FL2: Oxford Utd v Torquay Utd 10 Nov 12

A much better game in the second half than the first. The first half was pretty drab and uneventful; the second far more open and faster. A draw was fair at half-time and again at full-time. No great controversy nor incident. Just an ordinary League Two game, I guess, in what may prove to be a relatively ordinary season.

To echo what's been said already: Rice did fine; Jarvis worked steadily in the striker role but didn't cut much ice. You'd hope for more over a run of games. And, although we needed to defend as the game wore on, it was a declaration of intent to bring on Yeoman in place of Lathrope and change things around a bit. A win may have flattered us but it would not have been an injustice.

Steady performances all around and, from what I've seen, pretty indicative of this season to date. We're not a great side but nor are we desperately poor. I'm sure we'll continue to match or better most of the teams in this division without always setting the pulses racing.

Oxford weren't any great shakes but they're probably a typical side in a typical League Two. As for people saying "it's a poor league this year", I really don't know how they can judge without seeing dozens of games from an impartial viewpoint. This linking of the distribution of points within the league to the overall "quality" of the competition often strikes me as a cod science and I've been far from convinced by some of the arguments and theories put forward recently. And, I suspect, you can bet that people will say it's a "poor league" far more often than they lavish praise. It's exactly as advertised: the fourth tier of English football. Not always enough to get you on the edge of your seat, but good enough all the same.

I met Jon for today's game and we noted that Oxford get twice the crowds as we and probably have a bigger and deeper squad. If I was an Oxford fan looking at Torquay's achievements I'd be far more impressed than I am looking at theirs. Plenty of other fans in this division may also be favourably impressed by our endeavours. Who knows, they may even be saying so on their message boards.

That is not to go overboard. I don't sense a dramatic promotion push although this could still be a season where we give thanks for the play-off system. More so I envisage a safe place in the middle third. That'll do for me. And, if you know your history (as they say in the song), you'll probably agree that it's perfectly acceptable for us to be an "average" team in this league. It's also perfectly reasonable that some seasons may be less eventful than others. That's the reality and gives cause for rationality and perspective as opposed to undue angst, emotion and overblown profound analysis.

I know it's common to talk about football being a serious business and how much people care about their team and how - to use an expression that tends to make me queasy - they "wear their heart on their sleeve". But I really think we could do with a bit of lightening up. I do fear for one or two of you, especially when dear old Loyalgull greets us with a "I'm really not looking forward to this one" sigh of resignation. Not something to lift my spirits as I set off for the 0712 from Sheffield. Good grief, Alan, I needed to walk the Thames to Wolvercote on arrival to cheer myself up.

But the Thames was lovely this morning and let this plea to lighten up be something of an an early Christmas message from me. You can always have a few of my blood pressure tablets if you're struggling. They certainly seem to have a sanguine effect on me.

There's hope you know!