FL2: Torquay United vs Scunthorpe United - 5th April 2014

Whenever I took a penalty (many years ago) I just whacked the pill as hard as I could and even if he got a hand to it the goalie would probably fly into the net with the ball. Don´t think I ever missed one that I can recall!

Got to laugh bout this mate....you couldn't write this script.....can you all answer this for me please guys.....why arnt the strikers fighting for the ball to take the pen....you might well be right Pete....match fixing....a lot of questions need to be answered over this game.....si

Well what another joke that turned out to be! Yet another 1-0 defeat, yet again we can't score, and what is getting more worrying for me are the decisions made by Hargreaves. There were some really bizarre decicions made today, none more so than the decision made to give Tonge the job of taking our penalty today. No-one could believe that Tonge, who has been pretty awful all season and lacking in confidence, was given the all important task. As feared his penalty was easily saved, unlike Scunthorpe's penalty that won the match. Crowd 2,234, 260 odd from Scunthorpe. Sponsors MOTM and Twitter MOTM Spurs loanee Coulthirst.

Torquay's opening was very good forcing several early corners. Cameron did one lovely run and shot that clipped the crossbar. Both Torquay's wingers, Cameron and Coulthirst, looked our most likely source with their movement and Torquay were the better team but typically could not force the opening goal. Then on 31 minutes Scunthorpe who had hardly threatened won a penalty after Mansell clipped one of their players. It was probably a harsh decision as it appeared Scunthorpe handled the ball just prior to the incident. Winnall put the penalty away with confidence giving Rice no chance. But the big pivotal point was Torquay's penalty after Pearce was fouled from a corner. Tonge was giving the task and shot weakly from the spot and was comfortably saved. Just like against Exeter earlier in the season Torquay blew their great chance. At half-time supporters were up in arms that Tonge was the penalty taker.

Torquay did not threaten too much with clear chances in the second half. Substitute Stockley had our best effort from a free-kick that their keeper tipped over the bar. We did get into promising positions and Coulthirst always looked a threat. Hawley was putting in a pretty good shift but his strike partner Bodin was his usual frustrating self - he showed some good skill and footwork but his final delivery / shot was wasteful. As a unit Torquay played more cohesively today and seem to find their man better. Our shape and tempo was quite good for much of the game. Sadly Hawley was stretchered off with a nasty looking injury to his arm? Hawley and Cameron were replaced by Benyon and Stockley with Bodin moving to a wing. I thought torquay lost their impetus after these subs as, apart from a decent Stockley free-kick, him and Benyon never got into the game. Coulthirst was then replaced by Yeoman to boos all around Plainmoor and chants of "you don't know what you're doing" aimed at Hargreaves. In added Stockley clumsily led with his arm in a challenge and was righly sent off. Out poured the home fans, they had seen enough.

So there we have it. It was maybe one of our better performances but the same old score-line. So we won't be seeing much of Hawley and Stockley for the rest of the season. I am disappointed Coulthirst was not tried in attack today at all. I wouldhave taken off Bodin and put Coulthirst in attack. Sadly today's substitutions made things worse rather than better. I hope Hargreaves does not make a habit of this next season in the Conference...

hargreaves,torquay legend,nice bloke,as torquay manager absolutely clueless,expect a long long stint in the conferance or worse.

Tokyogull told me this theory - don't know if he made it up or read it somewhere. Load of nonsense in my opinion - I'll debunk it properly in the History Room.

I thought they were larches anyway: