PSF: Torquay Utd v Bristol City -16 July 3p.m.

Due to hugh public demand, ;D it looks very likely I will be up at Plainmoor for this game. It will be nice to see a few faces I have not seen for a while and nice just to feel good enough in myself to be going to a game once again. Its also going to feel good to write a match report for the TFF.

i se they beat argyle 3-2 tonight,looked a fairly strong squad they put out as well

Ricey in goal the second half with a different Torquay team to the first half. Bristol City seem to be lining up with a stronger team for this half.

finished to 2-0 doesnt matter pre-season or not a good result

echo that loyal especially after tivi game bring on them greeks ;D

How did awful little bloke play, you know the one everyone wants to slag off as useless and lightweight?
Stevens, little Danny Stevens, thats the chappy. Oh and that awful back up keeper we just signed.
Preparations seem to be going well and all players are starting off with a clean slate which encourages all to compete for their position. Very healthy and encouraging. We didn't concede against a Championship side also encouraging. Plenty to build on.

Well I finally made it back up to Plainmoor and really enjoyed my afternoon. No steak and kidneys pies again so nothing much as changed and after not enjoying the steak and ale pie the last time I tried one, I settled for a hotdog and a bottle of coke with the top on. At least the hotdog is a large proper sausage, only mine when a bit cold as I ended up, yes you guessed correctly, talking a bit to much.

So lovely to see Mrs Wills and her other half the rev, who as you would expect being a rev, had a few words to say about my sad lose of dear Carol. So great to see a number of TFF members who all but one gave me good and very welcome man hugs. The only one not to is not into them and being the grammar snob he is ha ha, only allows you to shake his hand. Mind you he is such a very knowledgeable and clever sod; it still feels a privilege just shaking his hand, yes the one and only Barton Downs.

I’m a bit out of touch with all the coming and goings as far as players are concerned and there were sure a few faces I did not know, and had to ask the rev who they were. Have to say the pitch looked as good as I have ever seen it and the only thing so different and almost eerie like, was the main stand being completely empty.

We started with what might well be the first choice starting eleven, but then Okane was not in the first half line up, or Howe or Saah, who you might think might start in a league match.

We started much the better team, but then as I don’t know any of the Bristol City players, I’m not sure how strong a side they had out there. One very noticeable thing was we kept the ball down on the ground and that is always pleasing to the eye, as I’m sure we all agree, we don’t want to have to keep looking up to the clouds to see it.

There were a good number of good passing moves and I thought Joe Oastler looked very good playing in the right back position. Our new keeper did not have a lot to do, but what he did he done well, he seems to kick the ball very well and looks to roll it out when possible and not drop kick the ball up field.

I’m not sure of the prove yourself players name wearing the number 23 on his shirt, but he sure looked very good and had good control and feet. It was he who scored our first goal after Ellis had headed the ball down to his feet from a corner. He hit the ball first time with his right foot just has it hit the floor and the ball flew past David James into the top right hand corner of the goal.

Danny Stevens looked very alive and full of running and there was one good move that ended in him shooting from the edge of the box with the shot only just going over the crossbar. Bristol City nearly scored just before the end of the first half, a very swift passing move saw the ball played past our keeper and it was only a very good goal line clearance by Joe that stopped the ball from going over the line.

As expected a whole new team started the second half and I have to say Macklin looked very good playing out on the right wing and he sure has plenty of pace. First chance to see Howe (is that how name is is spelt?) looks a bit heavy to me and I’m sure he can’t have much pace, but he looked good on the ball when he had it and also scored our second goal. It came about after some good work by youth team player Ray? Who played a perfect pass to Howe’s feet. He cleverly made room for a shot on the edge of the box. James sort of made a half save, but somehow the ball still ended up in the back of the net.

Young Martin Rice pulled of a very fine diving save and a number of not so difficult ones, his kicking was just fine and as City had far more of the ball in the second half, Rice was the busiest of the two keepers. He did get beat on a one on one as in my view he went down a bit too early and should have stayed up nice and big a bit longer. As a result he found the ball chipped over him and it looked a certain goal for City, until from nowhere, Saah appeared and somehow got the ball clear.

I did feel Howe should have scored another goal after a good run by Macklin, he tried to place to ball into the net, but then maybe some credit should go to David James for making what might just have been a very good save.

A good and enjoyable game to watch and at a price I might just have been able to afford. Will still need to keep a very close eye on my finances to see if I’m going to be able to attend first team games at first team prices.