NLS: Torquay United v Hampton & Richmond 3pm 25 August 2018

Well what a shocker of a performance that was. Compared to my only other game of this season, when despite Bath City being the better and more polished footballing side, we at least matched them for commitment, and eventually tenacity and determination got us a slightly fortunate win against opponents whose own Manager praised for being at the top of their game. But what a contrast with the spiritless lethargic 'performance' we witnessed yesterday. It surely must have been more than a case of the players making their feelings known about the formation foisted upon them for this match ?

If Owers shifted away from 5-3-2 in an attempt to pacify a section of his critics, then let's hope he's learned his lesson before Monday. Mainly uninspiring football from both sides in the opening stages, our only consistency seemed to be in the regularity with which we over hit any pass of distance. A pivotal point in the match came when H&R had a corner which was delivered at a relatively low trajectory. Cap'n Brett was ideally positioned to clear it, unopposed, with a thumping header, but at the last split second decided to duck under it. The ball then immediately hitting someone on the goal line  before they had time to react, and the nightmare afternoon was really getting into it's stride.

Bereft of ideas, bereft of movement, and not the slightest indication that any of our players were getting the slightest enjoyment from playing football. Not even Liam Davis, whose tackling and play in possession rightly earned him MOTM, even if his crossing still needs working on. Though his delivery was world class in comparison to that provided by young Ben Wynter, who had a afternoon when little went right.





The half time introduction of Ruari Keating brought admirable effort, and the Irishman hit a fine cross shot on the run that hit the base of the post. After 15 or 20 minutes however, Keating's initial spark had waned, we were back to giving the H&R defence a largely untroubled afternoon.

Discontent off the pitch,and you wonder it there's also discontent on it. Intelligent senior pros like Ryan Dickson and Asa Hall surely won't be willing to quietly put up with a whole season of things trundling on in that manner. Whatever the cause, I'm sure discussions will be had and changes of some significant kind, even if it's not in personnel, made in order to make sure there's a significant change of course from the one we appeared to be on yesterday.  

Lovely picture of the Torquay skyline Alpine, hope you copy righted it, you don't want the English Riviera tourist board nicking it for their next brochure.

Here we go again...surely it must be better than living up North. How many murders in London this year...100?

Yes, anywhere north of the 'Kersell Arch is North

London!!!! I wouldn't go there if you paid me!!! 

No, I live further north than that in the Yorkshire Dales. 

Where is the Kerswell Arch anyway...and don't say Kerswell! I probably know it...but my memory...what were we talking about! 

Half-way'ish between Torquay and Newton on the old Kingserwell road, sits a bridge or to us locals the 'Kerswell Arch!

Dare say its someone who has left the area or someone who has visited Torquay for the day.

can't work out how to find theHttp code on flickr