Torquay v Aldershot 3pm ko Saturday 2nd December

I think we have moved from pants to competitive so expect a reasonably close game this afternoon. We certainly owe Aldershot after losing twice at their place this season, the first time not helped by some debatable official decisions.

COYY!

Strongly disagree.

I thought it was a well-fought and entertaining battle.

It's easy to look good against rubbish like Leyton Orient but much tougher against a team that tries to stop you playing.

Aldershot are not the kind of "cut above" team that could storm to the title by outplaying everyone in sight, but they are solid and will be there or thereabouts.

We more than matched them for most of the game and when they did have a spell on top we looked solid enough to resist them.

On balance, I probably gained more encouragement from today than from last Saturday's turkey shoot.

Main concern is where the goals are going to come from. I do see today as a "point gained" but in general draws will be no good for us due to our appalling start. We should have enough quality to edge clear, but it is going to be far from easy.

I keep thinking of York last season and Halifax the year before who both had terrible starts and then seemed to pull clear and look much too good to go down - only to slip back into the drop zone right at the end. There is a long way to go to pull clear and no room for any "too good to go down" complacency.

A really enjoyable game of football between 2 decent sides today. Both teams put together good flowing moves at times and a draw was the very least Torquay deserved. Today was another indication how much Torquay have improved of late. Torquay grew stronger as the game wore on, kept their shape and what pleased me most was their running off the ball. There was a pleasing fluidity about our game with players running off the ball giving our player in possession options. The only possible criticism was that Torquay did not test Aldershot's keeper enough but there was good movement from our forwards and there was no lack of effort. At the other end Dorel's brilliance in goal saved Torquay twice in the first half. Crowd a disappointing 1,851 bearing in mind there were 199 from Aldershot. Sponsors MOTM was a good shout going to left wingback Davis.

Torquay were slow starting today and in the first 10 minutes with a few of their players showing hesitant moments which got ourselves in trouble against a confident looking Aldershot side. McGinty got done for pace down our left and an Aldershot player rounded Dorel and looked certain to score. Somehow the ball ended up in Dorel's arms still lying on the ground and it was a big let off. Torquay gradually settled into the game and the rest of the half was an even affair with both teams threatening in an entertaining match. Torquay had several dangerous moments and our best chance was when McQuiod was put through from a quickly taken free-kick and hit the foot of the post. Dorel saved brilliantly when Aldershot were clean through and near the end of the half Aldershot missed from a clear header.

I was impressed the way Torquay stepped it up in the second half and Aldershot were probably grateful they got a draw. Torquay's best chance was from a slick move down our left and Davis dinked cross was headed over the bar at close range by McQuoid. Young had a free-kick just outside the box that he just whipped wide of the far post. I felt confident that Torquay would not lose although Aldershot had one or two spells when they looked dangerous. Torquay finished the stronger team but could not find the break through their play deserved. Gnabouyou came on for McQuoid for the last 10 minutes and it looks he needs more time to get into the pace of our game. Torquay's home crowd got behind the team and appreciated our team's effort and quality of performance and gave the team a good ovation at the end of the game.

So a good match, good performance and a decent point against the league leaders. There is still perhaps a question mark about how ruthless we are in front of goal but the team is playing much better now playing with more cohesion and belief.

Like a few others I was sat near in the bench I was of the opinion after not seeing Torquay play in a couple of years that I can categorically state that we had plenty of huff and plenty of puff but totally devoid of any real quality apart from the odd isolated moments that showed some promise. What stood out to me was the extent of how far we have fallen. Truly awful game in my book spoilt only by some small and vary rare isolated incidences.
The club is down to it's bare bones fans wise, only the hard core remain and I can see why! Glad I'm flying home in a couple of months! 19 quid to sit in a seat that a midget would find small, freezing cold only to be warmed by the poorest display of football since i played park football!
On a brighter note did anyone watch the cricket?

I found it to be both an interesting and competitive match and maybe on another day it could have been 2-1 to us with one off the post and McQuoid heading over at the far post after a delightful chip from Davis over the keeper when really he should have hit the target. Cannot really add to Swanny's match report.

Thought the ref was ok, at least tried to keep the match flowing but was conned on a couple of occasions with a bit of simulation, thinking particularly of an instance near the popside towards the Babbacombe end in the second half and also where Keating was too strong for the defender who went down for the free kick when he would have been through on goal.

Some odd comments Ausie and so pessimistic when this little period of on field success is giving the hardy fans a degree of hope and optimsim. Where have you been for two years?
Seen much much worse than that over the last TEN years, It was a decent game for this level and the performance was very encouraging.
Organised, and motivated with every player knowing their job and so much fitter than when KN was at the helm.
Lovely bloke Kev who couldn't do enough for the club but who is now being exposed for his naivety on many fronts.
Enjoyed the game and there was little to chose between either side and for a long periods we pegged them back as they started to back off of us - A sure sign that they were starting to fear us and I haven't seen that for a long time.
Tranmere next and another big test for our improving squad hope we can retain the ones making the difference and that includes Josh McQuoid who doesnt get the credit he deserves for his workrate and tracking back. Efete is another who has slotted in well and made a huge difference. Owers has to release a few soon and reckon Murphy, Mire-Williams and Evans could be on there way soon though would like to see a fit again George Dowling back in the squad.