PSF: Torquay United v Exeter City 7:30pm 30/07/24

Certainly a game of two halves with a much changed team, Including replacing the entire back three to the Plymouth game line up and with Threlkeld on the bench both the defence and midfield were below par to that on Saturday. We went down to a very early goal in the second minute where the ball was not dealt with and although initially cleared off the line only came back to their striker to easily fire home. We held the line for most of the half without causing too many problems before things went drastically south just before half time with a free header from a corner doubling the Exeter advantage, and then lucky not to go 3 down with the goal disallowed after the move was deemed to be offside.

I think Wotton had seen enough by half time, replacing the entire back three together with Mussa coming on in midfield to give it a bit more bite and a early foray from him resulted in a long range shot that immediately forced a save from their keeper. He is a big strong player and has the ability to go past defenders, but today against League One opposition was dispossessed on several occasions when they were other options to take.

Think it is quite obvious that barring injury both Dreyer and Dyer will be starting the Enfield match a week on Saturday as they both looked to be very good defenders saving our bacon on a number of occasions. It was the latter that broke the deadlock from a free kick fired into the box with a good low diving header guiding the ball into the bottom left hand corner giving recently substituted McDonald no chance.

We seem to be finishing the stronger side and just as it seemed that Exeter were settling for a narrow win we had one last attack where Ash seem to have a weak shot or cross that was unnecessarily dealt with by Fitzwater, the scorer of Exeter’s second goal with a diving header that guided the ball into the bottom, left-hand corner of the net again giving, McDonald no chance. it was an even better header than 10 minutes earlier to the delight of a fairly full Plainmoor.

Around 6k on Saturday and near 4k last night as an estimate. Going home even 10 minutes early would have been a mistake.

Annnnnnnnnd STILL !...... the only Torquay manager in our entire history to have lost to Plymouth and Exeter at any level in consecutive games is Alan Knill.