NL: Torquay United v Yeovil 3pm 26th December 2021

COVID related i understand

Initially a close game where both sides went toe to toe for the first hour but the game was ultimately decided by the indiscipline of the Yeovil players racking up a string of yellows plus a red during the match and contriving to get their keeper sent off after the match which may have an impact on the return fixture Monday week. To be honest Yeovil can have no complaints and were actually lucky to get away with a few decisions including two consecutive penalties shouts which looked pretty clear cut and various foul play. As I walked past the away end at 2:45 pm saw a Yeovil fan being escorted out of the ground by a couple of policeman which possibly summed up his team’s performance

With Halstead, Felix and Armstrong apparently out due to Covid isolation, Johnson was forced to make changes both to formation and Personnel going back to a 4-4-2 with Wright leading the line supported by CLE, Sparkes was on his favourite left wing, Martin at left back, Moxey dropping to centre back with Lolos on the right wing. We were the better side in the first half having the lion’s share of territory but Yeovil probably created the best move with the resulting glancing header from their striker only just wide. He certainly got on the wrong side of the ref earlier on after unnecessarily barging into McDonald after he had collected the ball and a string of fouls went against him which ultimately ended with a yellow card for his troubles. Lapslie barged into one of their players to give away a free kick but who then was apparently kicked in the head although missed by myself and more importantly the ref, just seeing him fall down. Lapslie then had a shot from just outside the area which went wide and a Sparkes free kick went narrowly over.

Yeovil no doubt had a half-time rollicking as they definitely started the brighter in the second half getting the territorial advantage that Torquay had earlier enjoyed at the same end and a header from a freekick was only just over. Wright had a good shot which hit the head of their defender and for some reason the game was stopped while he recovered which both I and the rest of the home support found very frustrating. Again the terrier like Låpslie was involved with another incident off the ball where he was kicked which the lino saw this time and a straight red could only be given. We scored shortly after with a Wright cross headed by Sparks, just going wide but Wynter got in at the far Post to poke home. Sparkes then got in on the act with his long range shot hitting a defender and deflecting wickedly in; it was all going wrong for Yeovil who had completely unravelled in a 10 minute spell.

With the ball pinging around in their penalty area two of our players seemed to have been taken out from behind in consecutive challenges and somehow the ref allowed play to go on. Sparks was absolutely scythed in a tackle where again the Yeovil player was lucky to get away with only a yellow. Towards the end of the game a lovely shaped cross from CLE found Lewis clear just outside the 6 yard box and his header was slammed home with no mistake. CLE could’ve got a goal shortly after himself with Chiori Johnson doing some good work on the right wing but his cross was maybe just a tad too close to the keeper and CLE was unable to put it away clearly and the keeper was able to collect at the second attempt. In the end a well deserved victory with a little bit of drama as the fans celebrated with the referee giving a red to their keeper. Hopefully the “dirty northern bastards” will not try and wiggle out of the return fixture in the New Year.

Dave Thomas Torbay Weekly match report

Darren Sarll post match

Well, what a turnaround from the last game we played, it’s almost like a great weight has been lifted from our shoulders! 

It’s timing seems to coincide with the same period as last season for some unknown reason…I wonder what it could be?

Last season of course, the great weight couldn’t be removed for some unknown reason…much to the detriment of our season in my opinion.

As I know nothing about football it’s probably just a coincidence. 🦭

Spotlight reports that there was trouble after the game, anyone heard anything on social media?