NL: Torquay United v Altrincham 7:45pm 12 April 2016

Awesome result! KN approaching Saint status.

We have won against most of our relegation rivals which has made a big difference and maybe the bar has been lowered - a draw may be enough now but mathematically - 4 points from safety!

Even with the expense of 3 home games in 8 days, a respectable crowd of 2000 turned up last night to cheer on Super Kev's brave battlers to a further 3 points. Not that it was battling alone that brought us victory though, as there was a good deal of quality football to admire as well, all helped along by a really good performance by referee Huxtable.

Six points from the possible nine available was a decent return from these consecutive home games, given that the two wins also deprived fellow strugglers from picking up any points to aid their cause. All being well, things might now be a little more relaxed for our final home game against Mr.Cox's Barrow side. I don't foresee that Paul Cox will necessarily receive a particularly hostile reception, although it's a strange coincidence that his first return back to Plainmoor will surely be the very time we're announcing details of the 'Nicholson Statue Fund'.


We've not got a squad jammed full with incredibly talented players, and to hear it announced that there was to be no Nathan Smith or Danny Racchi taking part was unwelcome news. We started brightly and were keeping up what pressure we could on Altrincham's goal, without quite finding the spark of inspiration to get the ball between the posts.....that was until the 17th minute, when Luke Young hit a low shot firmly, which flew through the crowded area and into the visitors net.

Having gained a lead, we relaxed a little and played some even better football which deserved a second goal before half time, although we couldn't quite manage it. So at half time we had a scoreline of Gulls 1 Robins 0.

With the Club no doubt having learned it's lesson the hard way last weekend, the pitch was declared a 'Trust Free Zone' at half time. Normally it's also a player free zone as well, with the exception of a couple of subs who fancy a kick around. But last night it seemed that barely five minutes of the break had passed before the Alty team re-emerged onto the pitch. It appears that on entering their dressing room, Manager Neil Tolson must have admitted to his players that he had no answer to Super Kev's motivational abilities, or to our legend's tactical genius. In short there was nothing that Tolson could do to help his already defeated players get back into the game.

Now it was alright for the 10 Alty players that trotted back onto the pitch....they could chat among the big group of them. It was No.15 Josh (Gino) Ginnelly that I was feeling sorry for. He was due to replace No.9 Rankine at half time, but couldn't enter the field until the 4th official's board had been held up etc. Leaving 'Gino' with a chilly and solitary 10 minute wait stood on the touchline at the half way line waiting for the Gull's and the Officials to finish their half time tea, so that he could join his teammates.

Probably more desperate to run around and warm up than his teammates, 'Gino' was an immediate thorn in our side, and Dan Butler probably had to work a good deal harder in the second half that he'd been anticipating.

An alert Shaun Harrad showed that speed of mind can be more useful than speed of legs on occasions, as he scored a second for us on the hour mark to cap off a characteristically hard working performance from him.

A good team performance all round. Josh Rees was excellent again, with his energy and running making Luke Young's first full 90 minutes for a while that much easier. Courtney Richards had his best game for a while, while players like Butler and the American maintained the high standards we've come to expect from them. It was pleasing to see Ben Gerring do well also. Alongside the calm and mature Cap'n Angus (surely we can let him thump someone, now we've reached 47 points ?) and with the steady Rees and Young just in front of him, it was an ideal game for Gerring, rather than some of the situations we asked him to contend with earlier in the season.

The Stewards weren't quick enough to stop Dave Phillips invading the pitch at full time, and his was one of many smiling faces to be seen. So plenty of well deserved celebrating of another 3 points, before we filed out of Plainmoor , the chorus of 'Nicholson, Nicholson' drifting away on the night air.