NLS: Torquay United v Weston Super Mare 3pm 2/03/19

Worth noting it is fan’s zone again pre match for anyone going a little early.

Nope...playing the form team on Tuesday...happy days! 

A disastrous day at Plainmoor and you could argue we got what we deserved. The truth is that the first half performance was woeful reminding me of the inept performances I used to see under Owers. Torquay had the wind in their favour in the first half but constantly over-hit the ball into touch. Players were mis-controlling the ball, there was no pace or momentum, it was all very ragged. Add to that a referee with no authority and did not give Torquay some key decisions like a good penalty call, or letting off their player from a red card for violent conduct, and Weston's keeper who took ages to take goal kicks without a warning - it all added to a very frustrating afternoon.

But Torquay ultimately had only themselves to blame for such a lack lustre first half performance. Even before Weston scored, they had two decent chances. MacDonald came to the rescue on one occasion with a fine 1-on-1 save and so the warning signs were there. But a few minutes later, Niate made a right hash of possession just outside his box instead of clearing his lines. Weston were through again and made no mistake slotting the ball past MacDonald. The game got very edgy with no real rhythm that clearly suited Weston who understandingly ran the clock down and put players behind the ball.

Torquay finally found their rhythm and passing in the second half and built sustained pressure with countless corners. But chances came and went until Janneh got fouled in the box and earned a penalty. Under great pressure Reid dispatched the penalty expertly into the bottom corner of the net. But Weston had the final say. Andrews got beaten on our right on the half-way line and the Weston player was through with no defender in sight. He coolly slotted the ball past MacDonald into the far corner and Torquay were finished. We got out of jail last Tuesday with a poor performance but we did not get away with it today. We got what we deserved by not getting our game together until well into the second half with too many players making too many mistakes. Niate, Evans, Andrews in particular had off days. Asa Hall in the second half did lead by example and there was no lack of effort in the second half by the team, but it is difficult to break teams down and we are becoming susceptible on the break.

It is also worrying that we have so few options on the bench. Keating again did well when coming on but we don't even have cover right now at centre back. There are worrying signs creeping in that opposing teams are sussing us out how to stop us and we do not have many options.

Some of the daft score arrogant predictions I read pre-match on social media were laughable - 7-0 double figures etc. Underestimate any team at your peril.
Well our deficiencies were well and truly laid bare today though having said that on our day the deficiencies and weaknesses don't matter a jot and we still have the ability beat any team at this level.
We also have to remember that many of our squad would struggle at a higher level than NLS OR National League, that's why they'r here at this level and are playing for us!
Too many players had off days today almost as if the expectation levels had risen too high and they couldn't cope with the added pressure.
Add that to Weston having absolutely zero to lose and plenty to prove the recipe for an upset was written long before a ball was kicked. It happens at every level and its somewhat of a shock when for months we have been rolling over teams for fun with fast flowing football - we've been spoiled for months week after week and we now face a mini crisis after we also got lucky in the previous fixture against another lowly and written off team in East Thurock.
WSM had a game plan that worked well helped buy an inept referee who missed so much all game and failed to stamp on blatant time wasting. But who can blame them? Once they went ahead early after a basic Niate error it was going to be long and frustrating afternoon. They packed their penalty box, defended well and rode their luck for virtually the entire second half while we wasted and snatched at chances all afternoon and showed little composure on the ball when it mattered. If I was a supporter of WSM I would be asking serious questions as to why they don't do it every week.
We were in semi panic mode until the penalty when their was some relief but a fantastic and speedy break out from the back on the Popside left CLEvans (not MOM ?? Andrews who had gone off by this time) who tried everything including wrestling and blocking to stop the man, flailing on the touch line and a brilliant solo finish completed the smash and grab victory for Weston. More time wasting in the final minutes followed of course and the whistle mercifully blew to leave our players looking totally dejected.
As others have pointed out we had little on the bench to change things - if we don't fire on all cylinders and the pattern of play is dictated from KO we so often don't defend well and concede soft goals all to regularly. When did we last have a clean sheet?? No problem at all when we knock in four or five. GJ will have answers I'm certain and its more important than ever we continue to get behind this squad and not turn on them as I heard few in the crowd today. Personally I think we play better against sides with more ambition they leave more space for us to exploit.
A tough one to follow that on Tuesday - For me I keep getting this de ja vu feeling from 1968 - surely they cant f**k it up this season!

Makes Tuesday's game a must win.