FL2: Torquay v Cheltenham 21 August 2012

So we had to settle for a 2-2 draw in the end but I thought there were plenty of positives to take from tonight's performance. I thought it was a cracking match with lots of chances from both teams and plenty of good football to enjoy. For much of last season we did not tend to create many chances and to be quite frank it was pretty dull viewing. Tonight our football was enterprising at times in the build-up and plenty of chances were created as a result. Sponsors MOTM Downes who looks a great signing at centre back and scored Torquay's first goal this season with a powerful header! Crowd 2,517, 150 or so from Cheltenham. The Bristow Bench was nearly full compared to the sparsley populated Family Stand. It's becoming clear to supporters what a better matchday experience it is in the Bristow Bench. I discovered that for myself tonight - it's so comfortable and has great views of the game.

All the first half goals were from headers. Torquay had an encouraging opening spell and Bodin brought a good save from their keeper tipping the ball over. But Nicholson headed off the line from a Cheltenham corner. But from another corner, Cheltenham again convincingly won a header and was turned in a close range. A bit of a soft goal to concede.

Torquay responded in superb fashion by scoring twice in two minutes. A long, raking Nicholson free-kick was powered in from a Downes header. A minute later following an impressive move, a cross came over Howe powered in another header! There were not many chances for the rest of the half.

The second half exploded into life with some great chances being missed mainly by Torquay. Following some great exchange of passing by Howe and Bodin, Macklin from close range put his shot just wide. Cheltenham put a chance just wide of the post. Howe from close range hit the post. Poke made an excellent tip over save. Cheltenham scored on 80 minutes from Zebroski who capitialised from a Torquay defender (Oastler?) as he left the ball to bounce and Zebroski pounced and won the ball. Zebroski clean through slotted the ball past Poke. It was disappointing we did not win but Cheltenham were very good all night and probably deserved a share of the spoils in the end.

I was not too downheated because I can see encouraging signs for the season. It was sad to see Macklin stretchered off as he, Bodin and howe look a real handful in attack. Lathrope went off injured in the first half and was replaced by Easton but that did not look too serious. I thought Downes and Saah can be a big success in central defence and what a great signing Downes looks to be. Poke made some impressive saves. I thought we showed good togetherness and team spirit against an impressive Cheltenham and showed tonight we can create chances and hopefully score a few.

Both injuries look serious - Damien will need to work his magic.

Turning point was Macklin going off. Until then a third for us looked more likely than an equaliser with Macklin and Bodin stretching them all over the place.

I was hoping Niall Thompson would come on to keep the pace that was troubling them.

Cruise's introduction virtually finished us as an attacking threat and invited them on.

Very one-sided after that and it was us clinging on for a point at the end.

Poor defending from Oastler committing the cardinal sin of "letting the ball bounce" although that may partly have been due to a shove in the back from Zebs.

Downes' reaction to the goal was very forceful - to the extent that I wrongly started to think it was him rather than Oastler involved.

Very impressed with their right back Jombati.

Anyone know what the glimmering light in the middle of the pitch is - faulty flood light?

Our games against Cheltenham are generally entertaining with two well matched sides and tonight didn't disappoint although it would have been good to have got our revenge from the play offs. As we have actually got the return fixture on a Saturday, certainly one to put in the diary...

I thought we started the slightly brighter but the deadlock was broken by Cheltenham after a corner won by Zebs against Oastler. The corner was swung out to just past the spot and a hotly contested header saw the ball loop back towards the near post where Harrad was on hand to bury it from about a yard out. However, for once our reply was swift.

From a free kick on the left wing the ball was swung out to Downes on the far post who beat his marker to header the equaliser emphatically home! This was followed very shortly after when some good work by Billy on the left saw the cross go again to the far post where Rene was on hand to nod in to the delight of the home crowd! Unfortunately, Damon then took a knock in making a tackle and although he spent 5 minutes trying to shake it off, had to be replaced by Easton and parity was kept until half time.

We came out flying in the second half and had several great opportunities to seal all three points. I think Macklin and Rene combined well to create a shooting chance for Rene but the shot ricocheted off a defender out for a corner. From the resulting kick, Downes ending up heading so low it may have been a more comfortable volley but the ball just squeezed past the wrong side of the post. Bodin then got free twice in the area. The first time on the break he cut the ball back to Macklin who again just slotted the ball a whisker wide of the left hand post. The second time Bodin was in a similar position to the Leicester player who got past Oastler last Tuesday but unfortunately let Brown get too close to him and got hold of the Ball. Rene was impeded in the area but got nothing from the ref who didn't give us much.
Rene then had a good chance on the right hand side of goal and turning the ball back in saw it come off the defender only to hit the base of the post and then to safety.

Then the match turned on its head again and was sparked when Macklin pulled up in the area after another run and was stretchered off! Then it was Cheltenham's turn to have waves of
attacks, many coming from McGlashan on the right. Obviously he was not the most popular player with the home crowd but he won quite a few dubious free kicks that got Ling riled at one stage. Cheltenham pressure saw Poke make some good saves and defenders heading clear from the goal line as well as quite a few penalty shouts.

The goal came from our old friend Zebs on the wing running on to a ball, seemed to get clear when Downes was pushed to the ground and I was still waiting for the foul several seconds after the ball was slotted home! The last 10 minutes was fairly even in the match but the score remained the same which probably was the right result but would have been nice for us to nick it after the last few games against them!

A pity about the injury to Macklin as when he had the ball looked very good and was a threat. Certainly not the finished article but hopefully will be back soon. Some good positives tonight as we were very competitive against one of the better teams in this division with Downes getting the MotM award showing he can score as well as defend.



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Must confess I thought with the two speedy wingers (Bodin & Macklin) and Rene up front we caused Cheltenham all sorts of problems.

Shame we couldn't have put the game out of site before Macklin's injury and hope that he's out for as little as possible.

According to the Lingmyster,we are down to 18 for Saturday. No mention of loanees due to our playing budget. Still on derby games of 2,500 hardly surprising

Mention of them here!

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19341312