FAC1: Torquay Utd v Harrogate Town 3 Nov 2012

Oh dear, oh dear just what can you say about that? Torquay got what they deserved and can have no excuses. Torquay did not play particularly well all game but still had enough chances to win comfortably enough. But we missed the lot and never really extended Harrogate's keeper. In fact it was not until late into the second half I can remember their keeper making a save! All through the match we were incapable of hitting the target. It was an embarrassing day for all of us connected with our club. Martin Ling and the players need to have a good look at themselves as this was not good enough. I remember years ago witnessing Hillingdon knocking us out of thje FA Cup and Malcolm Musgrove, our manager at the time, getting loads of stick. I hoped not to witness those sort of events again but today I did. As I said it was not so much that Harrogate raised their game and deserved to win, we simply did not perform to a proper standard you would expect from a professional team. As I said we got what we deserved - nothing. Crowd 1,800+, offically 43 from Harrogate, sponsors MOTM went to Saah who was one of our better performers.

I thought Torquay's first half pereformance lacked a proper tempo to stretch Harrogate. We were pretty ponderous in our build up and there was not much space to exploit. We were comfortably in control but were not hurting Harrogate. Harrogate did not not look threatening. Then on 20 minutes Nicholson on the edge of the penalty area slipped while in possession of the ball. Torquay did not clear their lines well, and a low well struck shot from just inside the area beat Poke, hit the far post and went in. Oh no, the unthinkable happened but could this stirr Torquay into life? Well not exactly but clear chances did arrive for Torquay. We could not find the target with any of them! Bodin and Downes wasted clear headers. Howe on the left pulled the ball across to Bodin with an open goal within the 6 yard box but leaned back and hit well over.

Torquay did attempt to up the tempo in the second half and pressurised Harrogate. There were too many mistakes from Torquay players and still their keeper had not had a save to make. Thompson and Jarvis came on for a double substitution for Bodin and Stevens who both had poor games. The trouble was that Thompson was not too clever today and could not beat his man and Jarvis or should I say Mr. Anonymous did his normal disappearing act by making no contribution. Howe did put the ball in the net with a 1-on-1 but was ruled out for offside perhaps rather harshly? The longer the game went on the edgier the players and fans got. Again Torquay had some glorious chances and Thompson, like Bodin in the first half, hit over from inside the 6 yard box. Torquay had loads of corners but just could not finish off any chances. Yeomen came on for Nicholson as Torquay played 3 at the back but Yeomen could not find the target late on. None of them could! In fact with about 20 minutes to go you felt Torquay would not score, it was that type of performance. After 3 minutes of added time the whistle blew and the game and our Cup dream was over. Harrogate players and fans rightly celebrated and torquay fans trudged away very disgruntled. It was a poor, desperate show from Torquay and they got what they deserved.

I fear there will be implications from this result. We will lose out on the extra potential cash and today exposed our many shortcomings as a team. Both our expereienced players like Downes and Mansell were very wasteful with the ball and our young players like Thompson, Craig and Leadbitter could not deliver the ball when in decent positions. Thankfully our league position is decent right now because we looked like strugglers today like the bad old days. It must have been a difficult choice choosing a man of the match. Let's hope we can bounce back in the league. This was surely Torquay's worst moment since the Consortium took over and Ling's lowest point since becoming manager. Not something I want to experience too often.

i could write reams and reams on my thoughts after that disgraceful performance but cant be arsed to be honest.Harrogate deserved the win,worked like a team,looked fit and thought for every ball,are you reading this lingy?
But the real consequences of this loss wont be now but january,when the sniffers come for rene with cheque book open,i suspect he will be gone then.A paltry 1800 there today,and at this rate and performance wise this will be a normal attendance for us.I actually hate the way we are attempting to play at present,note i said attempted.
This result shocks me not,too many times this season we have given up disgraceful performances like this,the big surprise is we are 7th,i cant believe how though.
And finally lee mansell,told by an 84 year old supporter that we played rubbish,didnt like it and had to be restrained by stewards,shame he hasnt shown the same fight on the pitch as well

We need new players, and for that we need a good cup run to get the funds...oh wait

If you can't beat a side 2 divisions below that played 120 minutes 3 days ago, who can you beat?

its true ok,all he kept saying was,what did you say mate? kept repeating it,meanwhile stewards holding him back,all a bit unpleasant really

Lee Mansell having to be restrained by stewards after someone voiced an honest opion! Mansell has been dam right awful this season, ok Lathrope was out injured and Mansell couldn't get forward but like I said before, Mansell, Nico, Bodin are undroppable in Lings eyes. They all know they will play week in week out all the time

mansell was absolutely livid,but it should of been the performance not some old timer,imho mansell has been a very big disappointment this year,but he is not alone,bodin looks like we have been fleeced of 70 grand for him,he is dire,one among many at present.L;ing has annoyed me as well,did you hear his post match interview,full of committment and chances,lots of effort,lingy your talking out your arse son