NL: Torquay United v Woking 3pm 28 December 2019

Agree Rob Asa Hall is not a central defender. I remember all to well when, Chris Hargreaves at a similar point in his career, was drafted into the back line with everyone believing he that he could easily adapt to the role. He failed to adapt and the idea was quickly abandoned. A central defenders role is as specialised as is any position on the pitch. Just because Hall has ability in the air is not a good enough reason to play him there. As a last gasp no option choice of course but as you say in front of the back line offering some protection is where he needs to be playing. As for Cameron is it any wonder that hes been looking shaky of late with the quality he has either side of him. No Liam Davis to get him out of trouble and so much inconsistency on his right side with both sides of him being chopped and changed for various reasons.
Lewis is more mobile and I would have him and Hall as defensive midfielders protecting the back line and sitting deeper. We have to try and stop defensive rot. After that I would start thinking about whats in front of them.
Poor Ben Wynter no doubt instructed to continue bombing forward is yet another example of why were leaving huge gaps and getting done down the flanks. Same for the other side. Lewis bombed forward on numerous occasions against Chesterfield, subsequently lost possession leaving his defensive zone totally exposed. Its happening on both sides of the pitch and needs to be acknowledged and sorted.
I also wouldn't have James and Hall on the same pitch both are nearing the ends of their careers and look like they're wearing lead boots at times.
I feel GJ is more confused than ever but he has to give the back line more protection and stifle things before they reach our shaky back line. No idea whats happened to Meford Smith he at least is a specialist wing back but as so often is the case of late we don't get told anything. Where's Wally syndrome has established itself at TQ1. The position of Ryan Dickson is another Where's Wally mystery. The injury status to Reid in particular is another Wheres Wally? scenario. Or is he genuinely off to Argyle?
Were like a car going down a steep hill that's lost its brakes at the moment.
Johnson and co need to swallow some pride, change to more protective tactics, get the 100% triers like Keating out on the pitch and throw out an anchor pretty bloody fast.

With just a 48 hour turnaround between games this is going to be a factor and may be why Reid wasn’t deemed to be fit to start both games but suppose we will find out shortly. With the injuries, very limited scope to freshen up the team. Could Medford-Smith come back? He is the only designated left back in the squad and is fresh, might as well go back if he doesn’t feature today.

At least the weather is dry. Woking have lost their last two games and will be nervous themselves, hope we can come up trumps but will take a draw myself.

Chelstongull returns to action after a long absence through sickness.

Gary Johnson will be desperate not to let his mate down.

5-4 to Torquay with a 95th minute Gerring own goal winner.

Flipin eck!Thought we had lost 1-0 as the Devon Live page did not update on my computer. What a shocker that was!
4-1! Great result and the most welcome 3 points of the season.
Can we make the play offs? Expect to see a flurry of activity in the transfer market as league clubs off load in January.

That losing run in the league was a good monkey to get off our backs and the crowd certainly played a part today in supporting our team. Defensively we were a bit suspect early on, with two goalmouth scrambles that could’ve seen us three down but we had our own chances as well, Cundy shooting straight at their keeper and Keating heading over at the back post from a corner. Once Hall pulled one back with a kind deflection we steadily grew in confidence, it helps not chasing a game and a Keating header that looked like it had gone in was poached by Reid on the line to give us a half time lead.

Woking really started to accumulate yellows and the red was almost inevitable and after nobbling a few players last time out it was good to see Poku go, particularly after feigning injury with his challenge seeing him hit Whitfield on the back of the head and the referee came back after playing advantage to give him a second yellow.

Once Whitfield bundled the ball home at the far post, the game looked safe and with lots of space opening at the back we could have scored more with Reid not able to put the ball away on a few occasions in particular. He made up for it with a good assist at the death putting Keating away in acres of space who made no mistake to fire home and justify his man of the match reward. Would have chosen Whitfield myself with good performances from CLE and Nemane. Really good to see Reid back as well and a much better team effort all round! 😀

