NL: Torquay United v Cheltenham 3pm 29th August 2015

Indeed, but what a team Kee and O'Kane on the bench, ah happy days.

IF we can play for 90 minutes, then I fancy 3 points, fail to play and .........

Hopefully, good away support today, maybe 500-600 odd? Perhaps to swell the crowd to 2300-2500?

Afternoon campers.......as per usual going for a comfortable 3 points today.slowly but surely this squad beginning to get yo know each other.....so cmon you gulls......and cmon you hull kr in final,massive underdogs in that.....si

Sadly this performance is really not very good. Optimism levels depressed!

Bit of a shocker today with a well below par performance as we did not seem to be able to play against 10 men and a couple of goal keeping errors gifted then an unassailable lead.

I think Cheltenham started the better side with Smith picking up a yellow with a late tackle that caused a bit of bad blood that was compounded a bit later when after about 10 minutes McLennan was sent off for a similar late challenge. The difference in this case being that McDonald had already slid in on the floor and therefore was construed to be a dangerous challenge. Although that put Cheltenham back, we were not able to dominate at all and our best chance came from an Exodus throw which their keeper scrambled away.

The goal we conceded was a poor one. An innocuous challenge led to a free kick that was swung in to the six yard box, Spiess came out for it but with a mass of bodies converging he was unable to get near the ball and a padded header was enough to divert it into the goal but would have been a simple catch on the line. That gave Cheltenham a lot of confidence and they never looked back.

In the second half we went back to 4-4-2 with Briscoe and Shepherd coming back on but again were unable to create much. Their second goal after an hour was a travesty. The ball was kicked long out of their area back to Butler in our half but with acres of space. One of their players went down holding his head in typical time wasting tactics and the 'ref waited until Butler had the ball and the opportunity to counterattack to blow his whistle for treatment. He then restarted play back in our half and gestured for Cheltenham to knock the ball back to Spiess. However, the ball was then kicked out deep into our half for a throw in where they could pressure us. Really bad from an uncontested drop ball but no sanction. Exodus then throw the ball back to Spiess and from mild pressure kicked the ball straight to a Cheltenham player which then led to an one on one with Spiess and after a tangle of bodies the ball was slotted home.

We were really struggling then and had to push forward, . Leaving holes at the back which Cheltenham exploited but again we could not create a head of pressure. From a breakaway, Spires again had a one on one and although may have got the ball? Then caught their forward and conceded a penalty that he never looked like saving.

So that was that. Thought their keeper had a really good match, never spilled the ball once. Downes did well as well. Hurst had a good shot saved from some good movement but that was about it...

Well, if nothing else, we have to commend the club on the speed of updating the OS and the openness that now exists. I've never been one to dwell on misfortune. Today's gone so let's look forward to Monday and hope PC gets it right and gets some luck to go with it.

Well what can you say after that embarrassment of a game?

Thank gawd that Cheltenham only had 10 men on the field and that they missed a couple of sitters as it could have been 5 – 0. I assume Downes was let go for wage reasons as he was right on top of his game today (mind you we played the ball in the air, meat and drink chum, meat and drink) and got a good appreciation before and after the game.

Not sure Cox got his tactics right today by playing so many high ball against a very tall team.

The FA need to change the way the deal with ‘head injuries’. I’m not suggesting that they don’t stop the game but change the way they deal with the aftermath. Firstly the player with the ‘head injury’ should be examined by a doctor and be off the field for a minimum of 5 minutes and play should restart with a free kick from where the ball was when the ref blew his whistle.

This game reminded me of the Newport PSF where it looked like then and now of 11 players who have just met for the first time.

I think it took until the 85th minute for the Cheltenham keeper ‘had’ to make a save. Most if not all other shots were straight at him.

On the final whistle Exodus was straight down the tunnel with no post match handshakes with the opposition and officials. Isn’t that part of the captain’s game? Thought he looked tired from about the 10 minute mark.

Poor crowd c2000 odd, with 250 from Cheltenham. The worry is that we this type of fayre served up crowds will dwindle below the much commented 1800.

Can’t see us getting anything from the Eastleigh game – 6 points from the play offs and 4 from the bottom 4!