FL2: Torquay v Crewe 11 Jan 2011

The first half was probably the best I have ever seen a Paul Buckle team play and Crewe could not have had any complaints if they found themselves four nil down at the break. The second half was a different story as it looked like to me Bucks changed the formation to 4-5-1? early in the half.

There was the very best one minutes silence before the kick-off I have ever witnessed at any football match, so a big well done to the brave 1900 + at Plainmoor tonight. We may not have been that many in number, but the fans did their best to create the best atmosphere possible

We did not start the first half very well in the opening minutes; we were doing well to win the ball and then were just giving it straight to a Crewe player. That soon changed as we started closing down the Crewe players and robbing the ball off them and getting it quickly to our willing runners. That was the secret of the first half, running at their back line and we always looked like scoring.

Guy did give a needless free kick away just out side the area and thankfully the shot went over the crossbar. We saw the good and the bad of O’Kane tonight, some great tackling, wonderful passing and then a number of a very poor and sloppy passes.

Our approach play and passing was premier league standard at times and one really greet move saw O’Kane put through on a one on one with the Crewe keeper. He was central and only needed to put the ball either side of the keeper, but hit his shot straight at him.

He made up for the miss a few minutes later, but it was a great run by Zebs that really made the goal. Zebs have travelled a long way with the ball and got inside the Crewe box; he was turning this way and then that way and finally got a right foot shot off. The ball took a defection and flew over to where O’Kane was and he an unstoppable first time volley into the net.

Danny was playing as well as he did against Carlisle, but once again lost the ball on the edge of the box a number of times after going on a good run to get there in the first place. He was unlucky not to score after O’Kane put him in on goal with only the keeper to beat. Danny just knocked the ball a bit too far in front of him and the keeper looked certain to get to the ball first. But Danny some how got his toe on the ball and lifted the ball over the keeper who had gone down low. I t looked like it going in and then the ball seemed to swerve at the last second and bent past the post.

We then went two up from a corner; Zebs started his run some way from where he finally got his head on the ball and the ball thumped into the back of the net. It was now a case of how many more goals we were going to score as we attacked and attacked the Crewe goal.

Ellis had a good chance but put his header straight at the Crewe keeper and Danny tried his luck from around 30 yards out the forced the keeper to make a full length dive to keep the ball out of the net. O’Kane thought he would have a go from around 20 yards out and once again the keeper was forced into making a good save low down.

It was like watching Brazil and even Mansell fancied his chances of getting on the score sheet. He played a great one two that put him in the box with plenty of space to get a shot on goal, it only just missed the post. I don’t think Crewe had one shot on goal the whole of the first half apart from one free kick.

He started the second half OK to start with and O’Kane really should have played the ball to Zebs who was in acres of space but played it to Elliot who lost it on the edge of the Crewe box. It was clear a defender must have been told to stick tight to Elliot and not give him an inch of space. That job was made much easier when Bucks changed the formation playing Elliot up front on his own, WHY?

Their goal was all of our own making and once again showed the few flaws in O’Kanes game still. Guy did his best to get his head on the ball to try and get it out of our box. The ball was coming down on him and therefore was unable to get much power on the header. The ball dropped just outside the box and then O’Kane went and grabbed hold of a Crewe player. A needless foul that we ended up getting punished for.

After they had scored we did start playing a bit better again and trying to take the game to Crewe much more. We did fall asleep a number of times and got very lucky when we let their number seven go past our defence with so much ease and he really should have scored.

We had one passing move that must have been as many as 25 passes or more in total, from being in control of the ball Mansell cocked up a short simply pass to Wroe near the edge of their box and we found the ball at our end and once again we got a bit lucky the Crewe forwards did not do better.

I had the feeling as the half wore on that we were going to ruin such a fine first half displaying by making mistakes and giving Crewe the opportunity to get the score level. On the balance of play we fully deserved to win the game.

Every single player worked their socks off and I can’t fault any of them. Guy was named man of the match, but for me Mansell was mine and Bucks should never move him ever to left back again.

very happy with 3 points tonight,we deserved them,especially after the first 45 minutes which was very impressive.We were a shadow of ourselves in the second half,i dont think we paced the game well and just ran out of steam,okane particularly looked absolutely knackered when he went off.So all in all a good result,a word of praise regarding the ref,i thought he had a good game,one of the better ones.With crewe on a roll and us buzzing after our cup exploits this was a game we could easily have lost,but hats of to bucks and the players,they stayed grounded worked hard and got their rewards,next stop morcambe

Without doubt the first half was the best 45 minutes of football I have seen from Torquay in the past 3 seasons. Passing and pressure. I would like to have been a fly on the wall in the Crewe dressing room at H/T. Playing with intensity is the secret of Paul Buckles match-winning tactics. He deserves more plaudits.

Some predictions?

Buckle, Benyon, O'Kane, Ellis. Why would they leave? They won't.
Play-off place at best though.
Crawley at home. One nil.
I hope I'm right!

