FAT: Torquay United v Truro 3pm 16/11/24

link - TUFC match report.

One quality free kick from Hayfield just after half time was enough to settle this tie. I must have had a good feeling about the free kick. For the first time in the match I got out my phone to take some video as Hayfield lined up to take the free kick just outside the penalty area. The ball floated over the wall into the net and my video clip can be seen on Torquay Talk Twitter if you are interested! I sat in the Bristows Bench today as opposed to my normal Popside view. I had forgotten what a lovely vantage point it is from the Bristow Bench and you have a perfect overall view of the the play. I still like the Popside mind you for the atmosphere and noisy passion from the supporters. I feel the heartbeat of the club more stood in the Popside. It was a decent crowd for a FA Trophy match, just under 2,000 and credit to Truro who brought just under 200.

As a spectacle the first half was typical Torquay of this season - solid, good shape but very little goal threat. Truro looked the more dangerous in attack and were very unlucky not to take the lead just before half time. Torquay just about survived a goal mouth scramble, the ball came out to a Truro player around the edge of the area who then shot and scored. Hamon protested to the lineman and the goal was disallowed for presumably offside as a Truro player was blocking Hamon's view in an offside position. It was a big let off for Torquay.

Torquay came out in the second half changing from 3-5-2 to 4-3-3 and there was much better movement in our play and we looked more threatening. Torquay's goal was a huge boost and we held Truro reasonably comfortably. Credit to Truro, they do look a decent team and arguably had the clearer chances during the match. Luckily Hamon in Torquay's goal had a very solid match and made a few decent saves. The second half was a much better spectacle to watch.

It was a real thrill to see Warnock in the dug out taking the place of Wotton due to his touch line ban. I wonder if that will be Warnock's last ever experience in the dug out? Wotton took his seat in Bristow's Bench not too far from me with our chairman, Michael Westcott. Sitting in the Bristow Bench gave me the opportunity to catch up with a few familiar faces. I still have to pinch myself to think that people like Jon Gibbs and Nick Brodrick, two people who I have known and respected for many years, now play a big part in running our club. Nice to have a chat with Paul Mulhern as well. Hopefully I was not too much of an embarrassment with his post match interview with a supporter on Radio Devon afterwards!

Overall I feel we have the makings of a very good team and we are clearly strengthening as the season goes on like with the signing of Young and the two recent loan signings of Jeffers and Thomas who both look decent. In other words we are moving in the right direction. The challenge is to get the players to gel and too often moves break down as players don't seem to be on the right wavelength. As I said earlier 4-3-3 did seem to suit the players in the second half. Jenkins Davis offered more energy and when things do click we look a very good team and arguably one of the best in this league. Ironically we have a decent record against the better teams like Dorking, Worthing and Truro in this league and struggle more against the poorer teams like Tonbridge.