rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Feb 27, 2020 14:12:58 GMT
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Feb 27, 2020 20:00:30 GMT
I am not too sure when we last had a match on a leap day but know we were in the old third Division away at West Brom on the 29th of February 1992 where we lost one nil! Slightly different directions have been taken by us and them in the last 3 decades.....
So as Johnson says, a must win if we are to keep looking upwards with a 4 point gap to close to the teams just below and vying for the play off places.
We need to do it without Little but Andrews had a good game as his replacement and with Nemane and possibly Vincent close to fitness are generally well covered in midfield even playing with three. However, with Wynter making an appearance last week for a few minutes along with making some match winning tackles and blocks, I wonder if he will start, if only for 60 to 70 minutes and return to 4-4-2 with Andrew on the left?
Finally, keeping a eye on the weather with yellow warnings for rain on Friday and wind on Saturday so will be battling the elements as well.....
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2020 23:34:44 GMT
Think 1992 was the last time.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Feb 28, 2020 17:13:28 GMT
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Feb 29, 2020 8:19:02 GMT
Well, the rain had stopped, sun is out and the strong winds should combine to help dry the pitch so think there is very good chance this will be on. Bit more rain forecast around lunchtime but it will be dry during the match, of course with a strong easterly wind so need to wrap up warm!
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Feb 29, 2020 11:53:26 GMT
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Feb 29, 2020 12:47:58 GMT
Would expect Andrews for Little with Lewington added to the bench.
Great to see Wynter return, but as neither Lewis nor Cundy let us down last week we can have the luxury of easing Ben back gently rather than rushing him into the starting XI.
The expected XI could equally easily turn out in last week's 3-5-2 or switch to 4-4-2 with Lewis at right back and Whitfield and Andrews wide.
I would repeat the 3-5-2. As long as Whitfield and Longridge keep pushed well up, the formation gives us one more forward player rather than one less. They should be able to do this as Lewis and Cameron are able to pull out into a full back spot and Hall can drop back to help out if needed. Three at the back not five!
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Feb 29, 2020 13:38:53 GMT
That formation would definitely make sense given last week’s success with it. I have no idea how Chorley set themselves up, mind. Wynter perhaps getting a few more minutes at the end this week to ease him back in further. A close and hard fought victory for us again, I reckon.
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Feb 29, 2020 14:42:18 GMT
McDonald between the sticks - no back up on the bench
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Feb 29, 2020 14:44:23 GMT
McDonald between the sticks - no back up on the bench Collings
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Feb 29, 2020 14:47:48 GMT
McDonald between the sticks - no back up on the bench Collings Cheers Rob 👍
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Feb 29, 2020 18:32:34 GMT
In the end, it was a solid win, but boy there would’ve been a few recriminations if we hadn’t come away with all three points today!
We started with just the one change from last week, McDonald coming in for the injured Covolan. The first half was tough going as we were forced to start kicking towards the family stand and had the wind against us plus the sun in McDonald’s eyes.
Although we had slightly more of the play in the first half, those final passes were once again not quite coming off and chances on goal were at a premium. The wind meant it was quite hard to pick a final pass into the area with Ben Whitfield coming closest to getting on the end of a delivery at one point.
Chorley’s best chance came from a defensive mistake where the ball was left for MacDonald to collect but their striker got there first but then literally faffed around with the ball to enable cover to get back and the danger was over. Just when it looked like we were going to go into the break scoreless, a freekick was awarded to us from inside their half which was delivered into the area and Cundy was able to knock the ball over their keeper who was stranded in no mans land for an unexpected but pleasant lead.
We started the second half well and carved out a good two or three opportunities in the first ten minutes. The first saw Reid turn his man on the half way line and run into their area and cross for Azeez to knock into an empty net, about eight yards out, in line with the right hand post, a side foot was all that was needed but his effort just went wide as he went for glory. Up there with the worst misses of all time I am afraid.
Azeez almost made up for things a minute or two later sending Reid clear in an almost identical scenario with Lemon-heigh Evans clear on the right hand side but this time Reid perhaps understandably, thought, sod passing it for a laugh and his shot was this time sent wide. Unbelievably Reid then had yet another chance when through that went over this time!
We did continue to put Chorley under pressure creating chances and eventually made it safe in the 80th minute. Azeez was involved in the build up on the right touchline and was actually badly fouled by their defender but Whitfield was able to get onto the loose ball and take it to the byline and his cross through the 6 yard box was met by Reid at the far post for a simple but important tap in. Much needed both for the team to win and Reidy whose goals have dried up slightly of late.
