the equaliser but that was a rare attempt from Torquay.

The second half evened out more with neither team creating much but Bristol Rovers had most of the pressure. Torquay's game got ragged with loads of basic errors creeping into the game. Players like McCourt, Chappel, Bodin could do little right and the disease seem to spread to players like Downes. But we hung in there and luckily Bristol Rovers could not capitalise. Stockley came on late for Chappel but still it seemed we played with only one attacker? Torquay's best second half moment came from a decent McCourt cross that was headed against the post by Mozika. Craig later still replaced McCourt. After 7 minutes of added time the referee thankfully blew the final whistle.

The biggest praise today has to go to the new drainage system and groundsman for getting the match on. The pitch did cut up towards the Bristow Bench but the pitch considering the amount of rain we've had was excellent. I'm fed up with making these games all ticket as yet again there were supporters who were turned away today with no tickets. 3,461 for a Boxing day match is pathetic. I have not got our tickets yet for the Exeter game and I'm not sure I want to go through all that extra hassle. And do I really want to sit through more of the same on Sunday? It was good to see Poke back today and we defended pretty well. But our attacking moments were few and far between with too many basic errors from too many players. At least we escaped with a point but it was pretty uninspiring stuff. Knill hardly changed things around to try and improve matters either, so no change there then.