rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Mar 27, 2019 23:45:53 GMT
With two out of our last four home games being played in the next few days it was with some relief to see that the weather is set fair and we might see some football actually being played and not in a howling gale or on a waterlogged pitch which will suit our team of course.
This is a critical period and we now have two home games while Woking are away to Bath on Saturday prior to the top of the table clash on Saturday week and hopefully there is an opportunity beforehand to extend our lead and put them under a bit of pressure.
Wealdstone have found some good form and do have a very good record on the road so we need to be on top form ourselves and perhaps continue to keep it a little bit tight and try to extend our clean sheet run of three games. The reverse fixture was a very good result for us when Wealdstone were again on a good run of form and hopefully we can do a similar job. Mad to think that questions about Wynter’s place were taking place at this time, who along with Reid is a completely transformed player.
Although we have a very settled side the one question mark is whether Andrews will force himself back into the team having been sidelined since and then beyond his injury. I can see him back for the Woking match if he gets a bit of match time before. Funny enough his absence means we have been starting with only 2 loanees showing we have a very strong nucleus of under contract players almost unprecedented for TUFC. I think Sendles-White is nailed on to start ahead of the returning from suspension Niate who is now back in the frame.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Mar 27, 2019 23:59:18 GMT
Wealdstone haven’t lost on the road since August, (edit: November as pointed out by Flo) which is a very fine record. Agree Sendles-White will keep his place. I reckon Johnson presently prefers Keating to Andrews and Andrews will be on the bench again.
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Post by stig123 on Mar 28, 2019 16:05:27 GMT
Thanks Floridagull...interesting statistics. Very few teams better away from home in any sport. We will need to be at our best.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Mar 28, 2019 18:36:44 GMT
link - Johnson wants Plainmoor bouncing for these home games and I am sure that will be the case. Bought my tickets today and while a bit later than normal was unable to get 4 seats in a row in block D of Bristow’s Bench apart from the front row so seems to be a bit busier than normal. With both Spring and promotion in the air should be a good attendance.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Mar 29, 2019 13:34:16 GMT
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Mar 29, 2019 13:38:00 GMT
Johnson preview - actually quite a comprehensive analysis of where we are at the moment.
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Post by gullone on Mar 30, 2019 10:41:58 GMT
Clear blue sky here in Torbay and looking forward to this game at the start of a huge week for us. Hoping for an attendance of close to 3000.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Mar 30, 2019 11:31:00 GMT
Clear blue sky here in Torbay and looking forward to this game at the start of a huge week for us. Hoping for an attendance of close to 3000. Absolutely gorgeous! I think they will bring two or three hundred so we have been getting two thousand six hundred quite regularly recently so doesn’t need much of an uplift to get that figure. Looking forward to a good game and a cracking atmosphere. |
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petef
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Post by petef on Mar 30, 2019 13:09:51 GMT
Looking forward to another afternoon of entertainment and hopefully another three points.
The poor pitch of late will be a distant memory and expect the pitch will be well drenched with the sprinklers today!
Clear blue sky's and the sun is shining - a perfect afternoon in prospect...
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Post by stig123 on Mar 30, 2019 17:09:26 GMT
3-2...Great result. Woking held at Bath. 4 points clear with a game in hand!
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Post by hullgull on Mar 30, 2019 17:20:36 GMT
Get in grea result today against a good team away from home, and with choking Woking dropping points happy days guys,I know not on here a lot but always look daily a massive well done to the gaffer and the whole squad, I know it's a tin pot league, but we have haven't felt sorry for ourselves. We neatly there cmon u gulls
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petef
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Post by petef on Mar 30, 2019 17:34:21 GMT
That has to have be the toughest home game of the season.
Another extremely hard fought and fantastic three points. Should have been all over and 4-1 mid second half but JR's missed pen increased the pressure on us and when they went up our end imemdiatly won a corner after a fine save from MacDonald they cut the deficit to a single goal once again.
Some very brave performances out their today though not quite firing on all cylinders and Wealdstone were always ready to pounce and compete.
We rode our luck at times and for the first time struggled to dominate the
One of the best sides to visit this season without doubt and I would fancy them for winning the play offs after watching that performance today.opposition.
In our own hands now without doubt.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Mar 30, 2019 18:40:07 GMT
Although at this stage of the season it is just the three points that matter, that was an absolute belter of a game against opposition on good form and boy did they show it today in front of probably the best away support we had at Plainmoor this season. The only surprise was Andrews not being on the bench and confirmed as fit so likely Johnson has his eye on some squad rotation with the 3 difficult but crucial games in this eight day period.
Although Wealdstone competed well we were pretty solid defensively to begin with. Our initial best chance to score came from a Lemonheigh-Evans set piece when Hall had more or less a free header but was unable to get firm contact on the ball and glanced wide. Ironically he did this again in almost exactly the same manner later in the half.
However Hall was instrumental in the build up to our first goal passing the ball out wide on the left to Keating who was able to cross deep for Kalala to powerfully volley the ball straight along the ground to creep inside the near post despite their keeper getting a hand to the ball.
