FL2: Torquay United V Darlington 12th Dec 2009

On a dry but very cold afternoon, the gulls players could be forgiven for thinking Christmas had come early. Without playing at their best, they won the game by five goals to nil and could and maybe should have scored even more goals.

A Darlington defence who were very poor and unable to get any confidence in a keeper who just could not keep hold onto the ball, were there for the taking every time we attacked them. The could not live with the pace and trickery of Tomson and the only part missing from his game is being a bit more aware sometimes who he has around him to pass the ball to, instead of trying to do it all himself.

You have to feel a bit sorry for the 70 Darlington fans that made the trip down to Plainmoor (I only counted about 40 mind you) being a fan when your team keeps getting beat by big scores tests your love for your club and your loyalty to it.

The first half lacked any atmosphere at all in the ground and we started a bit sluggishly, but he soon had our first chance on goal as early as the forth minute. A long cross from the right hand side of the pitch found Tomson just outside the box on the left hand side; he danced around two defenders and fired in a shot with his right foot that the keeper pushed over the bar.

Two minutes later and a great run by Tomson saw him on the edge of the box, he was to greedy and lost the ball but it fell to Carlisle just inside the right hand side of the box, but he blasted his shot well over the bar. Tomson then played a great ball to Zebs but the defender got in a block and got the ball over the bar to safety.

We did not have to wait to much longer for our first goal and it showed why we need to have someone like Zebs upfront who can hit a good hard and clean shot. Rendell flicked the ball to Zebs who was just outside the box, he cleverly flicked the ball up and turned and hit a shot on the volley that gave the keeper no chance at all, it just flew inside the left hand post.

It was not all one way traffic and Darlington had a few chances to get a goal back they had plenty of corners and a few free kicks just outside our box. One such free kick given for what looked a really soft foul by Rendell saw a low hard shot that just went passed Pokes right hand post.

Zebs maybe should have got a second goal on the 26th minute mark, a great ball over the Darlington defenders by Wroe, saw Zebs going into the box with a one on one with the keeper. Zebs chose to hit the shot with his right foot, I think he was hoping to curl it around the keeper, but it went straight to him and it was an easy save for the keeper to make in the end.

Just before we got our second goal, Darlington missed what looked a certain goal and they were made to pay for not taking the chance just 60 seconds later. It was Hargreaves this time to play Zebs in behind the Darlington defence once again, Zebs shot was not that good, but the ball came back to him close to the post and he managed to get the ball across to Carlisle who had a simple tap in.

Another chance then feel to Darlington and from a good cross Thorpe could only head the ball over the bar, I should point out that Thorpe received a good reception from the popside fans.

We soon had our third goal, a corner played in by Tomson saw a header by Hargeaves heading toward the goal, the keeper got hold of it but somehow spooned the ball out and up in the air and Rendell climbed well to head the ball home.

So the end of the first half and it was more about some player’s individual performances, rather than a great team one, but we were still good for our three goal halftime lead.

Smith who had done a fine job defensively started to enjoy himself a bit further up the pitch at the start of the second half, a very clever flick had Tomson then running down the line and put in a great cross, only the ball went over everyone’s heads. We should have scored after Tomson had taken a free kick, the Darlington keeper spilled the ball yet again, the ball fell to Carlisle but his shot got blocked out for a corner.

Rendell could have then scored his second, he was just inside the box and somehow when it looked like the ball was going to be cleared, it fell at his feet. He could not get a shot away but got a second chance to have one and the keeper made a good save, the ball fell to Carlisle and the keeper saved his shot as well.

Our forth goal was a scrappy affair. Once again the keeper failed to hold onto the ball and presented one of our players with a headed chance on goal(not sure who got the header) the ball came back of the bar and Zebs was there to fire it home for his second goal.

Tomson had switched wings with Carlisle and he went on another run and hit a good low hard shot that was always swerving just past the right hand post, but it was a good effort. So Bucks then made a few changes, off went Rendell for Sills, I thought Rendell had a half decent game, not spectacular, but on the whole he did OK. Benyon also came on for Carlisle and soon showed that he also can finish a chance in style.

It has to be said the goal came about because of the top quality ball played by Tomson, out wide he looked up and saw Benyon just inside the Darlington box, he played an inch perfect pass to Benyon, who chested the ball down and hit it on the volley.

With the fans now finding their voice they were asking for goal number six, we maybe could have taken a few more chances that come our way, the only chance Darlington got near the end saw the ball headed over the goal and it would not have beaten Poke anyway if it had been on target.

So a good result that helps our goal difference against a team that is going to get many more beatings this season if they don’t sort out their defence and find a better keeper.

Time for me to get ready to go out, If Darryl sends over the match pictures tonight, I will put them up later if I do not get home to late

Thanks for that, Timbo. I should have known that as I have watched Toy Story.

Another point I would like to bring up, that Dave's report touched on, is why was the Pop side so quiet for most of the match ? It was only the last say 20 minutes before they made any proper noise and chants. On the otherhand the noisy lot I sit with in the Family Stand were chanting throughout the whole match and I felt the Family Stand did their bit to get the atmosphere going, but the Popside would not join in until the last part of the match.

Best chant of the match....

Fifth goal goes in, United fans start chanting, 'We want six, we want six...'

Darlington fans come back with, 'we want five, we want five...'

Always good to see supporters of teams in that position retain a warm sense of humour...

Good result today without playing as well as we have done lately. Feel its fair to say that we could have had a few more goals also. The result gave bucks the opportunity to take a few players off to rest them before tuesday.

Zebos first goal was another cracker. I feel that the big difference between now and the beginning of the season is that we have so much more pace in the side.

See Accrington won at Notts county today. May put last weeks result into perspective a bit.

Dave the Gull....... Wondered how long until another of your silly little comments. Buckle seems to have addressed some issues we had earlier in the season. Surely you can cut the guy some slack now ??

8.4.91 v Aldershot (Stewart Evans 2, Dean Edwards 2, Paul Smith)

In football terms, I think it's fair to say "here there's life there's hope" for Darlington.
In recent years, Darlington have had some OK'ish teams and have made several attempts into the play-offs. I had a quick look on one of their supporters' websites and the mood was understandably sombre - identical to ours just under 3 years ago when it was clear that we were on the way down and our very existence was in question. Whilst it has been a tremendous slog to get back to where we are - I would be surprised if Darlo didn't come out of this stronger than they have been for the last couple of seasons.

I digress. These matches are not always as easy as the seem on paper so I'm glad that it sounded like the team did today. We did cause the odd problem to some good teams in our relegation season (all too infrequently though!) and I'm sure they'll cause one or two shocks over the remainder of the season.

I think that there are certainly more than two clubs that will finish with less points than us. Dare I point to Morecambe - a team that was more or less level with us a month or two with us towards the foot of the league? I think that we have the potential to pull away and perhaps make things more comfortable than most hoped 2 months ago.

Hopefully this will give further confidence to the team to push-on. December always looked to be an important month and I believe that the team can add another 4/5 points to make the tougher looking January a little bit more comfortable.