Plenty of "they will not pass" performances today. What a relief were off 34 points. There were times when I almost enjoyed the game today!
Exactly what was required and a team selection more or less as I had hoped with the dropping from the starting eleven of James and the inclusion of all our tall physical guys with Asa Hall in front. Wynter and Buse injured I gather. The back line had height at least. Lewis, Cundy, Niate and Cameron and a more solid and competitive looking pairing of Hall and Evans in front were able to compete aerially a little better than we have been of late.
With no specialist wing backs I thought we looked less exposed when Woking pressed us and the central pairing of Cundy and Niate improved as the game progressed. Cameron did as well as expected but he's no left wing back.
Covalan had a shaky start and was partly at fault for their opening goal when he came for a high ball on the edge of the area and didn't get anywhere near it but thankfully settled down in as the game wore making a couple of crucial saves late on.
Nice to see few goals go in again - it was a very necessary gutsy display with some good performances.
One or two deserve extra mention, I thought Cundy and Niate were a good foundation today though today was a proper team effort where the players looked to be working for each other again. Its been missing of late. Encouraging to see Hall and Evans looking much sharper with proper game time minutes under their belt. There's no substitute for competitive game time and both had good games and looked so much sharper today.
Ruari Keating predictably MOM and well deserved for his commitment and effort always putting defenders under pressure, its been missing. If you could combine his effort with Janneh's ability we would have one hell of a player on our hands! Nice to see Reidy back we need his presence in the middle and a special mention to both Ben Whtfield, another outstanding high energy display, and Namane who really got himself involved in the game today and was a good outlet and ran at defenders. Entertaining for sure if lacking in a little quality at times.
A big shout also for a decent refereeing performance though I doubt Woking fans would agree...
Everyone should be in a better mood now the losing sequence has finally been broken and GJ can perhaps get a good nights sleep...until 2020 that is.

So what was all the fuss about, we knew class would tell in the end! The Gulls came out worthy winners in the end and what a huge result that was against our old enemies. There were plenty of chants aimed at Ben Gerring during the game from the Pop Side and near the end end of the game when the game was in the bag the Gerring chants got very loud around the home section. It was nice to get one over Woking and Gerring but more importantly we desperately needed to stop our alarming slump in form. In the end Torquay did it in style and the exciting attacking football we have had the pleasure of under Gary Johnson returned today. There are still huge question marks about our goalkeeper and back line but hopefully this result will give the whole team a much needed lift. Crowd a decent 2,800+ with 183 from Woking, sponsors MOTM going to Keating.

The first half from a neutral viewpoint was an exciting end-to-end game. Both teams attacked well and made chances but both teams looked uncertain at the back which was not surprising considering both teams recent poor form. Torquay's defence in the first half was all at sea again, every corner that came in caused chaos as Torquay struggled to clear their lines. On two occasions it was debatable whether the ball had crossed the line for a Woking goal such was the uncertainty and panic in Torquay's defence and Covolan, like MacDonald at Yeovil, did not command his area like a decent keeper should. Thankfully we do not have goal line technology in our league so Torquay got away with it. However, Covolan gifted Woking a goal. He came rushing out to claim a cross near the edge of his box but did not get there in time. The ball broke loose and was scrambled in. Torquay were in trouble again.

The good news is that Hall was back in midfield again and looking fit and so did Lemonheigh-Evans after their long lay-offs with injury. Whitfield has been our best player in recent weeks and his skill and work rate was outstanding again today on our left wing. You can always rely on Keating for endeavour and he really put himself about in attack with the returning Reid. Reidy himself look fit today unlike previous home games where he has been hobbling around. So put all that together and going forward Torquay had the right balance again and looked a threat all game. Nemane our right winger who looked positive and nippy on the ball laid the ball to Hall and his shot was deflected in. Torquay's second goal was thanks to Whitfield's shot from outside the box that was heavily deflected and Reid got the final touch at close range. Torquay saw out the rest of the half to lead 2-1.There was an element of luck about Torquay's first half lead as both our goals were from heavy deflections and Torquay survived some huge scares in defence.

The second half was a different matter. Torquay started on the front foot, showed great commitment and ripped into Woking and Torquay looked back to their best, something we have not seen for weeks. The defence seem to settle down and looked more of a cohesive unit. Lewis at right back had a very good game doing well at the back and going forward. Cameron was at left back again and settled down well when Torquay were leading. Niate and Cundy were ok but both at times made mistakes. At 2-1 Covolan made acouple of vital saves, he is a decent shot stopper,

Woking went down to 10 men after a second bookable offence. The referee kept very good control of the game and Woking did not get away with their usual dirty antics. Even their coaches were booked. Torquay's third goal was a brilliant team move, a great low cross on the right by Reid and Whitfield finished it off from close range chesting the ball into an empty net. No-one deserved the goal more than Whitfield for his huge effort and work rate. Keating had the last laugh in added time belting the ball Geoff Hurst style with the keeper to beat. It was not a bad response after just being named sponsors MOTM.

The final whistle went to rapturous cheers and the feel good factor returned to Plainmoor. This was a vital win and goes to show when key players are back and looking fit like Hall, Lemonheigh-Evans and Reid we are a decent team at this level. Yes our keeper and defence were suspect again particularly in the first half but if we are troubling the opposition in their half most of the time we can do well again and the confidence will return. Reid reminded me today that as well as finishing he shows great vision in picking out a pass and contributed to two assists today. Without a fit Reid we are not the same team and that is one of the main reasons we have struggled in recent weeks. Let's hope he does not leave in January as we badly need him.