|
Post by jimd on Nov 22, 2008 16:15:00 GMT
2-1 Benyon come on Torquay
|
|
|
Post by jimd on Nov 22, 2008 16:23:39 GMT
2-2 come on boys ..........you can win this one.
|
|
Dave
TFF member
Posts: 13,081
|
Post by Dave on Nov 22, 2008 16:23:54 GMT
Danny Stevens makes it two each, well done Danny, now lets go and win this game.
|
|
bbcgull
Programmes Room Manager
Posts: 1,346
|
Post by bbcgull on Nov 22, 2008 16:25:25 GMT
'Nipper' Stevens...........2-2 Get In!
Roger 'Bannister' Metcalfe of the Hampshire Gulls will be doing a World best at the game today after Nipper scored!!
|
|
|
Post by jimd on Nov 22, 2008 16:56:14 GMT
Well I'm happy with that........the unbeaten run goes on
|
|
Dave
TFF member
Posts: 13,081
|
Post by Dave on Nov 22, 2008 17:15:42 GMT
A draw that feels as good as a win, after going two goals down. We will have to wait for some match reports from those at the game, but it sounded a very good game.
May have done better with their goals, but it seemed one way traffic in the second half. Well done to the 536 away fans, we really do have great support away from home.
Bucks made the changes in the second half and they worked a treat, we could have won in the end, but like JimD has said, we keep the run going and most would be happy with a point away from home, even more so after being two behind.
|
|
|
Post by ohtobeatplainmoor on Nov 22, 2008 18:03:33 GMT
As someone who wasn’t there today, a point after being 2-0 down certainly is something to be happy about, but Im looking forward to reading the reports of those that went. We're going to lose at some point, but it doesn’t sound as if the team feel the same way!
That really is great support today - 500+ again. That must really drive the players on.
|
|
|
Post by David Graham's Eighth Pint on Nov 22, 2008 18:43:24 GMT
Short trip for me today, only 20 minutes up the road.
How Woking took a point from this I will never know. Nicholson was at fault for the first goal. It almost seemed as if he stepped aside to allow the Woking player in. His shot was fumbled by Bevan and Marum couldn't miss. Moments later, a speculative shot from the edge of the area took a huge deflection and suddenly we were 2-0 down.
We were unlucky to go in two-down at the break. Carayol was superb all day and some blistering crosses into the box really should have been tucked away.
The Gulls came out for the second half and they were fired up. Three or four good chances passed us by and it really looked like it was going to be one of those days.
Then the turning point of the game; Woking broke and Marum was through on goal. Mansell pulled off an unbelievable saving tackle but the ball dropped to Williams who blazed over from 10 yards. 3-0 and it was game over.
Minutes later, a quality free kick into the box was tucked home by Benyon. Players like Sills - who had been largely unproductive and, frankly, lazy - suddenly looked up for it and we didn't have to wait long for the equaliser. A fantastic move ended with a ball into Stevens feet. Great touch to control, fantastic touch to finish and no one would have bet against us going on to win from there.
However, we pushed and pushed but just couldn't find that killer finish. Carayol was put through on goal and drew a great save from an otherwise dodgy looking goalkeeper.
I normally defend referees to the hilt, but our official was very poor today. We probably should have had two penalties today. The first one, their defender was all over Sills. It would have been soft, but when he committed the same offence outside the area, it was given! The second appeal was a stonewall spot-kick. Benyon controlled it well, and just as he looked like he was going to turn the defender inside-out, he was wiped out from behind.
I'm happy with a point but on reflection we really should have taken all three. I've said it time and time again, but three months ago we would have rolled over and been slaughtered.
There was a nice moment before kick-off when Toddy came over to give us a round of applause. I was slightly miffed that there was no chanting of his name, but it was a lovely moment.
Player ratings (out of 10):
Bevan: 5 - Fumbled for the first goal then didn't have anything to do for the rest of the game.
Mansell: 8 - Solid game and put some decent crosses in. It's great to see he's found his form at right-back. Unbelievable tackle to deny Marum.
Woods and Hodges: 6.5 - Still not closing the ball down when they should but that's the only complaint I can have. Ellis must be wondering why he didn't play after a MOTM performance last week.
Nicholson: 7 - It's very frustrating when he lumps the ball upfield to Sills every other minute. But when he's in an attacking position, he's our secret weapon.
