NLS: Torquay United v Hemel Hempstead 3pm 1 September 2018

1409 attendance reflecting the previous performances at Plainmoor

Well that was a strange one! A very welcome win in the end that will hopefully give the team some confidence. But Torquay were totally out-of-sorts and outplayed in the first half and Hemel should have been well out-of-sight. The real story today was our two new loan players from Bristol City who were both sensational and gave our whole team a huge lift. Even in the first half when all was falling apart around them our loan players from Bristol, Andrews and Edwards, and Bass our loan keeper from Portsmouth were are only shining lights. Crowd 1,409 with 70 from Hemel, sponsors MOTM going to Jamie Reid who was a transformed man in the second half.

My first observation today was how low on numbers and quiet our supporters were. The atmosphere all around was subdued with no chanting, the only singing coming from the Hemel supporters. The first half was a continuation of last Saturday's shambles and Hemel soon took control of the match. I thought Hemel were a joy to watch in the first half and they were everything that Torquay weren't - lively, good incisive passing, movement of the ball, playing as a team etc. Torquay were chasing shadows and looked a sorry sight. Hemel spotted our keeper Bass off his line and lobbed him from far out with a beautiful lob dipping just under our cross bar. Bass back pedalled and pulled off a fine save finger tipping the ball over the bar. Chances came for Hemel and Torquay were slow reacting from a corner. Somehow Hemel missed all their chances when it seemed easier for them to score and they also hit the post. Torquay finally had a shot later in the first half that was saved but it was only our Bristol lads who looked threatening. Somehow the half-time score was 0-0 and we could have had no complaints if the score was 0-3. It was awful and there was a ring of boos at half-time.

Williams was rightly substituted in the second half by Keating and Keating gave his usual energetic performance. Williams had another stinker of a performance. Reid moved to a more central striking position and Torquay finally got their act together and were looking the better team. Reid brought a close range stinging save from Hemel's keeper and the home crowd responded more. It was a real joy to watch our Bristol City loan players playing on the wings and the way Andrews considering his tender age was bossing the play and was vocal with his team mates.

Andrews assisted both our goals. His threaded pass put through Reid who slotted the ball past their keeper. It was Andrews corner that was powerfully headed in by Hall for our second to seal the match. After the first goal Torqauy played some good stuff passing with a purpose at last and building some good pressure with several corners. Keating should have scored but got his angles all wrong and shot wide with the goal gaping. We finished the game to loud cheers and even Owers came on to the pitch to hug some players and enjoy the moment.

So what conclusions can we draw from today? We have three cracking loan players in Bass, Andrews and Edwards and they lifted the team out of the doldrums. I thought defenders Cameron, Essuman and Hall had decent games but we were carrying too many players out-of-form. Williams our captain was the worse culprit and is contributing nothing in his work rate and often falls over looking for fouls. He never seems to have a strikers instinct and be in the right place at the right time and does not seem to have the right attitude. Jamie Reid showed his two sides today. Dreadful in the first half and error prone but when he played centrally in the second half he showed great commitment capped by a well taken goal. Torquay ended up by looking a half decent team but things could and should have been a lot different had Hemel took their chances in the first half. What a strange game football is?

Looks like the 2 new loan signings may allow Mr Owers to keep his job. Glad we won,but tinged with mixed feelings. Would still like to see a genuine striker added to the squad.