PSF: Tiverton V Torquay United 19th July 2010

The WSM match a week on Wednesday isn't on the fixture lists either!

I am not worried about the numbers of matches played. It is not as if it is the same eleven are playing for ninety minutes and the intensity of competitive matches isn't quite there. It has been a pretty successful pre-season so far, we have held our own against higher opposition and hammered lower league opposition. With no significant injuries sustained and most of the squad having a good run out, the remaining PSF's are pretty well spread out after the Bristol match in preparation for that all important first game.

Well its a good job then that we have Lou who ensures the TFF lists all the fixtures to be played

Strangely enough I'd been wondering how just how many times we've played at Tiverton in recent years. Pre-season fixtures are pretty regular and we've even had a couple of hastily-arranged matches during the season. That link suggests we're about to pay our 10th visit to Ladysmead since 1998.

The results against Taunton during the 1990s tell the tale of epic encounters in both league and cup topped off by a two-legged FA Vase semi-final between the clubs. Unfortunately not all the crowds are recorded but I've checked elsewhere to see that the March 1994 Western League game at Taunton was watched by 2,854.

Seems a long way from watching Taunton scratch around for a 2-2 draw in a friendly at Galmpton on Saturday. Russell Musker and Mark Loram both in attendance.

8-0 it finished. We've also signed Damon Lathorpe on a 2 year deal.

Encouraging to say the least and getting in the winning and goal scoring habit no matter who the oppostion is has to be a good thing. 5 for Billy Kee also could be the signing that makes or breaks our season.
Another youngster in Lathrope signed up have to trust Buckles judgement Its been pretty good up until now.

A very surprise scoreline when you consider we only put six past Bovey but it should not be forgotten this was a very weak Tivy side and no where near as strong as the one we played last year.

I do believe Billy will get goals for us and while he has banged in a good number so far in these pre season games, they have all been against much lower league sides and he failed to score against Plymouth and QPR in the time he was on in both those games.

Damon Lathorpe is one we will have to see if he can do a job for us and Its not fair to judge him in the short amount of time he was on in the QPR game, but he was far to slow on the ball and lost procession for us far to cheaply.

Hopefully it was no more than not being up to match speed in thought and action and he will turn out to be a very good signing for us.

Just got back from the game and thought I’d type this now whilst it is all fresh in my mind.

I Apologise in advance as I am not the type to take notes during the match and I haven’t read anybodies comments so my facts may not be 100% accurate

It finished 8 – 0 against a very makeshift and it has to be said poor Tivvy side that really did make this more of a training session than a pre season friendly, however it was played in good spirit and was enjoyable to watch. We were 6 nil up within the first 40 mins with Billy Kee the star of the show, showing some real quality in both creating space for himself with some neat footwork and some ruthless finishing that both Buckle and the fans have craved for some time. Yes it was against Tivvy but he was head and shoulders above anyone else on the field today and no matter who you are playing you still have to put away your chances which he did today in style. His goals included a tidy half volley that showed what a fox in the box player he can be and a overhead kick after a Zebs header was heading goalwards until it hit him full on the chest.

I am very excited about watching him play for us next season, he and Zebs linked up very well in the first half and he has already shown he can play with Benyon too. He must be favorite for our top goal scorer award.

Zebroski’s goal too was an emphatic finish into the top corner after some good work down the line by Macklin who has already shown more promise than he did during his loan spell with us last year, he cut inside past his defender and was fouled, the referee played a good advantage as the ball fell nicely to Zebs on the edge of the box who shot powerfully across the keeper into the upright.

The second half was a bit of a non event although we were probably spoilt in the first half, Tivvy played with a bit more discipline and seemed to get to grips with the intensity of the game rather than dwindle to our superior fitness. Danny Stevens came on at half time and looked sharp again, and capped off his performance with a fine finish from the edge of the box after some good football on our left hand side the ball was squared by Kee to Danny who had time and space to pick his spot.

I had heard some Chinese whispers on the terrace that we had offered Lathorpe a deal, which didn’t really come as a surprise to me being as he has featured in all of our pre season games so far this year, although it didn’t exactly fill me with enthusiasm either, he is not the experienced ball winner/new captain I hoped we would sign in the centre of mid field when the season drew to a close in May, as some have already mentioned he is more in the Mansell mould than that of Chris Hargreaves but the more I watched him tonight the more I realised he does fit what Buckle is trying to do for us this season, he can play technically, he is young and is a player who will develop and hopefully blossom for us in the future. I suppose the only question we can ask at this stage is, is he better than Tyrone Thompson? And even then I do not think that is a question we can answer right now as TT looked like he would be challenging for a starting position this time last year, Buckle seems to think he is and that is good enough for me.

Another player I watched carefully in the second half was young Eunan O’Kane playing alongside Lathorpe in the centre of mid field, this is an experiment I desperately want to see work as I believe this boy is class player with great tidy feet and there is no doubt that we will not see the best of him on the wing. Unfortunately he was outfought and got caught in possession too many times tonight and if he can’t do it against Tivvy, during a pre season friendly when were 8 nil up, Im afraid he has no chance in a League 2 game at this moment in his development

Another player who impressed again tonight was Lathanial Rowe-Turner who was playing Left back tonight, this boy got a bit of stick when he signed towards the end of last season but has had a really steady and promising pre-season. I hope he has done enough to shut the idiots who feel the need to get straight on the back of any new signing until they are proved ‘worthy’ of wearing a TUFC shirt... how about we actually welcome a new player lads?? Unfortunately he had to be replaced after about 65mins with what looked to be a tight hamstring.

Finally to the group of ‘teenagers’ who were standing to the right of me on the half way line, who spent the entire second half shouting out what can only be described as foul, unintelligent, unfunny, untalented inbred drivel I would like to say please remember when you are traveling to away games your are representing our club and unfortunately it is your antics that people will remember when they think of our club. I have never been so pleased to be at a game not wearing my Gulls shirt and I never in a million years ever thought I would e in a position that it would be more respectful to pretend I was a Tivonion! Maybe you should rethink your half time shandy on your next away trip.