Stevens: 6 - He didn't really do anything wrong, but he was never going to get into the game against their oafish right-back. He took his goal very well which has earned him an extra point here.
Wroe: 4 - Worst I've seen him play this year, which was a shame. Couldn't get into the game and gave the ball away far too often. Not sure if he was injured when he came off at half-time of it was a tactical master class from Buckle.
Hargreaves: 7 - Usual solid display from our Captain Marvel.
Carayol: 9 - Made their left back look like a complete muppet for the whole of the first half; then switched sides and did the same to their right back! Some excellent crosses which, on another day, would have been tucked away.
Thompson: 5.5 - Wasn't really in the game first half; marginally better in the second.
Sills: 5 - I'm not sure if it's just when I see him play, but he frustrates me because he is so, SO lazy. I constantly see praise on here for his hard work and battling and I always wonder why he doesn't play like that when I'm there. Don't get me wrong, the boy can finish and he's great to have in the side but I just wish he'd get more up for it sometimes.
Benyon: 8.5 - Typical energetic display from the lad. He really should be starting because he looks like a good partner for Sills.
Quick edit to say well done to all the fans who made the long trip. Like I said, it was only 20 minutes for me but that certainly wasn't the case for most of the 500-odd. It must really encourage the players to see that kind of turn out.
|
|
|
Post by capitalgull on Nov 22, 2008 18:44:55 GMT
That has to go down as one of the strangest games of football I have seen for years.
Do you feel good? Well, you'd have the right to, battling back from 2-0 down to claim a share of the points.
Do you feel bad? Well, you'd have the right to given that we missed a hatful of chances in the second half.
Do you feel great? We'll you'd have right to based on the sitter Woking missed when 2-0 up, just before we started our run to get back into the game.
You kind of knew it could be a long afternoon when the absolutely abject refereeing team (for all three of them were as bad as the others) completely missed a clear punch in the penalty area that the whole of our side of the ground clearly saw. You won't see a better punch in Ricky Hatton's fight tonight as I said soon after to a little hilarity...in amongst all my regular swearing of course, as the 100% hooligan in Crooky's artwork came to the fore again.
After that, the rest of the first half proved to be extremely frustrating. Bevan failed to deal with a long-range shot (although I am told since it took a wicked bounce in front of him) and the rebound was converted by Marum for 1-0.
The second followed soon after when a shot from the edge of the box by Vernazza was deflected off someone's heel and left Bevan wrong-footed and unable to make what would likely have been a regulation save.
An overhead kick from Marum went just wide, but from that point on it was mainly Torquay to the fore, Sills missing with a couple of headers you would normally have expected him to bury. Was it the Todd effect? Were people almost trying too hard?
Well we certainly got a reaction after half-time, with Benyon on for the completely ineffective Wroe (he's allowed a rare off day and this was one) and Stevens and Carayol swapping wings...that was the most important move of the match.
You sort of got the feeling we needed a spark, but we seemed to get it when Domoraud (I think) failed to capitalise on a golden chance at the far post, hitting his drive over the bar with Bevan stranded....that was about as good as it got for Woking.
Benyon pulled one back after a couple of headers across the box I think from Woods and then Sills, and from then on it was just about the amount of chances we created and whether we could convert enough to get our noses in front for that 10th straight win.
Sadly we didn't, with Danny Stevens - just after I said to those around me he should be taken off - finding an excellent finish from the edge of the box to equalise.
From then on, it was back to the frustrating, with esepcially Muzzy Carayol wasteful in his finishing, allowing Gindre to make a save in a one-on-one when his touch let him down, and then tamely firing straight at the keeper when he had a clear sight on goal.
Benyon then headed just wide at the far post with the keeper nowhere but, when the final whistle blew, it really was a case of mixed emotions. Toddy came over with the rest of the team to applaud a huge away support that went the length of the pitch on a narrow and freezing cold terrace.
But at the end of the day, we stay unbeaten and hopefully can take some confidence from the much-improved second-half performance into the FA Cup game next Saturday against an Oxford side thrashed 5-2 by Histon and possibly in need of a new manager by then if you believe the fans and the media.
PS I see the BCC report mentions Mansell hitting the post - did he? I can't say I saw it...only the ambitious 30-yarder that went 30 yards wide!
|
|
rjdgull
TFF member
Admin
Posts: 12,217
|
Post by rjdgull on Nov 22, 2008 19:09:47 GMT
Sounded a great second half on the radio but always good to read the match reports from those there - looks like we were unlucky not to win that one! I have been really impressed with Histon recently and I think they will probably now go on to win the manager of the month award ;D A grand strategy from Buckle perhaps??
|
|
chelstongull
TFF member
Posts: 6,759
Favourite Player: Jason Fowler
|
Post by chelstongull on Nov 22, 2008 19:33:59 GMT
From the comfort of my sofa it sounded like it was two points dropped and perhaps Benyon should have come on earlier i.e. 10 minutes after their second goal.
|
|
Dave
TFF member
Posts: 13,081
|
Post by Dave on Nov 22, 2008 19:34:21 GMT
Mnay thanks capitalgull and David Graham's Eighth Pint, great reports and a nice surprise, to turn on the pc and read them both.
|
|
|
Post by crooky on Nov 22, 2008 19:36:17 GMT
Sills: 5 - I'm not sure if it's just when I see him play, but he frustrates me because he is so, SO lazy. I constantly see praise on here for his hard work and battling and I always wonder why he doesn't play like that when I'm there. Don't get me wrong, the boy can finish and he's great to have in the side but I just wish he'd get more up for it sometimes. Now you are not going to like this DGFP, but personally I thought Sills was excellent today ;D Seriously, I thought he led the line extremely well, winning countless flick ons. As CapitalGull has stated it was a strange game. We were pretty poor in the first half but you always expected us to get back into the game. The only surprising thing was that we didn't actually go on to win it. Think Buck's must have sounded the air raid siren at half time because we certainly became more direct. In all a good point when we take into consideration the HT scoreline. Still a touch disappointed not to have taken all 3 though. Shot of the day-Danny Stevens, United's equalizer Fumble of the day-Scott Beavan, Woking first goal Matching hat and coat of the day-Alan Merson Swollen ankle of the day-Kev Bridgman
|
|
Dave
TFF member
Posts: 13,081
|
Post by Dave on Nov 22, 2008 19:42:50 GMT
Andy on the radio they both said that Mansells shot was a yard past the post, BBC sure got that wrong, can't see how Phil feels its two points dropped, a rather strange remark when we came back to win a point after looking like we would not get any.
|
|
|
Post by crazyfool on Nov 22, 2008 20:56:04 GMT
After a bit of recovery time from last night I headed off for Woking just after lunch. From the station to ground it seemed a few Gulls had made the journey. This was confirmed when I got to the ground about 25 minutes before kick off and there was a queue of about 40 odd people. When I say odd people ... I don't mean ... !!! I'm sure someone will correct me if need be, but think we had about 530 there?? We also had flags, balloons and a big yellow sponge ball ... oh ... and of course Paul Bastard in his shorts. It must have been freezing. I was wearing a very warm coat and was still a bit chilly.
Couple of nice touches today with regard to Chris Todd. He was on the pitch at the beginning and got applauded/shouts of encouragement etc. I also noticed a card that was going around and being signed by the supporters. Nice touch by whoever it was that sorted that out.
I really enjoyed the game itself. Ok ... maybe not so much the first half, but for the most part it was entertaining. If anything I thought we probably deserved to come away with the 3 points, but we were always up against it after conceding 2 early goals. The first came after a pretty crazy ball across the edge of our own box. The second took a deflection which left Bevan with no chance. For the rest of the first half we started to get back into it, but just couldn't pull one back. From the start of the second half, and with Benyon on as sub, we looked like we were going to throw everything at Woking. This almost cost a couple of times when we were pushed high up the field.
I thought that Sills had a good game. He won so many headers and played some good balls including the one that set Danny up. He was fouled time and again. I was also impressed with Carayol ... but those green boots!!! Is he trying to blend to feet into the grass to make him more tricky to play against?? He caused Woking a lot of problems down the wing and often they doubled up on him. Once he even had 4 players around him. Ok ... it probably should have scored with just the keeper to beat, but in fairness to the keeper I though he did well. On the other wing Stevens had a much quieter game. Other than the goal I can't particularly remember anything else he contributed. At the back we didn't so assured today. I've not been his biggest fan in the past, but I would like to see Ellis partnered with Woods.
The officials seemed a bit reluctant to take action today. There was the time wasting, the persistent fouling and Sills got kicked which wasn't even punished. How the linesman didn't see it I really don't know!!
|
|