NL: Torquay United v Solihull Moors 7:45pm 22/11/16

When you say 'a decent away following' are you suggesting they will reach double figures? A 3 hour journey on a Tuesday night and a club who attract around 800 hardy souls to Saturday fixtures.

Please note, I'm not belittling them but I'd be intrigued to know what sort of crowd we are expecting.

I'll throw in my prediction: 25.

... and a Kieffer Moore hat-trick (i.e. left foot, right foot and a header) (((I can be somewhat delusional pre-match)))

Last hat-trick by a Torquay player in a league match ? There has been one more recently in the FA Cup. Jon should know this.

2009 one for Benyon in the Cup. Thanks Stuartb elsewhere. Is it Constantine?

Lee Thorpe got one in the Chris Roberts season I think.



edit: Yes he did. As per the excellent Torquay Fan Stats site. www.torquayfanstats.com/hat-tricks

Before the game my Solihull Moors friend was predicting 5-0 to Torquay citing change of manager and a focus on the FA Cup coupled with bad form - I told him no way but only a series of missed chances late on prevented that being realised.

The first 20 minutes was a struggle, SM were on top and could have scored, mainly from Torquay errors with Richards being robbed in midfield allowing a run on goal and LRT coming inside for the ball leaving their right winger free to have a shot on goal but fortunately both shots went wide.

Our first decent effort came from an audacious Young shot on half way which went a foot over the bar and landed on the roof of the net. Our goal came from a quick counterattack leaving Moore room to bear down on goal to slot past their keeper for perhaps a undeserved lead but how many times has that happened to us? It did give us confidence though and we played better thereon in.

Fair play to director Val Balson who won the 50/50 and promptly donated her winnings to the player fund..

The second half can be summed up as a series of chances as at times we were rampant with Sparkes providing some top quality crosses in particular reminding me of Wayne Carlisle at times.

So - corner to Gallifuoco with a free header from four yards out unfortunately directed at the keepers feet who did well to keep it out but more power would ha v e seen it in.

Looping cross to Moore who tussled with their keeper who could not get a hand on it and the ball looped into the goal.

Powerful cross into the box from Sparkes where Moore headed emphatically home. He was wrestled to the ground shortly after and hurt his shoulder which ultimately saw him subbed.

LRT cross from a break saw Reid hit the base of the post and go out when should have done better.

Cross from the right saw Blissett get a relatively poor contact that was easily saved when something a bit cleaner would have been a certain goal.

Another break saw Young bear down on goal but his shot was well saved.

So a most enjoyable 90 minutes at Plainmoor.

9-off the attendance was pretty close but yet 25% out!

I just hope Nathan can learn from our new talisman about how to dominate the area, I'm pretty sure he's got it in him.

... at least things are going well ON the pitch