PSF: Torquay United v Bournemouth u23 7:45pm 10 August 2021

Just seen this on an email, saw the header and thought fantastic. Then I read on....

Unfortunatly will only get to the ground just before 7.30pm

With a very young Bournemouth team it was a bit men versus boys tonight although they were quite technically good and did carve out some good chances but without the experience and know-how to take advantage. At the other end we were able to create a barrel load of chances and possible unlucky to score only four.

Lots of positives for us tonight with Holman continuing his impressive goalscoring run and is a player who certainly knows where the goal is and can hit the ball with some pace. Thought Lapslie played really well, he has got quick feet either when on the ball or able to just nip in and take the ball away from an opposition player. Played in a more advanced role during the second half and after missing a few chances, just started thinking he will be one heck of a player if he can shoot on target when he did just that after being put clean through to an one-on-one and slotted nicely past their keeper.

Thought Little combined well with Lapslie in midfield. Good to see Gabby Rogers join us after those two goals and was unlucky not to score again with a dipping effort just over the bar. Played right wing first half and up front with Holman initially in the second before then partnering Lolos, eventually going off, possibly with cramp just before the end. Not the finished article by a long shot, misdirected back pass put the Bournemouth striker through where he should have scored but well saved by Halstead. On other occasions, had lack of an awareness of the right pass to make and put himself under pressure unnecessarily.

Great to see Omar get his first goal with a downward header from a corner but very nearly scored another header in the second half where their keeper made a reaction save. Lolas did well and is another with good feet in the area to create space and very unlucky not to score after hitting the underside of the cross bar.

Andrews had some very good touches with the ball today and nice to see Slough come on at centre back this time and look very competent there. Chiori continues to impress, this time at right back and all in all looks like there is healthy competition for places. Holman probably means we won’t miss CLE much if not fit for start of the season, likewise, Lapslie for Hall.

What a strange game that was! It was as if the two teams were playing an entirely different sport.

4-0, but with a little luck we would have doubled that score.

I was shocked at how poor Bournemouth were. They were heavily handicapped by their tactics.

Every goal kick saw them station two defenders on the edge of the six yard box and try to pass their way up the field.

That would have been a brave tactic if they were good at it, but they were not very good at it at all.

They kept conceding possession 20 to 30 yards out and we were at no risk of offside as they had their two back on the six yard line.

We are so used to having to scrap for every yard of territory in the National League, so it was weird being presented with so many free hits.

It was almost as if they were used to being allowed to mess about getting to the halfway line without a challenge and they seemed genuinely shocked that the nasty big boys were trying to take the ball off them.

The truth is I suppose they were being asked to play "Premier League" style whereas most of them are more likely to end up in the Southern Premier than the Premier Premier.

Tiverton offered a far more robust challenge.

Rogers went off (nothing too serious I hope) when we had used all our subs and it seemed a more even contest with 10 v 11.

Having got that off my chest, you can only beat what is in front of you.

You cannot draw too many firm conclusions due to the nature of the opposition, but plenty of encouraging signs.

The players looked fit and confident and the shape continues to look solid. Old fashioned 4-4-2 with two up top - a target man and a poacher.

I particularly like Lapslie. His presence means we can look forward to the return of Hall as a bonus, rather than seeing his absence as a disaster.

I don't think a single player let himself down, whilst several enhanced their reputations.

Let's hope we continue to look good when the real stuff starts, but we know that Altrincham will not be so keen to make life easy for us. We will need to be on the top of our game for that one.

A typhoo?