Could not agree more Aussie...the moment we put Benyon up front on his own and Zebs back on the wing we took the pressure off their back four. This gave them more time on the ball and they pushed up and took the game to us. In the first half we were brilliant and gave them no time to create anything.
With Zebs and Benyon up front we have a very potent strike force.

To use that age old cliché ‘it was a game of 2 halves’. First half we were absolutely outstanding, as people have already alluded to the best 45 minutes we have played in many a year. On that form the dream of reaching a semi final wouldn’t be that farfetched, however a repeat of the second half would see us looking over our shoulder at the results of Hereford and Stockport.

To start with the minutes silence was impeccably observed, although disappointing to see only Guy Branston from our side sporting a black armband, even more so when ALL of the Crewe players were wearing them.

A crowd of less than 2000 was outrageous, come on people what is going on? I understand there are people who can’t make it as they live further afield but the locals who couldn’t be a*sed should be ashamed. That said they did miss the best 45 minutes plainmoor is likely to see in a very long time. I’d be pleasantly surprised to see that level of skill and intensity over 45 minutes rather than the odd 10 minutes here and there.

Onto the game, which was barely 2 minutes old when Branston, who was VERY lucky not to pick up a yellow card, went right through the back of their centre forward. On the plus side he didn’t go near Branston again for the rest of the half, not that any of their players got close tour back 4 in that first half.

It is not an exaggeration to say we should have/could have been 5 up at half time. Apart from the 2 goals we had the following clear cut chances;
Benyon x 2, keeper saved, should have scored at least one of them
Ellis, keeper saved although it was straight at him
Stevens, keeper saved, mainly because of Danny’s poor first touch
Mansell, just wide
O’kane, keeper saved
There were also a couple of half chances.

The goals were very well taken.

The first saw Zebs pick up the ball and go on a mazy run, beat a couple of players and saw he shot deflected away to the far post to O’kane who was in yards of space and he smashed it home from about 6 yards. O’kane takes the plaudits whilst Zebs deserves just as much credit.

The second goal was a peach of a header from Zebs. A beautiful outswinging corner from Nicholson found an unmarked Zebroski running in and powering a header past the keeper from the centre of the 6 yard box. 2-0 and barely 15 minutes on the clock.

For the rest of the first half we were all over Crewe like a bad dose of chicken pox, and they will have felt just as sick. Total dominance, we were so intense, first to every ball, won every second ball, got it wide and tore them apart.

If I was going to mark the players after the first half I would give all of them 10, except Stevens who would get 8 and Bevs would get 2 (1 for looking dapper in all black and another for staying awake when I don’t remember him having anything to do).

A few special mentions as well;
Roberston played really well and because we were so dominant he pushed forward quite a bit. He also played 2 defence splitting balls through that if O’kane had done it we would have been gushing about the quality of his passing. Exquisite.
Branston was dominant, lucky not to get an early yellow but he did leave his mark on their guy which kept him quiet.

O’kane was pure class, different level. If he is still here past the end of this season I will eat my hat. He will also command a decent fee as well.

Mansell was just awesome. People keep on about the formation being the reason for us performing better but I think it has more to do with having Manse back in midfield. He was my MoM, covered every bit of grass, at least twice and was like a terrier in the tackle. The unsung hero last night.

The second half was never going to match the first, it’s not possible to play at that tempo for the whole game. Whilst we did look a little bit tired as the game went on, I thought we looked a bit disorganised as well and I’m not sure why, perhaps we should give more credit to Crewe?

Their goal was from a needlessly given away free kick. In the centre about 20 yards out and although we had 7 in the wall it was just blasted over the top and into the roof of the net. Bevan looked as if he was grasping at thin air, but to be fair to him he would have seen it late after been unsighted by the wall.

We then appeared to be under the cosh for the rest of the game, so from being so dominant we were now hanging on, but we still thoroughly deserved the 3 points.

Right onto the formation. Some people have it down as a simple 4-4-2, however I would disagree with that, it’s more of a 4-4-0-1-1, if you get my drift. What I am saying is that when Zebs plays as the 1 he plays off of Benyon (as opposed to playing alongside Benyon ala standard 4-4-2) whilst when O’kane plays as the 1 he plays in the hole in front of the midfield. I have to agree that whatever formation you call it I much prefer it that way, we look a much better side with more balance. We have the right players in the right positions i.e. Mansell in Midfield and O’kane on the wing, but still giving him the opportunity to cut inside or to push forward. His defending was quality last night so it’s no wonder he got tired. He is still young and has put in two great shifts in 4 days. He can only get stronger.

Missed my first game last night through work and as per usual I miss a super performance by the sound of it. For a group of players to perform as they have done is exceptional and Buckles motivational skills are spot on. They have to be with such a minute squad which appears to be getting smaller by the hour.
And lets all savour it you never know what's around the corner

So pleasing to hear that the crowd got behind the team 100% though Budliegh.