NL: Torquay United v Maidenhead 7:45pm 13 August 2019

Very disappointing to lose the match in a game that Torquay dominated and should have won comfortably. But I have seen it so many times at Plainmoor over the years when we fail to take chances and we are done by the sucker punch. That's football I'm afraid, you can play all the quality football and look far superior to the opposition but unless you can hit the back of the net it is all worthless. Maidenhead defended resolutely, took their few chances, ran down the clock as much as possible and took all 3 points. One perhaps explanation were the two different goalkeepers tonight. Maidenhead's keeper was on loan from Fulham and was commanding and brilliant. MacDonald in our goal parried Maidenhead's first shot on goal into the danger area for them to tap in the rebound. It was a well struck shot but MacDonald could have done better and is costing us this season. Crowd a healthy 2,946 with 53 from Maidenhead, sponsors MOTM deservedly going to Kalala for his skills and effort.

It was all one way traffic in the first half, Torquay were playing slick, fast football on the deck and Maidenhead looked second best. Several times Torquay looked certain to score but typically missed the target, their keeper saved or a defender cleared off the line. It was attractive football to watch but on a rare breakaway Maidenhead found space on our left due to makeshift left back Vincent being caught out of position. A shot was hit low and hard from just outside the box, MacDonald got down well to save it but the ball spilled out for Maidenhead to tap in. After the goal Torquay lost their early impetus and the game drifting to half-time at 0-1.

Torquay came out in the second half blazing and immediately Reid was put through. His shot was decent but their keeper outstretched arm saved it. But Torquay carried on pressing and probing and still looked likely to score. Johnson made a baffling decision by replacing midfielder Hall for striker Duku. I'm afraid Duku offered very little, he is no target man, looks unconvincing in the air and does not seem to get into goal scoring positions. I felt we were carrying him and missed Halls combative game and ability in the air. Torquay got more desperate as the game wore on, the ball was often in their penalty box but we could not find a way through. Torquay had a corner deepe into injury time, everyone went up, Maidenhead then broke away and scored again.

It was hard justice on Torquay to lose tonight and chances alone Torquay should have won comfortably. There were lots of effective running with the ball and team play putting Maidenhead on the back foot for most of the match. There is not much wrong with our game. We were punished for not taking our chances and our inexperience shows at times. Vincent is learning at left back and MacDonald's mistakes is proving to be costly like at Bromley. It was not a howler for Maidenhead's first goal but a top class keeper would not have parried it into the danger area. A real worry for me is who plays with Reid in attack. Duku looks pretty poor to me and is not the player to bring on when you are chasing a game. Personally I would have liked to have seen Keating go up front with Reid. Keating came on and went to left wing for Andrews. No need to panic yet there are areas we need to improve on.