NL: Torquay United v York 3pm 15 April 2023

Yet another must win. We can win, but will we? Due a slip-up, but cannot afford one.

Hope Stobbs is fit.

We really need already relegated Scunny to do us a favour. They are at Aldershot today and their last game is at Dorking. If they lose both of those, then an already steep mountain gets a hell of a lot steeper.

Let’s hope Wrexham spend thw week before our game on the lash celebrating. We don’t want them fully functional at Plainmoor.

Otherwise, it is back to hoping Southend lose their hats in the AGM Cup.

Lapslie out. Evans in. Crowe on bench.

Player of the season presentation 20 minutes before kick off is a distraction they can do without.

The games get bigger each week . We could be five points adrift again or one ahead come 5 o'clock its in the hands of the football gods. Very little we can do as supporters other than make it as hostile an atmosphere as we can for the opposition.
No lapslie who picked up that knock last week which is a blow. Our talisman who has been the main driving force in the middle of the park.
Evans needs to really compete today and provide the legs in the center to complement the older legs of Hall and Dawson.
Same attitude from the lads again and we should be ok but York will sure be wanting to make themselves safe today.
All about desire, commitment and concentration today.
Hope Scunny play with some pride and desire as well a very important game for every club down there.

Your cup must be half empty as I can't agree that were got away with anything today.

Yes, we rode our luck at times and we were a bit wobbly after their first goal but controlled the second half up to our obvious penalty.  We then could have scored more as York started to chase the game and Jervis could have had five with a bit more luck.  The keeper didn't know anything about one close range save (I think from a Nouble cross) and goal of the game was our second.

I now have a day of celebrating before becoming more and more morose (how's that for alliteration) in preparation for Tuesday evening.

 

So that's 5 wins in a row now! I just wish the league table looked a bit kinder to us. Still we cannot do anymore than keep winning. Today's match was very entertaining for the neutrals. Unlike many away teams you see at Plainmoor, York really went for it and attacked. Torquay continued their confident form of late and also looked dangerous and exciting. Just prior to kick-off Jarvis was awarded the player of the season and what a way to respond today by scoring a hat-trick. So much for those doubters who said he would not score many. Lawrence was voted young player of the season and again put in a flawless performance in defence.

The other hero today was Halstead today who pulled off a string of top drawer saves today. On chances alone, York can probably feel hard done by as they created so many decent chances and we had to rely on Halstead's heroics or a defender's goal saving clearance. It was that sort of open, attacking game as both teams went for it and looked more comfortable attacking than defending. Jarvis was on fire today and a delicious cross from Evans was right on the money for Jarvis to head in at close range. Collins provided the assist for Jarvis to score an open goal to make it 2-0. Right away York attacked and Halstead had to somehow rescue Torquay more than once. York deservedly got one back before half time.

Torquay were a little fortunate winning their penalty as most referees would not have awarded the slight tug on Jarvis just inside the penalty box. After an age of waiting Jarvis tucked away the penalty as Plainmoor erupted. The second half was again mainly end-to-end with both teams having spells of decent pressure. Torquay used all of their 3 substitutes in an attempt to shore things up and players like Nouble and Hall were struggling a little. Nouble had quite a quiet game today and should have done better with a second half chance but blasted over. That said, Nouble still used his strength to good effect by winning free kicks to relieve pressure for the team. The last 20 minutes was a case of Torquay game managing and keeping things tight. Plucky York got another back near the end which made for a horrible nervy finish. You knew if Torquay conceded a third our season would be effectively over.

We clung on to win and we live to fight another day. The passion of the Yellow Army today was second to none and it makes you proud to be a supporter of this club. Fair play to York as well to their supporters of 400+ who mainly stood behind the goal and to their team making it a full blooded game and atmosphere. It was a throw back to how things used to be in the football league. I have been tired of away clubs just spoiling games with their play acting antics and defensive football.

I am still not hopeful we will stay up but I am certainly enjoying this winning run! Gary Johnson gave a fist pump at the end and patted on his heart a few times. It didn't do my nerves much good either. Johnson and the supporters are united again as the Pop Side responded with chants of "Gary Johnson's Yellow army" after his fist pump. The club and supporters are at least doing everything to try and survive this season and good on them for that.