FAT 2nd Round Torquay Utd v Rushden 10th Jan 2009

Just a quick perspective from the family stand - (where we generally shout twit and not....)

Plummer who had perhaps a quiet debut for us, took the the ball to the by-line in the penalty area and crossed the ball with lovely weighting, past their keeper and across the face of the goal. Cue Hargreaves and another TUFC player sliding in for what looked like a certain goal.

However, a bit like Sills scoring from a delicate part of his anatomy; possibly against York in the trophy semi last year, the ball lodged into his body and Hargreaves found himself in a position of trying to hatch the ball next to the goal line with a couple of defenders trying to kick the ball away.

Fortunately, the ball was able to be wriggled over the line, still with the defenders hammering away, at which point, those around the goal were able to start celebrating, although with much wriggling and kicking continuing until the referee was able to break things up! (Thankfully one of the few decisions he got right. ;D)

I thought Dsane was unlucky not to get a penalty, as he was definitely tripped trying to get to the by-line, but maybe denied by not having the ball under control.

Opinions about games will of course differ as we view from a range of vantage points and we arrive with a variety of pre defined opinions and prejudices.
For me, today had something of a half hearted affair, both from the performance on the pitch and the atmosphere in the ground.
Bevan was calm and adept as R&D created several chances from utilisation of pace, something our defence did not possess, and from benefiting from our mistakes.
As an attacking force we just couldn’t seem to find a telling final ball or opening. Whilst it would not be correct to say we played badly we just did not fire on all cylinders and too many players were making a greater number of mistakes than we have been used to observing recently. Consequently for me the game was somewhat ragged and untidy. There was the odd moment that was pleasing on the eye, but all too often the mistake brought a promising move to an end or saw the opposition gain useful possession.
R&D would surely have won comfortably is only they had a decent finisher in their ranks. They must be wondering how they have ended up on the wrong end of the result.
We grittily battled through with everyone doing a bit but only perhaps Bevan, Hodges and Hargreaves really meeting expectations.
Clearly, as chelstongull has pointed out we missed Sills. At set pieces we lacked any aerial threat and perhaps we might have had a better balance if PB had played one of our taller defenders (Ellis or Robbo) for today’s game. We have no alternative to Sills and like chelston I see this as one area of potential weakness in the squad.
Plummer had a low key debut and will have benefitted from the game. He was clearly tired at the time the substitution was made but at least he will have gained some confidence from creating the goal. One hopes there is much more to come from him and that he adjusts to conference football quickly.
Benyon I am afraid demonstrated the flaws in his game which probably causes PB to leave him on the bench in favour of Green. He has developed physically from last season and there is no doubt that he can stick the ball in the net if presented with a chance in the box BUT his football brain does not appear to be as developed as is required at this level. He demonstrated a lack of awareness of the positioning of his teammates on more than one occasion and does not seem to have the nous to make the expected run. One specific example of this occurred when Hargreaves played a ball down the left hand side expecting Benyon to have made the run behind the defender. Benyon however had not turned and run and had stood still. Hargreaves was clearly not impressed and gave Benyon a lengthy glare with hands placed on hips.
Another win however and onwards we go. We will need a much improved performance from the whole team if we are to overcome Wrexham, whether that is on Thursday, or as now looks more likely Saturday next week.

Greetings fellow Prog fan, just finished playing Gong live at Sheffield 1974!!

It all sounds like then performance of Mother Goose I saw last week, I hoped you all called out "He's behind you!"

Me I'm in the 'Its important to have a back up keeper on the bench' camp. It would be a shame to have two good keepers and not have one on the bench for such emergencies.

Now where's that Sills player we need............?

Havant & Waterlooville away please next round if they are through...

Now the Princess Theatre's pantomine - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - is over I reckon Torquay United put on almost as many performances at Plainmoor during the traditional pantomine season as did the miscellaneous stars of Coronation Street and Emmerdale at the Princess.

This is the seventh successive weekend we've been at home - Snow White didn't start until 12 December - with possibly Wrexham next week, then Coventry and, perhaps, a Trophy home game to come over the next three weekends. Is this a record? Oh no it isn't....oh yes it is! - does anybody know?

W5 D1 L1 over those seven weekends. The pressure is telling on some forum members - one was telling me today how his partner is having doubts about him heading to Plainmoor yet again on a Saturday afternoon - and I must admit my concentration levels were a little under par today. Never mind, it was an enjoyable enough game - and decent performance - even though it was a rather low-key occasion. But, as the Great Impresario says (and I think we can count Merse as a panto man), it's the solidly routine matinee performances in half-empty auditoriums that show a troupe's true worth.

Good to meet Jamie and was that Dave R in deep conversation each time I passed him? Perhaps his victims are only too happy when the stewards move them on?

Only joking....