FL2: Torquay United v Cheltenham Town - 21 September 2013

C'mon you yellows

And so it is - we've got 4

Should prove once and for all that defence is our problem, not attack

A vital win today in quite a bizarre match. Both teams had good spells and chances and you never quite knew which way the game would swing. On one hand Torquay created plenty of chances against a vulnerable looking Cheltenham but at the same time did not always look that assured themselves and it was far from a complete performance. But this win will do our confidence the world of good and the win was more important than how it was achieved. Crowd 2,407, nearly 250 from Cheltenham, sponsors MOTM Tonge, twitter MOTM Ball and my and those around me MOTM the outstanding Chappell who at times really ran the show for Torquay.

Torquay were quick out of the blocks and had a decent shot by Harding in the first minute. In the second minute following a horrible defensive mix-up by Cheltenham, Chappell won the ball and fed it to Ball to slot the ball into an empty net. torquay were well in control of the match but in the 13th. minute the game turned on its head. Following a Cheltenham cross, Harrison looked well offside but still planted his header into the net. Our defence stood and waited for the flag, Rice made a half hearted attempt to save the header but the flag did not raise and a goal was awarded! You can imagine the stick the linesman got from the Pop side after that! Torquay's early control evaporated and Cheltenham had a couple of great chances to take the lead. Martin Rice made a great diving save to parry out and the rebound was crashed against the crossbar - a real let-off for Torquay. Downes then made a great last ditch block to deny another goal. Torquay were wobbling and on chances a draw was fair. Mansell had a great volley from outside the box that was well saved.In injury time Hawley on the left wing whipped over a low cross and Ball flicked it in from close range with a defender on him. I don't know if there was a deflection of the defender. So Torquay went in 2-1 up at half-time.

Both teams looked like they could score and concede and on 49 minuted Hawley, who up to this point I thought was having a disappointing game, hit a low, hard shot from inside the area through a crowd of players past their keeper on his near post. Cheltenham got one back from a breakaway and Gornell scored with a one-on-one with Rice. The game could have swung either way and Cheltenham had some decent pressure and a few corners. At the other end Harding hit a corker of a shot from outside the box that was well saved and Torquay were having a good spell with the outstanding Chappell in the thick of it. On 89 minutes after good work from Bodin, he fed the ball to Chappell in the box. Chappell controlled the ball and placed the ball beautifully past their keeper. After 4 minutes of added time the final whistle blew to a joyous home crowd.

An impressive scoreline and a memorable match that you never quite knew what would happen next. That's more like it and no complaints today about the entertainment value!

Get in, capped a good day for me, desperately needed that first home win and we also scored first for the first time as well!!!!

How did Cruise get on at left back anyone?

Having just watched it in slow motion from the FLS, when their No 2 strikes the ball, Harrisons feet are closer to the penalty box line than Pearces are (they're both inside the box). I believe that makes him onside, any refs confirm or deny that? It just looks like he timed his move perfectly.

All yesterdays result "proves" is that IF the attacking players (Bodin, Ball, Hawley & Chapple) can convert some of the attempts (4 from 14 if the BBC site is to be believed) at goal (Chapple excused any critisism in this case) then we can look to collect all 3 points. If they go back to not converting chances (Ball, Bodin and Hawley had mustered a whole 1 goal between them before yesterday) in the next few matches, we probably wont collect many points.