Forest Green V Torquay Utd 2nd Dec Setanta Shield

You had me going there Rog for a second or two, I'm glad we are out and will be starting the real match thread before I go to bed, that is the league game on Saturday ;D

In terms of injuries, Ellis kooked like he took a knock or pulled a muscle in his side but carried-on without much problem, Benyon looked like he took a knock but Im not sure if that was why he was subbedm Brougj definitely lloked like he pulled a calf muscle and was even more static between that and his withdrawal a minute or so later.

The plus points were:
Robbo - solid and commanding
Ellis - aggressive, dominant in the air , quick to spot and cut-out trouble and also still running the ball upfield towards the end with seemingly boundless energy
Poke - generally very good (except the error leading to the winner!) and was kept busy with no apparent ill effects of his injury that has kwpt him out for 2 months
Stevens and Benyon - lively performances, although they often lacked support
Mansell - a real leader on the pitch tonight

I was generally disappointed with the fringe players who had a rare chance to start:
Green was bundled off the ball far too easily - he was given chance after chance but didn't look like he would come close to hitting the net. To be fair, he got into a couple of good positiond and he just needs a goal to 'go-in off his arse' to increase his confidence so he doesn’t continue to try and bust the net with every shot!
Adams was so slow he was almost going backwards - sadly the game seemed to pass him by and despite the odd bit of class to switch play he failed to look like someone worth having on the bench for competitve games.
'Basil' Brough was totally anonymous. After the first 20 minutes, FGR played straight down the middle through our 'midfield' - Brough seemed to be lost much of the time.
Still, in the grand scheme of things it was a little more than a run-out and perhaps it isnt fair to be critical of players who havent been able to get a start due to our great form for the last couple of months. Im sure they did their best, but Jordan Charran outshone his fellow 'fringers' in his brief spell on the pitch with intelligent movement and tidy possession.

At least Paul Bastard can wear some trousers instead of those 'lucky' shorts now the run has come to the end!!!

Onwards and upwards to the REAL match on Saturday!

Nah, disqualified for wearing gloves !

Paul Bastard was highlighted on telly at Woking dancing about in his shorts.......................unfortunately with the camera looking down on him it appeared as if he was an old drunk minus his trousers!

I can picture him now in his oak panelled office in Manchester....................neat, pin striped navy blue suit, collar and tie as the person on the other side of the desk would see him; manky, cheesy old shorts safely"out of sight" down below - I can see old Moira Stuart or Sir Trev MacDonut like this too, can't you?
Where's Crooky when you most need him?

Possibly, one of those few games where more fans are happier that we lost! Although useful for the likes of Green, Adams and Brough to get a run out, the squad is not large enough to totally exclude the regulars and could have been a millstone around our necks!

Well done, Lads! Good game to lose

Let Forest Green fight their relegation battle while active in the Setanta Shield, FA Cup and FA Trophy

Quite right!!

I make it 13 league games unbeaten, sure I read somewhere that the record is 15? Lets go and get that one next.

And what about the league stalwarts Wrexham, Mansfield Oxford, York et al, who are below us then? Do you suddenly count Morecambe, Dagenham and Accrington as giants of the game just because they are no longer in the 'tinpot' league?

Just how many of those are in the third round of the FA Cup as well? And before you say 'well we only knocked out two non league clubs' well tell me how many of those non-league clubs knocked us out when we were a 'giant' in League One or Two?

And is that the same Histon that knocked 'giant' Leeds out of the FA Cup last weekend who we should be ashamed to be behind in the league? Surely not the same Leeds with League titles and Champions League quarter-finals in their past?

Take the record for what it is, as something to be proud of, or at least that seems to be what 99.99% of supporters think. Don't you ever feel lonely over there on Dark Island? As you would so eloquently put it FFS!!!!

I've just had to vote for 'best poster' for the dog turd story, sorry Dave but it made me laugh.
The kids and missus are looking at me funny now.
They know I'm not normal it's just sometimes I prove it.
10 minutes til I kick em off the telly for the Villa match...