FL2: Burton v Torquay United 18th August 2009

There`a good girl if I ever met one! ;D

Am I the first back??? Please be prepared I am no Alan Green so dont expect the normal high standard of match report.
Turned up in slight trepadation following the weekends results. The natives in the pre match pub did warn of a goal fest and that we were wasting our time!!!
For my first viewing of the season I thought the team from minute one looked very assured and confident. Big surprise for me was Timmy on the bench but was then shown to be the correct decision cause Scott and Elliott appeared to have a good understanding. Tarzan did appear off the pace and got a silly first half booking.
Overall think Burton crowd and team were very poor and this obviously helped as the game progressed. In the second half Burton had to come at us but really didnt threaten too much.
Branston was obviously given a lot of attention by our supporters but still havent worked out how he is a judas
On his performance tonight we havent missed a lot but he is a big boy!! and perhaps will come good for them.
Finally I have a confession tonight ...I DID BITE!!!! 60 minutes gone and Albion trying to get back into game and we had the famous call from a FEW around me..."come on Buckle sort it out!!".....what do these people expect--2-0 up away from home....why oh why dont they support???...sorry must be me. All in all a great night and this Gull is going to bed with a smile!!! cheers

Its a fine report Longeaton and hearing the views from someone at the game is far better than trying to work out what was going on listening to the radio.

Such fans drive you mad, they were all quite at Plainmoor last week, but we all know it won't take much to get them started at home as well. Hope you enjoyed your evening.

Brilliant result. Perfect response after Saturday. Shame about the Carlisle injury. Hopefully he will be fit for Saturday.

Good to see that PB gave Rendall and Sills the chance tonite and its fair to say he has been rewarded.

2600 attendance for burtons second ever game in football league ... Their board must be very disappointed. I hope as stated above that we have at least 3000 at the real home of football on Saturday .

Excellent stuff.

Bouncebackability is a sure sign of a good team spirit.

Back home in Lancashire now. This sure is one very happy exiled Gull after a fantastic evening in Burton.

A highly impressive performance after last Saturday's showing. Full of character, team spirit, energy, tactical nous and more than a little skill.

The plan was clearly to come out the blocks quickly with high tempo. It worked wonderfully - we could have been 2 up inside 10 minutes with a little luck. Rendell and Benyon looked a pairing with great potential (shades of Jason Roberts/Rodney Jack came to mind) and Carlisle on the right flank with Stevens on the left took turns in running their full backs ragged on the counter attack.

Our first goal when it came was an absolute beauty. I'll try to paint a picture. Cast your minds back to that wonderful day in May at wembley and our 2nd goal by Sills. The move that resulted in Rendell's goal tonight was almost a carbon copy except that Carlisle's cross from Benyon's pass was low this time and Rendell's cool classy finish was with his foot - put away with supreme self confidence. The sort of finish that has opposition fans saying 'I wish we had a striker as good as that'. Rendell will score many more for us this season, of that I am certain.

Whilst Burton are no Dagenham they are also no mugs and although they carved out numerous chances our defending was excellent tonight. Todd in particular was spot on with his positioning against players with superior pace and Charnock gave a terrific performance.

Our 2nd goal was a testament to our determination. The second of 2 Nicho crosses into the box was slotted in from close range by Benyon and from that moment on the travelling contingent of approx 200 Gulls knew it was going to be our night.

Bevan made a wonderful stretched save 5 minutes before HT and looked confident all night.

Second half Burton had the lions share of possession and attacking play but we defended superbly closing them down to great effect. We still had a number of clear chances and were unlucky not to have added to our 2 goal lead.

Branston is a brute but an effective one but he really struggled with the speed of our counter attacking play tonight. I think we have ended up with the better player in Charnock who seemed to relish countering Branston's physical threat from corners.


Difficult to single out a man of the match for us as every player tonight played superbly but I would say Carlisle and Benyon would be worthy joint winners. Carlisle for his selfless team play and great technique. In the first half he was a maruding winger, second half tracking back and winning tackle after tackle. Benyon has developed immensley. In his first season with us I had concerns even though it was obvious he possessed an eye for goal and has that priceless quality of pace. He has improved physically and mentally. Compare for example his performance 2 seasons ago in the FA Trophy final (bottled a cast iron scoring chance and lacked the right decision making) to his performance in particular in the Play off Final (much more mature and better decision making). Apart from his excellent goal poaching ability he has developed a great vsense of timing for the'killer' pass. This is proving a big asset to the team. Additionally, he can handle himself much better physically against the most rugged of centre backs (a la Branston).

Also a word in support of Nicho (he was great all round tonight). We are all aware of his defensive frailties (lack of pace etc) but his statistics on assists are stunningly impressive. I believe we scored 18 goals last season from his assists and yet another tonight. We ain't gonna get the perfect full back at this level but another 18 assists will do nicely for me!

That's my second successful visit to Burton in the last few months and whilst I agree with the comment that a crowd of 2700 is very poor (particularly after a 5 - 2 home win a few days earlier) I have to give them credit for a complete lack of yobbery with friendly, intelligent fans and officials. Brilliant to receive comments from their fans as I exited the ground of 'your team have improved further from last season' and 'Hope it's a long time until we play you at your place'.

Six points out of nine, a fabulous bounce back from last Saturday's game and well done to the lads and in particular Paul Buckle.

Great night out!

First game of the season I have seen and must admit after reports from Saurday's game I wasn't feeling too confident.

We only got in just on ko as trouble parking and we were sitting so had to queue to purchase tickets. We were sittting as I decided to take my 3 year old granddaughter to watch some proper football as her father makes her watch Premiership matches.

Very surprised to see Sills on the bench but what a great decision from our manager.

Not very good on match reports but must say our first half performance was as good as I have have watched in a while. Everyone was up for the game and we certainly came out of the blocks like a certain Mr Bolt!

The first goal was a cracker and the second a great scrambled effort.

The second half was not as good as the first but we always seemed to be in control of the game.

I thought Carlisle had a brilliant game and was a concern when he limped off clutching the back of his leg.

All played superbly well and I have no intentions of criticising any of the team.

The only downside of the game was the lack of a programme due to some technical error so I was told.

What a first game to watch and I can't wait to get my first home game in.

My granddaughter loved every minute of the game and wanted to go again today.

I hope supporters won't think Saturday's game against Barnet will now be a pushover and they have a good team.