We almost conceded late on with McDonald’s coming out twice in succession for a couple of balls he was only unable to get near to and Jackson had to stop the ball on the line to keep our two goal cushion intact.
So a win is a win, job done but not a perfect performance by any means and where we might have been punished by a better team. Having said that it was another good team effort and if those chances had gone in, we would all be raving about how our improving side had put the bottom team to the sword.
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Post by Swanny on Feb 29, 2020 19:04:32 GMT
A deserved win for the Gulls today against bottom of the league Chorley but Torquay made it hard for themselves by missing 3 second half clear 1-on-1 chances in quick succession. Only when Reid scored our second at the far post into an empty net about a yard out with 10 minutes to go, Torquay had finally killed the game off. For much of the match it was a stuttering performance by the Gulls, they never really got into a proper rhythm. Too often good approach play was let down by a poor final pass. Chorley put in a decent effort and like last week's game Torquay struggled to break down a resolute defence. Too often Torquay's last man was caught offside as Chorley defended with a high line. From a neutral view point the match was not much of a spectacle, it was mainly a scrappy affair not helped by a strong swirling wind. There was a decent away turn out considering the distance and conditions of 92 from Chorley huddled in the top half of the Bristow Bench so hats off to them. The total crowd was 2,126 so the home support has dipped in the last 2 home games. Sponsors MOTM went to central defender and goal scorer Cundy.
Torquay kicked towards the Family Stand first half against the strong wind. It was a sluggish start by the Gulls and Chorley took the initiative. In truth there was little goal mouth excitement in the first half and Torquay hardly tested their keeper. I can only recall one save he made and that was a routine one. Torquay showed good skill at times in beating their man but time and time again Torquay did not pull the trigger, tried an intricate pass into a crowded penalty box and lost possession. It was frustrating to watch and Chorley looked the livelier side. MacDonald was back in goal for the injured Covolan and had one of his mad moments dashing out of goal and not getting to the ball in time. We held our breath as it looked like Macdonald would clip their player in the penalty box but we somehow survived the scare. Apart from that MacDonald had little to do. Chorley seemed quite content at 0-0 and their keeper was running down the clock taking an age at goal kicks. One minute of added time was flashed up and I was resigning myself to have a miserable half time reflection of the match. Then Torquay had a free kick a long way out. Longbridge floated the ball into the box, Chorley's keeper went rushing out but Cundy got there first and headed the ball into an empty net. Torquay hardly deserved a lead but went in at half time winning. It was a bit of a gift.
Torquay had the wind in their favour in the second half and Chorley had to come out and attack. I am not sure what happened to Chorley's defence in the second half they went awol. Reid found himself with a free run on goal with just the keeper to beat. Unselfishly when approaching their keeper Reid squared the ball to Azeez to stroke the ball into an empty net. Somehow Azeez missed! Never mind, shortly afterwards Reid was through again. This time with the keeper to beat he shot himself but skewed this shot horribly wide - it was not even close! Third time lucky we thought. Reid had the goal gaping again and this time blasted the ball over the bar. Torquay should have put the game to bed and we should have been enjoying a comfortable win. Instead every time Chorley attacked we feared the worse.
In fairness Torquay defended resolutely all game and playing three at the back is proving a success as it did against Halifax last week. So well done to Cameron, Cundy and Lewis for that. It is also impressive how midfielders like Hall help out covering the defence. After the missed chances Torquay lost their rhythm again and a better team may have punished Torquay. Finally Whitfield got to the byline on our right, passed the ball across the goal and Reid finally did not miss. Near the end MacDonald dropped a cross and Longbridge cleared the ball off the line. Shortly afterwards MacDonald went for a cross and did not get there but again Torquay somehow survived. It was erratic goal keeping by MacDonald and could have let Chorley back into the game. Nemane replaced Lemonheigh-Evans near the end who had been hobbling for some time.
So a second home win in a row and another clean sheet. I think having the clean sheet is the key. Our new look back 3 is working very well and is looking solid. Both performances have been inconsistent in an attacking sense with too many moves breaking down and not testing their keeper enough. Our set pieces rarely threaten either. There is a lot of skill and flair in our team but our play is too inconsistent. Reid and Azeez did have chances today but both were wasteful today. Left wing back Longbridge seems to be our most consistent player recently and right wing back Whitfield never gives up and gave an assist for our crucial second goal. Hopefully Torquay will gain some confidence from these two wins but they look a long way off to me to able to challenge for the play-offs. I think their current midtable position is a fair reflection of their season.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Feb 29, 2020 19:32:29 GMT
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Feb 29, 2020 20:52:44 GMT
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