NL: Torquay United v Guiseley 3pm 3 March 2017

Is it curtains for Kev after this defeat ?  The consensus seems to be most probably 'yes'. And with most new regime's preferring to appoint their own man, things do look decidedly bleak as far as King Kev's hopes of retaining his position under RSL's ownership go.

If we were resigned to mid-table obscurity for this season, could forget some comical defending as a one-off, and in so doing wish plucky little Guisley 'all the best' in their battle against relegation, then we'd be able to spare some time to appreciate just how good Luke Young's performance was yesterday. He played like a man possessed,from the first whistle to the last, demonstrating wonderful skill, a fine range of passing, and tenacity in every challenge. But it's a fact of life that such performances need to be the icing on the cake within the context of a fine win if they hope to be fondly recalled.


Guiseley aren't the Pub side a few have tried to paint them as. Yesterday's victory makes it about 4 wins from the last 5 games, with some notable scalps among their victims. The composed John Rooney often pulling the strings, a reasonably resolute defence, and a battling spirit that was only intensified rather than subdued when they were slightly harshly reduced to 10 men. A spirit exemplifying Yorkshire grit, and making for an enjoyable trip back up North, wallowing in the comfort of 'The Spirit of Headingley'.


Here's a link for the anoraks: Fourways coaches - Spirit Of Headingley



 An urgent and lively opening half from The Gulls saw not only the great strike from Aman Verma that gave us a half time lead, but also a McGinty header that came back off the crossbar, and decent attempts from Brett Williams and Dan Sparkes which both required Guiseley's solid if unspectacular keeper to do well to keep out. Even when Verma's fierce drive was nestling in the back of the net, King Kev was indicating to Luke Young that instead of running back towards the half way line, he should go and retrieve the ball from the beaten opposition goalkeeper, get the game restarted as quickly as possible, maintain the tempo, and try to increase our lead before half time.

Another goal was beyond us during that first 45 minutes, or 53, if you hadn't stopped your watch and needed to add on the additional 8 minutes for the crumpled ref. What a palaver changing Officials is these days. Leads, microphones, bullet proof vests....who knows what else they have velcro taped to their upper arms under that uniform ? And so what seemed like a very long first period came to an end with Kev's lads being applauded off as they went into the break with a one goal lead.

H.T  Gulls 1    Lions  0


Time to get the 50/50 draw under way....'And the winner is.....La La Land !'     And we could all chuckle along not knowing that we were soon to witness the TUFC defensive area turned into La La Land during the second half. Nor did many of us think a full time announcement of 'And the winners are....Guiselely !'  was very likely, particularly when our opponents were reduced to 10 men relatively early in the second half.


But sticking with half time, and the 50/50 money stayed local, as Steve of Torquay produced winning ticket No.15236.  Dave had ticket number 16037 entitling him to a go at the crossbar challenge. A reluctance to take his hands out of his jacket pockets didn't bode well for Dave's chances, and he never got a sniff at the money with three below average attempts.  Pleasing to hear the Official Supporters Club being plugged from the pitch at halftime, as well as a 6 year old member of the 'Osborne Youth' aka 'The Future Gulls' getting a few moments in the spotlight. A far cry from the days when we were almost on the verge of being read a Chapter from Trotsky's Autobiography at half time, on that notorious occasion when Steve Breed carelessly allowed the microphone to slip into other hands.

We were playing decently enough in the second half, found ourselves having what 'should' have been the advantage of an extra man to our opponents, but then a sudden defensive aberration and our lead has been wiped out. From that moment on it was Spirit of Headingley versus Spirit of La La Land.....and sadly we were the latter.

Once they'd got their second goal, Guiseley were masters at getting the ball into the corner, delaying, and stifling whatever attacking momentum we attempted to build.

And so time ran out......not only for our chances on the day, but sadly, perhaps also for King Kev.  Outside, Spirit of Headingley revved it's engines and prepared to speed back up to Yorkshire with the Guiseley players and their cargo of three precious points.

Nico should never of been offered the post in the first place he followed on from the other car crash hargreaves,sadly nico should of said thanks but no thanks for now but didnt.despite 129 applicants he ticked all the right boxes they said,he sure did inexperienced gullible cheap but enthusiastic it was never going to work out and hasnt.And many many of us said it at the time its a real shame cos he is a smashing fella and a proper family man too but good manager he aint

That's quite a fascinating set of statistics you have unearthed there, Stewart.

That could lead one to conclude the players are good enough when it matters to be in a better position than they are, yet how they are prepared, motivated etc, obviously leaves something to be desired.