FL2: Morecambe v Torquay 15 Jan 2011

Bob Hope and no ....!

Given that both goals were conceded on the break whilst we were trying to do add to the lead rather defeats this argument I think!

Mainly because I`d be repeating myself! 4-4-2!

There will be a slight delay with the match pictures, Tim has informed me there is a problem on the pinnacle website and as soon as he can get on it, he will send over the pictures.

Wrong Raynor Lucy

Bud gives a quick answer here torquayfansforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=gotopost&board=general&thread=7348&post=69525

As for Evans, i think everyone dislikes him....

I wouldn't bet on it being our time - apparently Buckle is already "tweaking" the formation and is going to leave Benyon and Zeboski on the bench, leaving Beavon to get forward to lend support to the non existant forward line whenever possible.

Just got back after a fairly decent run back down to London. A 510 mile round trip. I sighed a painful sigh when I read some of the comments made on this thread but I'm far too disappointed and tired to get involved in some sort of tit for tat debate. It seems nowadays that if we lose a game of football (god forbid) a full independent inquiry is needed for find out who's accountable for the latest shortcoming. I'm getting very bored of it.

We should've had a point from the game at the very least. We were the much better side, we played the better football and created the better chances. Two individual mistakes cost us dear. Ellis should've let the ball go out, the ball broke to their right winger Duffy and then he worked his way into the box and dived over Branston's leg. Branno was aghast and held his head in his hands but I think he was right to attempt the challenge and he played very well otherwise. The second penalty was as stupid as it was utterly predictable. Hemmings should've got closer when he (Duffy) first controlled the ball outside the box and got the challenge in then, unfortunately he backed off and Duffy worked his way into the box and induced a daft challenge from Hemmings and then went down like he'd been shot again. For a moment I thought the ref was going to book him for diving but then the lino (fat waste of space) gave the penalty and that was that. Duffy smiled and made a gesture or two towards our fans. I would say that there was contact made for the second penalty not the first and Duffy made an absolute meal of both of them. After the second he made out that he leg was broken and made a complete arse of himself. Football can be a cruel heartless bitch at times. Their man of the match was their goalkeeper who made smart saves from Kee and Mansell.

I can't really fault the formation either. A different one today. A variation of both our 4-5-1 or 4-4-2. Almost an offset 4-3-2-1 where Zebroski and O'Kane alternated between supporting Benyon and playing wide right with Wroe, Mansell and Stevens shuffling across to fill in the gaps. Danny Stevens had a good game today. I don't think that Hemmings offered the same value in the time he was on. Benyon worked hard again but missed a glorious chance to score in the first half but he decided to try and make a difficult first touch when a first time shot or possibly even a diving header might have brought more reward. Billy Kee looked very good when he came on and scored a delightful goal. He'd already gone close with a 20 yard drive from an angle which brought a fine save from Barry Roache. Five minutes later he picked up the ball from Wroe (I think), ran at the defence then cut back onto his left foot and cracked a low shot past Roache into the bottom corner. An excellent finish and fully deserved.

Oastler for Benyon was a good substitution to make. He had done his stint on an increasingly sodden pitch and they chucked on a couple of strikers in complete desperation. After only a minute on the pitch he (Oastler) made a very good tackle when a 3 on 1 looked on the cards when they broke quickly after we committed too many men forward and Nico's throw wasn't quite long enough and they hit us on the break.

But I'm bitterly disappointed by the result and the players looked absolutely gutted at the end. We almost got back to 2-2 in injury time when Nico's freekick was deflected off Duffy (I think) and Roache made an excellent reaction save down to his left. But alas justice was in short supply at the Globe Arena today. We weren't going to get much change from that pompous ref or his plump colleague with the flag.

I have to say that Morecambe have managed to spend 12 million quid on a new version of their old ground. We turned up at the ground at 1300. "You can't park here" said the scouse steward. "Can we drink here?", "No it's only for home supporters"? Somebody's really thought this stadium through alright. The main stand is steeper than the old away end at Boston. They should supply sherpas and hardy kiwis. The view is excellent though even if oxygen is needed. I prefered the old ground I have to say.

Some photos.







Zebs attacks



Robbo gets a talking to by Mr Pompous.



Air Nico











and just much did he get of the ball there ref you blind git?









A lovely post match chippy. I had to be strong to avoid having the battered black pudding.