NL: Weymouth v Torquay United 3pm 4 December 21

It was a 4–3 win for us in this fixture a year ago when we were at our peak but we are a long way from that level but a win today is very important. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Wright on the bench but looking forward to a rare away fixture.

Had the better of the first half but should have scored at least one or two. Will it come back to bite us?

Dr. Johnson I presume.

A great day out today capped seeing the Gulls winning away. A beautiful scenic drive along the coastline, a huge car park outside the ground for just £2, friendly staff at the ground. The away end is a decent size and covered and is larger and higher than Plainmoor's away end. The Yellow Army turned out in force in the away end and also sitting in the main stand. The Yellow Army were relentless in their noise and chanting throughout the game. They were outstanding and made the atmosphere. Weymouth in comparison were very quiet and subdued.

Now on to the match and it was a very dominant performance by the Gulls for the entire match. The team looked a lot more balanced today. Moxey slotted into centre back with Lewis and Martin went left back. This worked a treat with Moxey's experience at centre back and Martin providing a really good outlet at left back with a nice bit of pace and energy. Martin's final delivery was not always good but he was a threat down the left. Hall was back in central midfield and looked pretty fit to me and provided a good bit of presence in midfield. Lapsie worked hard in midfield.

The real star of the show was Little. He bossed the game and reminded me of Glenn Hoddle in his prime. Little was one or two levels above the rest pulling all the strings - comfortable and having time on the ball, using his vision and range of passing skills to great effect, another assist from a corner he took, and he had one or two long range efforts as well. Without Little we would be a very ordinary side these days.

Holman had another stinker of a game and we are just carrying him. When he did have a decent chance his shooting was woeful. Sinclair showed him how it should be done scoring our winner after replacing Holman. The other disappointment was Moore on the right wing who showed a lack of energy and pace and eventually looked to be carrying an injury. O'Connell showed decent energy and pace in the second half after replacing Moore at half time.

Our main issue today was not being clinical in front of goal. We squandered a bagful of chances and a fairer score line would have been around 4-1. We made it hard work for ourselves not taking all those chances. In the opening few minutes Lapsie put a clear header wide of the far post after a delicious cross from Little. Soon after their keeper, who was excellent today, parried a Little shot but Moore put the follow up wide. Torquay had the wind in the first half and at half-time it was worrying the score was still 0-0.

Torquay were strong in the second half as well and finally got their deserved breakthrough. A Little corner was glanced in by Lewis and the Yellow army erupted. Weymouth's equaliser caught everyone out including me and those around me. None of us saw it as Weymouth quickly took a free-kick that was headed in. Torquay responded in the right manner and soon scored again. Lolos had his shot blocked but Armstrong put away the rebound.

Torquay in the second half hit the bar 3 times, had a couple of 1-on-1's saved and squandered several other chances which gives you an idea how dominant we were. There were nice scenes at the end with the players coming over and Armstrong in front with his arms aloft. Gary Johnson gave his usual fist pump at the end. All in all a perfect day out!

This was a priceless win and hopefully we can build on this. I hope we continue with the same back four and I hope Hall has a run of games. After today's display I think we can be a lot more competitive in the coming weeks. Lolos gave his usual committed display but missed a 1-on-1 and needs to be more clinical. Armstrong seems to be our most reliable scorer but we clearly need to be improve in the striking department. We are too reliant on Little as provider and scorer this season. He really is having an outstanding season thankfully.

Very good day out! Like Reidy before him, Little has proved his doubters wrong and the way he is playing, anyone booing him will need their head examining.

After a hard week‘s work a worthwhile day trip where I was able to take my wife who instead of going to the game walked the dog on the beach there and explored the town she last visited while on holiday as a child; leaving me to meet up with Jon and Chelston to perhaps see our best performance so far this season. Second time that I have been to the stadium but was again quite impressed by the elevated view from the seating which is similar to that from Bristows bench.

Despite early misgivings from the absence of CLE and Armstrong being relegated to the bench, the players seemed up for it and got out of the blocks quickly creating 4 good chances in the first quarter of the game, any one of which could have easily gone in. Lapslie, probably the smallest player on the pitch had a free header at the far post for our first chance which went across goal and just wide. Moore tried to follow up from a saved Little shot but screwed the ball well wide with the goal at his mercy and to make matters worse, could be seen clutching his hamstring afterwards although managed to keep going until half time. Martin used his pace to good effect, stretching the Weymouth defence and while the accuracy of his crossing was his only downfall, did manage to find Holman on the edge of the 6 yard box but his shot was both tame and wide. Lola‘s was able to get in on the act but also shot wide from the edge of the area.

We continued to press, creating more chances, Holman had two shots, one blocked and the other going wide, chances were also there for Little and Moore. I can only remember Weymouth having a few chances in the first half, a good shot from the edge of the area was well saved low to his left by McDonald and a cross come shot had to be tipped over by McDonald with the keeper also called into action to make a good save to thwart an one on one before the lino flagged for offside. Despite being the better side in the first half, half time came without troubling the scorers and there was always the doubt whether we would be able to continue the good play into the second half.

It was no surprise to see O’Connell replace Moore at the start of the second-half and despite playing into the wind we were able to maintain our dominance with an early corner for us seeing the ball come out to Hall just inside the area with his well struck shot seemingly in all the way until it was headed off the line by their defender and their keeper later made a good save. Midway through the half some good work from a counter-attack saw us win a corner and it was from this that Lewis was able to glance a near post header for a well deserved lead. A simple set piece that was almost anti-climatical in its nature.

Unfortunately the lead was only to last for a few minutes. A needlessly conceded freekick was given away and taken exceedingly quickly with our players out of position and the cross bounced once and was well headed in from low down a few yards inside the area. Fortunately, Weymouth’s ability to maintain parity was even less than our ability to retain the initial lead and a good break from Little teed up Lolas whose shot was blocked but came out to the recently subbed Armstrong who made no mistake.

The last 20 minutes was frenetic, Armstrong had a one-on-one, which was well saved but was also very harshly adjudged offside when through their defence, plus starting with a Lolos header we managed to hit the woodwork 3 times with the ball just not going in. Weymouth had half chances at the other end but a draw would have been a travesty. Much needed three points. 😀

Something similar happened in the home game against Woking, CLE being the cuplrit. Johnston needs to drum in that the ref won't change his mind.

Nice start to the day with pasty in chips sat on a park bench just outside the John 'We're full and you haven't booked a table' Gregory. They did let us in for a coup eof pints of Otter Ale.

Thought we bossed the game but (again) have to put the ball in the net when on top, several one on one's missed and the woodwork rattled a few times.

Stockport won't be so accommodating next Saturday...