NL: Torquay United v Harrogate 3pm 7 Sept 2019

4-2. Great result. Hopefully this will kick start our season.

Luckily Jamie was able to slot home the rebound - I would call that half a miss.

A convincing win in the end and Harrogate must have been relieved when the final whistle blew. Torquay in the last 15 minutes tore in Harrogate at will and how we did not score 3 or 4 more was down to some inspired goalkeeping and luck. At 4-2 it felt like last season as 10 men Harrogate had wilted and Torquay played champagne football. But that does not tell the whole story as Torquay were twice in a losing position and were struggling to finish off their chances. Until Torquay's first goal it was looking like another frustrating performance with shades of the 1-0 defeat against Maidenhead from the other week. Again Torquay's approach play was impressive but there also seemed a naivety about their play having no killer instinct and a vulnerability at the back. Crowd 2,527 with 59 away, sponsord MOTM going to Reid – surely it should have been Kalala who totally transformed the match when he came on at the interval.

Torquay, kicking towards the Family Stand started very brightly and Reid nearly scored early on. It seemed a matter of time before Torquay scored and I liked the look of our new players centre back Cundy and left winger Whitfield. There was a lot of good movement and fluidity in our play and you felt Andrews was relishing playing in the middle. However, I am afraid to say that again Duku looked a poor player. I am not even convinced he looks like a professional footballer and I am amazed Gary Johnson signed him. He is clumsy on the ball, does not beat players, poor in the air, poor at shooting and it was like Torquay were carrying him or playing with 10 men.

Torquay’s best moment in the first half was a Cundy bullet header from a corner that cannoned off the foot of the post. At last we seem to have a player who looks like he can score with his head. Torquay should have been a couple of goals up but yet again we conceded from a rare breakaway. Cundy lost possession and then fouled their player in the box trying to retrieve the ball. Harrogate dispatched the penalty and like previous matches Torquay lost their way for the rest of the half.

At half-time we agreed that Duku had to go off and Crispygull’s call was correct in replacing him with Kalala. What a difference that made! No longer were we carrying a player and Kalala virtually single handed turn the match for Torquay. Again Torquay started the half strongly and within 10 minutes following Kalala’s dribbling on the ball the ball was fed to our right, crossed low and Andrews finished well with a first time shot. At last a Torquay player showed how to finish.

Not long after a deep cross by Harrogate to the far post caught out Cameron ball watching and Stead slotted home at close range showing what a difference a proven marksman can make. Stead himself got sent off for his second yellow and Torquay took full advantage. Kalala brought the house down with an amazing dipping shot from outside the box that went in! Torquay were firmly on top against 10 men Harrogate and won a penalty after a foul in the box. Up stepped Reid, he hit it down the middle, the keeper saved but Reid forced in the rebound. Torquay were playing with confidence and in full flow and Reid had a lovely finish to score Torquay’s fourth. We could all sit and enjoy the enjoy as Torquay had wave after wave of attacks. We should have scored at least a couple more. Harrogate looked a well beaten team but for much of the match Torquay had failed to be clinical in front of goal and it almost cost them again. Thankfully we had Kalala to turn to on the bench to turn the game around with his tremendous skill on the ball and his sublime finish.

So a vital win and I feel our new players Whitfield and Cundy (apart from his mistake for their penalty) have strengthened our squad and should start. It was great to see Dickson returning today in the second half in midfield and his ability and experience helped. In fact he might be a better bet than Hall in midfield. Our biggest problem now is another marksman as we are so reliant on Reid. Stead for Harrogate today showed what a difference a experienced proven marksman can make. Keating is not even on the bench. I am not Keating’s biggest fan but he would have done far better than the hapless Duku.

link - I see it was Reid’s 150th appearance for TUFC today and up to 49 goals for us. Nice to see he is also top scorer in the division as well. Puts to bed the thoughts elsewhere they he won’t be good enough for this league.