PSF: Weymouth V Torquay 10th July 2010

According to dot com the half time score is 0 - 1 with O'Kane the goal scorer after 29 minutes. Interestingly, looks like he started in midfield.

Two trailists in the line up, Poyser (formerly Aston Villa striker ) and Lathrope (formerly Norwich midfielder). Looking foward to some match reports.

A few initial thoughts from this match. Looks like Zebroski will stay on the wing as opposed up front (quite right IMO) and in the absence of Carlisle, will be on the right wing.

It was pleasing to see our two main strikers hit four goals together during the second half. More of that please! Obviously, there is no back up up front at the moment but Buckle has hinted that he may sign a striker next week, possibly on Monday, so fingers crossed there!

LRT played at centre back as opposed to LB so may turn out to be good value for the extra cover he provides.

Roll on the Plainmoor PSF's!

Before I go

Lathrope - very promising, midfielder, some nice touches
Poynser - only managed to have 2 touches, didn't come out 2nd half

Sounded like a good run out for them and nice to see a few goals scored. Certainly looking forward to seeing Billy Kee this week, looks a useful signing.

The young lad Poyser is from Aston Villa and could well be joining us on loan, will probably get a run out against Argyle and a full game at Bovey.

We are also trying to sign another forward, very well known to us

Well all the better if the lad has been released, saves up a loan.

As for the other target, yes he he is of a good standard. Has plenty of experience in this division and will be that "big lad up front".

What a difference from our last visit to Weymouth on Boxing Day 2008, both in terms of the weather (no icy wind nipping down the channel on Saturday) and the football. Pinch yourself and you realise it’s not too much more than eighteen months since we were last there. But, in football terms, it could be half-a-lifetime ago. A promotion for Torquay in the meantime; two relegations for Weymouth and - from once aspiring to be our “equals” – I suspect Weymouth will now be exceptionally fortunate to finish above either Truro or Tiverton this coming season.

Really it’s only a case of continuing to wear the same colours - and still possessing the Wessex Stadium - which links Weymouth old and Weymouth new. The fans are still the same, of course, albeit in reduced numbers: 350-odd there on Saturday including a good number of Torquay fans. But maybe, you sensed, not quite the fixture Weymouth relished at this stage of proceedings and - as a purely footballing exercise - not too unlike us visiting Dawlish on the second Saturday in July. Only a small thing admittedly, but not getting a programme issued hinted at the “work in progress” nature of the club. At least the tannoy was working!

Weymouth’s players showed spirit but – should you look at today’s Dorset Echo – you’ll see they’ve been arriving from all manner of sources including Chickerell and Portland. From a South Devon perspective, there was Ben Gerring (ex-Argyle and more recently Liverton) and Jules Emati-Emati (once of Dawlish). Somehow I imagine the team that starts Weymouth’s first league game may only have a passing resemblance to Saturday’s.

As has been reported, it was a fairly youthful Torquay line-up in the first half which suited me as I’d wanted to have a look at Yeoman, Palmer and Halpin in adult football. It needs to be remembered that, whilst all three have decent experience in youth football, only Yeoman (for Bideford) has had much exposure to “senior” football. It’s too early to make a call on them yet but I reckon each of them is currently capable of playing a decent level of non-league football. That’s not an indication of whether they’ll make it as professionals but it’s better than nothing and a promise of something. If Palmer or Yeoman is still at the club this time next year, that’s reasonable progress for the youth set-up given that Halpin is now contracted. As for Kofi Poyser, let’s just say he was quiet (with the makings of a being an obscure answer to a forum question in years to come. Unless, unless...).

A much-changed side for the second half and a wholly different tempo and game. Billy Kee made an obviously forceful initial impression – friendly against poor opposition or not – and has something of a more plausible version of Lee Phillips about him. At same stage somebody is sure to describe him as “bullish”. Damon Lathrope looked just the type of player that you might describe as “tidy” in such low-key circumstances. Rowe-Turner and Macklin were both rather rusty and you can only hope that each will now prove themselves in “fresh start” circumstances rather than being judged in the context of the all-together harsher reality of their introductions last January and February.

Oh and I’ve nearly forgotten Danny Potter. I must be taking him for granted already which surely is a good sign….

In the interest of historical accuracy it should be explained that the Weymouth fans changed ends at half-time to follow the direction of their team's play.

And it certainly appears that Pappy and his mates created an impression in some quarters: www.exeweb.com/forums/showthread.php?p=998928#post998928

An "abundance for heroine" is an intriguing concept. Perhaps one of them is in the picture? Give her a medal for valour!