Torquay United v Yeovil Town, 7:45, 15July 2014

Isnt it tomorrow (the 16th) Rob ?

link Hargreaves looking forward to this one!

Anyone confirm if the popside is open?

Ht nil-nil
Not a bad half so far

Quite sparse I'm afraid, well under a thousand! A few tackles were flying in and remember a studs up challenge by a Yeovil player getting a yellow in the first half!

Yeovil hit the post in the first period and we had a blatant handball in the area turned down. Still, didn't look like there were two divisions difference between the sides. We did well to come back twice from a goal down. Their penalty looked a little soft with their striker 's heels clipped right on the edge of the box. Cameron's goal was a little strange as it appeared to be slightly scuffed and going wide but sneaked in off the far side post.

Their second came after a mass substitution and not only did they get away on the right into the area but the defenders grouped into the centre of the box allowing their winger to cross unopposed for a tap in. Our equaliser was similarish in that Thompson, playing at right back got away on the right and again was able to pick his spot which was Benyon's head and he was unopposed to direct the ball in at pace!

All in all a good work out and gave the fans s feel for newbies and trailists alike.

Starting XI:

Rice

Tonge
Pearce
Downes
Ives

Briscoe
Richards
Young
Cameron

O'Achie
Bowman

Finishing XI:

Seabright

Thompson
MacDonald
Hutchings
Cruise

Chapell
Harding
Chaney
Ajala

Sullivan
Benyon

Yeoman in squad but did not play.

Of the trialists no Cregg, Poku or Baker-Richardson. I understand Cregg has gone, not sure about the other two. No Hawley - still recovering from his broken arm.

CH seems set on 4-2-4 and I say 4-2-4 not 4-4-2. Briscoe is a striker/winger and Cameron is an outright winger. Neither is a wide midfielder.

I am a little nervous about that as I remember that Knill set up exactly like that for most of his time here last season and we were constantly overrun.

Will the same fate await us this season, or will we get it to work and produce exciting attacking football?

A lot will depend on the full-backs - too slow last season to get up and down quickly enough. I did not like what I saw of either Tonge or Cruise last night. I would not keep Cruise, but we may be stuck with Tonge.

Thompson and Ives both did well, but it would be brave bordering foolish to start with either as first choice let alone both.

The other obvious key is the two in midfield. I was very impressed with Young but we need someone alongside him who is very strong and covers a lot of ground. I was impressed with Richards, but we could really do with someone more experienced starting with Young and I am not sure Harding is the man.

Up front, I like Bowman - a leader of the line - and we have a lot of players contracted or on trial who are nearly good enough - can one of them come through to be really good enough?

Pearce and Downes looked solid at the back and I like both Hutchings and MacDonald - either could offer a more defensive right back option.

Not seen enough of Seabright, not confident in Rice.

So in total, very much a work in progress. We can all see the kind of players that need to come in but I am sure CH can too. If we had available the cash tied up in paying Tonge, Downes, Harding, Chapell, Bodin, Benyon and Hawley then I am sure you would see some quality reinforcements that would make us look every bit a promotion-chasing squad. As it is, CH will very probably have to make do and mend.

From what I have read, Poku may be a good foil for Young but would like to see him play first, assuming he will be fit in time?

I suspect that a few of the above will play varying parts during our season as needs must but could see some doing very well.