FL2 Torquay United v. Rochdale 11th April 2010

That was quite astonishing. As Dave said it was one of those games which make you realise why you do it. The first quarter of an hour and Rochdale looked like Brazil, not helped by us repeatedly giving them the ball. A hammering looked distinctly as we seemed to be in for ninety minutes of chasing the ball in the hot weather. Not suprisingly the news came in that Herford had capitulated to Grimsby and it looked like a long afternoon.
Rochdale missed a couple of good chances and slowly but surely we seemed to get back into the game somewhat. Rendell should really have scored with a close range header, but we took the lead when the ball fell to Rendell and he drilled it in the corner.
Six minutes later we were three up and pandemonium broke out. Benyon somehow outjumped his marker to head it into the same corner and a thumping Ellis header apparently went in via Benyon although I didn't see it as all hell had broken loose.
It could have been four as well as Benyons flick on from a Nico freekick was going straight in the same corner before a Rochdale outstetched boot sent it off the goal line and over the bar.
The half ended with us chasing the ball and a long three minutes of added on time resulting in a crucial save by the rock solid Beavon.
With Rochdale attacking towards their massed ranks of supporters in the second period I must confess that I still wasn't confident. I was dreading an early goal for the visitors.
However for me the second half was more astonishing than the first as instead of sitting back Rochdale were taken to pieces.
They could not cope with the long ball tactic - I was amazed that Nico was taken the throws from both sides of the field as Robbo was at right back, and their defence was reduced to that of a pub side as "Silly Billy" Benyon produced an incredible hard running effort which they just could not cope with.
Benyon was scythed down for the penalty only for the referee to completely disregard the rules and bot send off the keeper.
Wroe looked nervous but despatched the penalty and it really was game over. A glorious ball by Nico put Benyon through again and the ball looked to be going in only to be cleared of the line.
Carayol wandered through the non existent Rochdale ranks only to blast over as the ball bobbled.
Minutes later though the best was saved to last as Carayol weaved through the missing Rochdale rearguard before despatching a swerving effort into the bottom right corner. A blinding goal to complete the rout, and it seriously could have ended up six or seven.
It was hard to believe that this was the same team that defended like a bunch of schoolboys against Lincoln.
The Carayol goal had Buckle punching the air in delight and Keith Hill sporting a bizarre smoking jacket looked shellshocked, although no doubt was relieve he had not been carted off by the fashion police.
Could not not hang around to savour it at the end - straight in the car, back to Ilfracombe by 6.40 pm and a 3-1 victory in the Cup Final with both my sons scoring and my younger one getting the man of the match.
What a day.
A few thoughts on the game - Nicholson looks a player revitalised by his enforced rest. Hard to pick out anybody else but Ellis was awesome and Benyon deservedly got man of the match.
Crucially we did not pick up any injuries again and with the imminent return of Carlisle thats going to give Buckle a real selection headache.
Wins for all our rivals just goes to show how bad the league really is but what a crucial, precious victory that was. Whether it was 1-0 or 5-0 probably means nothing at the end of the day. For the first time this season we followed up with three points after a couple of decent results.

Benyon was able to get that header in due to the intelligence of Wroe who produced a tailor made ball perfect for his height disadvantage and the position of the big defender marking him........................in short, he floated and hung the ball up at shoulder height just short of the two players and Benyon was able to do the rest.

I do not like Wroe's penalty taking technique however, he relies on conning the keeper into gong early and if the keeper doesn't he's in trouble because where he puts the ball is an ideal location for the keeper to get his hands on it.

Just drill the fecking thing as close to the foot of the post as you can at full power ~ no-one saves them, and practice, practice; practice every day!

As for the so called "red card" ~ no way, Read the laws of the game Miac ~ Benyon wasn't in a probable goal scoring situation he was going away from the posts, towards the big defender to the keeper's right............penalty, and yellow card for "unsporting behaviour" was the decision by the book and applying the utmost common sense.

Those jackets as sported by Keith Hill maybe be resonent of "Smoking Jackets" in cutting edge North Devon Miac, but in London and Manchester they are one of this year's fashion "must haves"....................would look the bizzo with a nice fedora or trilby don't you think! ;D

;D I do love walking on the moors as well but normally when I do that I'm dressed more like Compo!! Actually I did purchase a trilby specifically for last years Devon County Show, when a group of us decided to dress for the occasion with tweed jackets, trousers tied up with baler cord, and green wellies!

The joys of living in Devon!!

I can not believe I missed this 5-0 thrasing, to watch my other team (Villa) lose agaisnt Chelsea....... so gutted but well done Torquay and cant wait 'till the end of the season....WE R STAYING UP SAY WE R STAYING UP!!

On reflection and the benefit of the tv replays the ref did appear to get the penalty decision right by not sending off their keeper - the ref for once has a pretty good game to be fair.
The smoking jackets may not have made the cuttting edge department store of Banburys and Chopes in North Devon yet - but I can tell you that they most certainly have been all the rage in the parish of Hartland, complete with green wellies and string tied around yer trousers.
Mind you its always been fairly liberal there - believe it or not it is still legal to marry your sister or have sexual relations wuth your livestock.

''Pictures provided courtesy of Torquay United FC & Pinnacle Photo Agency UK. Not to be copied or reproduced.''