Our lead was doubled just a short time after when Reid was able to get goal side of their defender to a through ball and then calmly slot the ball past their keeper to the delight of the home crowd. Amazing what a bit of confidence does to a player as he never looked liked missing. We should’ve gone into half-time at that score but Wealdstone never let their heads drop and were able to claw a goal back probably from not the best defending by us with the initial strike rightfully adjudged to have crossed the line.
The second half again was a very competitive affair with Sendles-White picking up a yellow card possibly for ignoring the ref when called back for a foul with a Wealdstone player getting in on the action with some unprovoked pushing and earning a yellow for his troubles as well. As a precaution Johnson then subbed him for Niate.
Johnson can’t put a foot wrong at the moment and not surprisingly it was a few minutes later, from a corner, that Niate was able to glance the cross home to give us a two goal cushion again.
A few minutes later Reid was able to get clear of their defence and just before he pulled the trigger was taken out inside the area leaving the ref in no doubt but to point to the spot. It all seemed to be happening at that point with Bath equalising and as the crowd looked for a red card they started singing the gulls are going up. However, only a yellow was given, the penalty was decently saved with Jamie a little slow to react to the rebound and actually Wealdstone then made a decent counter attack.
Wealdstone did score after a decent MacDonald save led to a corner where a header was able to creep in at the near post. This led to a nervy finale but Dickson came on again and did a lot of good work in the last 20 minutes with Vincent also coming on for Kalala and providing some fresh legs. Ironically Lemonheigh-Evans came the closest to scoring with their keeper making a very good save to deflect the ball onto the post,
I think we deserved to win but all credit to Wealdstone for being one of the best sides seen at Plainmoor this season and making it into a very entertaining but hard fought game.
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Post by Swanny on Mar 30, 2019 20:32:53 GMT
Another huge win for the Gulls today and we are firmly in the driving seat. I thought it was a really good atmosphere today including 192 vocal Wealdstone supporters and the match had a big match occasion about it. When the Yellow army were in full voice it was loud reverberating around the whole ground. Crowd 2,934 and sponsors MOTM going to Kalala. It was particularly touching that the match was sponsored in memory of our friend Paul Rogers who sadly passed away last year. So well done to those who did that and Paul would have been incredibly proud of what our team is achieving this season.
I thought Torquay were well focused in the first half but it was obvious Wealdstone were a decent team who kept a high line in defence and packed the midfield. So it was difficult for Torquay to find a way through and Wealdstone also attacked with purpose. Things were not going to plan when Wealdstone broke away and hit the post from a low shot just outside the box and news came through that Woking were winning. I was feeling incredibly tense. Torquay’s only early effort was a Hall header from a free-kick that went wide that he probably should have connected better with. Hall had not made the best of starts and was a bit wasteful in possession.
However, as often the case under Johnson, Torquay rose to the occasion with a bit of quality. Keating, who was doing very well on our left wing even though he is very right footed, crossed over from the left and Kalala caught it on the volley from outside the box that squirmed past their keeper. It was a bit of magic from Kalala and better was to come when Reid found himself 1-on-1 with the keeper from a defensive back header and made it 2-0. Torquay were nicely in control but Wealdstone got one back. They had a few dangerous positions in the first half and they scored a scrappy sort of goal. With lots of players from both sides in the box a soft shot was just enough to creep over the line just out of MacDonald’s reach. You could argue a 2-1 score line was about fair at half-time and Torquay had a vital lead.
The second half was a midfield battle for long periods which suited Torquay as they were winning. Niate replaced the impressive Sendles-White at centre back as he had a yellow card I suspect. It was Niate himself who nodded Torquay’s third direct from a corner at the near post. Reid was brought down for a penalty but the keeper saved. Then Wealdstone themselves headed in from a corner and the match was unbearably tense to watch again. MacDonald made a decent diving save. MacDonald again gave a very solid performance in goal and he is now looking a complete all round keeper. He seems to have cut out those silly rushes of blood when he made rash decisions.
Evans had a fine low shot finger tipped against the post by their keeper. Torquay kept calm, cleared the ball when necessary and did not panic in possession. News filtered through that Woking were drawing and after 5 agonizing minutes of added time, the final whistle was blown. There were wild celebrations from the fans and I noted the Wealdstone supporters gave their team a good ovation. The match was well contested and a good advert for the National League South.
It was another hard earned victory as Torquay had to dig in for the win. Janneh did not have the best of games with his decision making and I noticed he was wearing a neck support. Maybe that affected his game and Reid’s shooting at times was wayward and missed the penalty. However Reid still got on the score sheet. However I thought players like Kalala and Keating stepped up today and Torquay eventually found a way to win as we have quality players who are totally committed who play for our incredible manager Gary Johnson, or should I say the Godfather. There were even a couple of Gary Johnson “Godfather” flags on the Popside today!
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Mar 30, 2019 21:08:03 GMT
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