FL2: Torquay v Hereford 1 Feb 2011

I went to tonight’s game to show my support to a team that badly let its fans down in the FA Cup 4th round match against Crawley. I went because I foolishly believed they would want to give a performance for the fans to make up for the one they dished up against Crawley. What did they do? They went and gave an even worse performance and I’m afraid it’s not a question do I want to show my support to that team again on Saturday, it’s more a question do I want to pay my hard earned money to watch that rubbish.

I read stuartb’s post as I came home in the car asking why Ellis went off, well he made the first goal, scored the second goal and if he turned up at Ants game this Saturday looking for a game, I would be telling the Marldon manager he would be better off sticking with the centerhalfs he has got.

The only good think to say about tonight is Jake Robintson, such a shame all he brought to the game was lost and thrown away by the rest of his team mates. He is smaller than Benyon and for the first ten minutes never got a touch on the ball, all we wanted to do was hit the ball long and high from the back and what was the point of that with a striker up front hardly bigger than me.

I thought Stanley also looked good in the first half, playing neat balls to his team mates, but was he on in the second half? As I hardly noticed him if he was.

Ellis was a mistake waiting to happen every time the ball went near him; I suggest we made a big mistake letting our other centre half move on a few weeks ago. What sort of boots do players where these days? Ellis has ones that mean it’s easier to slip up than stay on your feet. He nearly cost us a goal very early in the half, under no real danger to just clear the ball he went and slipped on the edge of our box. The winger just ran past him and had a player standing all alone in the middle of the goal to pick out with a simple pass and he would have scored. But the pass ended up a very poor one and went behind the forward and we were very lucky indeed.

But then for a short while we did start playing a few balls on the floor and getting them up to Jakes feet, he took one pot shot from the edge of the box that bounced just in front of the Hereford keeper who could only parry the shot away from goal.

Ellis did play one good ball out of defence up to Billy Kee who played a great through ball for Jake Robinson to get on the end of. The Hereford keeper came rushing out but Roberson coolly put the ball past him and into the net. A great goal and we should have then tried to build on our lead.

We nearly did straight away with another good effort by Robintson, his first shot was blocked in the box but the ball came back to him and we went for the far post and the Hereford keeper just managed to get across and get the ball behind for a corner.

Then Ellis made another big costly mistake, it looked a simple header was all that was needed to clear the ball from the edge of our box, only he headed it backwards straight to Fleetwood. Branston did his best to try and get the ball, but was far to slow and Fleetwood buried the ball past Bevan who had no chance of making a save.

All we wanted to do from then onwards was keep giving the ball away and Hereford who were much the better side anyway and out playing us for most of the match, were always looking to punish all the mistakes we were making.

Danny Stevens tried hard enough but did nothing really good all-night, he did have one shot that my granny could have got more power into and it resulted in a simply save for the Hereford keeper. Robertson did have one more half chance after O’Kane put in a good low ball into the box from out on the right hand side, he hit the ball first time with his right foot, but it went wide of the post.

I was not too disappointed with the first half to be honest, when he did get the ball down and played a few passes and got it up to Jake Robertson, I felt we always had a chance of getting a goal.

But what happened in the second half? Mistake after mistake, poor passing that gifted the ball to Hereford who were not only working much harder than we were; they were always first to the ball.

Mansell had the ball on the halfway line and just gave it to a Hereford player, two passes later and the ball is being crossed into our box from the right hand side to the back post. Up jumps Fleetwood and heads the ball over Bevan but I’m sure the ball never crossed the line. There was Ellis who only had to head the ball off the goal line but headed it against Bevan and the ball went in the goal off him.

We also got away with a penalty that was not given and how the ref never gave it I don’t know as it looked a very clear penalty to me. Ellis rightly was taken off and Robertson moved across and Mansell went to right back and on came Lathrope. Well sorry but if he is all we are going to be able to bring on off the bench, prepare for a relegation struggle this season. Another player who made mistake after mistake and one such mistake cost us yet another goal.

He gave the ball away in our half and then went and brought the player down he gave it too. The free kick was swung into our box toward Fleetwood again who headed it down and our defence just stood and watched and almost admired the shot from Featherstone that flew past Bevan and into the net.

Off went Stevens who should have gone off much earlier and on came Halpin, he hardy got a touch of the ball and when he was put through right at the death by a great ball over the top by Mansell, he decided not to hit the shot when he really should have and by the time he did take the shot, he was too wide, closed down and was only able to hit the ball very tamely.

I may have made this game sound better than it was, we were very poor and to be honest, I’m not sure I want to waste my money watching our team at the moment and may well go and watch Ants cup game this Saturday.

So many fans walked past Ant and I after the game saying they would not be going this Saturday, that cup defeat is going to cost our club very dearly indeed.

Relegation fodder, We lacked any sort of idea in attack, billy aint no elliot, (well not yet)his first touch is dire his lack of hassling defenders means we dont pressure them into mistakes, (they did to us), our midfield generally shows no inventiveness, the passing is poor, to be fair mansell worked hard and okane and stevens looked the most likely to create anything at all.

Ellis was poor but no worse than robbo who i also thought was shocking, he didnt bother tackling he just manhandled the opponent out of the way.

The piss poor crowd cant of helped the guys, but we were awful, i cant imagine non season ticket holders turning up on saturday .

But so long as Mr buckle thinks we are having a decent season who am i to disagree!

Yes silly me forgot to put that Billy Kee miss in my report, how do he miss it after doing all the hard work and a great big empty net starring at him tp put the ball into.

Mansell with two minutes let on the clock came to the middle of the popside and told the fans to make more noise. Sorry Manse far to late and the fans did sing as much as the could while having to watch what was on offer. I have said it before its a two way thing, they players need to be playing their part as well if they want the fans to also play their part.

the team had an opportunity tonight to put things a little right after saturdays debacle,but couldnt manage it,or be bothered.The 8 passes between players,when one pass would be more effective is also getting on my nerves,it always ends with us giving the ball away,basically because we arent good enough,so no point of doing it in the first place,whip the bloody ball in first time and hope somebody gets on it,simple as that,we are trying to play like brazil,and it isnt working

I liked Robinson and Stanle, Halpin great lad and mate. I was the Match Ball Sponsor today, had a great meal with some mates, had our own box (which we spent a little time in before making our way to the Popside), programmes and also photo on the pitch at half-time. Sorry about the atmosphere, I needed to do more and not good. Any ideas on what I can do, obviously I need to get a new drum as the one I got isnt good and I need drumming lessons

Thanks for the match reports guys!

Just like last season, this is going to be a vital time for us Gulls. All is certainly not lost, let's forget about the play-offs and focus on midtable. 8 points off a relegation spot is worrying but we've got games in hand and should be able to make that gap a bit bigger.

We've got a team that has shown us they can play very well and is normally a match for every team in our league.
It seems confidence has deserted the players big time. That's the difference as I see it.

The new lads should fit in nicely, especially when they get used to the players who are already here. We've got a few very talented young players but we have to accept that because of their age they won't perform in every game. It's up to Buckle and the senior players to carry the weight and get us back on track.

Keep the faith and... Roll on Stockport!