FL2: Morecambe v Torquay United 27th March 2010

how can people blame the manager? without wishing to be a Buckle lover but when the players step over that white line it is down to them not the manager

Did the manager make 3 defensive howlers at the last home match? did he coach them to do that?

Did the manager miss open goals or not hit the target? of course, he spent hours on the training pitch teaching them how to miss.

come on guys. sometimes his tactics are naive but he doesn't deliberately set out to lose.

How many people around me in the popside bemoaned his subs at the last home game but they were 100% right.

H is almost as powerless as us when the whistle goes for the start of the game. it is up to the players to perform.

Which shows the difference between what the man on the radio says and what actually happened. I thought Mullin was poor actually. I truly hate centre forwards who are too lazy to challenge for the ball properly especially at home when he knows he'll get the lion's share of crap refereeing decisions. Their dangermen were both their wingers, especially the right winger who gave Adam Smith a torrid time in the first half with his skill, pace and directness.

I set off from London at 0730am and took the tried and trusted M40/M42/M6 route oop north but I did treat myself to a toll road drive. It always makes me laugh to see the words "Toll Plaza" just before the row of toll booths appear on the horizon. I guess we have to try and big up our only toll road a little bit. It's just that "Toll Plaza" monicker that sounds a bit daft. But it is nice to have the payment point on the right side of the car for a change. When I drive in France or Italy it's usually a case of frequent internal car gymnastics to try and reach across to insert the ticket. I've had some close shaves with the gear knob I can tell you.

I decided to try and supplement the football excursion by visiting a couple of places before the match. My first stop was Britain's newest City. Preston. I bought a book at Christmas called "1001 buildings you must see before you die" and I was amazed to see that amongst the mentions of the Taj Mahal, The Chateau at Versailles, the Great Mosque at Mecca and the Chrysler Building, there was also a mention of Preston Bus Station. So I drove into the City Centre and followed a National Express coach. Then it appeared. It's a huge place. It doubles up as a multi story car park. But it's in decay and the surrounding area is quite frankly isn't the prettiest urban place I've ever seen. Apparently it's due to be knocked down fairly soon as part of a regeneration project. English Heritage tried and failed to make it a listed building. I think it's a shame. It needs a bit of cleaning outside and a complete overhaul inside but it's a fine example of modernist architecture.

So from modernist to something a bit more traditional. The next little detour came a bit further up the M6 and then a short journey into North Yorkshire towards the town on Kirkby Lonsdale, then onto Ingleton and onwards to the magnificent Ribblehead Viaduct which is used by the iconic Settle to Carlisle railway line and featured recently on the Great British Railway Journey's hosted by Michael Portillo. It was built between 1870 and 1874. It's a wonderful example of amazing engineering which works so well with the surrounding scenery which looks like all the best parts of Dartmoor in one view.

So then it was time to go back to Morecambe. I parked for 3 quid in the car park behind the car wash and then had a swift pint of Lancashire Blonde in the York Inn. Back to Christie Park again to pay the 13 quid to get in and then a bargain meat and potato pie with gravy and mushy peas (if you want them of course, I can't stand them!).

After reading some of the postings earlier I get the impression that people actually don't want to hear they we played quite well again but didn't take our chances when it really mattered, but today was another one of those days. We looked slow out of the blocks and it wasn't much of a surprise that we went 1-0. From the opposite end of the ground it looked like it went in straight from the corner. We certainly had our chances though. Rendell should've scored before the keeper pulled him back only to just get a yellow. I think his actions warranted a Red Card but it was just a yellow. The keeper guessed right and saved Nicky Wroe's penalty, but he probably shouldn't've been on the pitch to save it. We then had a spell for 10 or 15 minutes where we had them on the ropes and our wide men O'Kane and Muzzy were starting to get some joy down the flanks and getting some decent crosses. O'Kane, Muzzy, Zebroski, Rendell and Wroe all had efforts at goal only for them to be charged down or blocked by a defence marshalled by the tough looking duo of Bentley and Artell. Can we sign Bentley up and stick him alongside Guy Branston next season please?

I thought that we mostly bossed the second half and had further chances. I think Rendell had a shot that was cleared off the line. Zebroski powered and danced his way through the Morecambe backline only to scuff his finish which was cleared with the keeper beaten and then Rendell missed a sitter, although their defender got a very good block in to thwart him.

All in all a half decent performance but no points to show for it. Robertson had a good game, Branston was strong and fearless and Zebroski carried a decent threat up front.

But which ever we try and spin it the sad fact of the matter is that it's another defeat and we need the points regardless of the performance. We do also need some decent referees in the run. Today's ref was one of little short-arsed, officious little knobheads.

Early morning edit...

The only thing that put a smile on our faces was the Morecambe stadium announcer playing "Bring me sunshine" at half time. "What do you think of it so far"? Rubbish.

Anyway some photos...........

First up. Steve Woods finally finds gainful employment.....



Preston Bus Station.







Ribblehead Viaduct





Christie Park





The Meat and Potato Pie with Gravy and Mushy Peas.



and back to Christie Park





Half time kick-a-bout anyone?



Nicky Wroe slots home the spot kick..............or perhaps not?





The no expense-spared, eco-friendly scoreboard.

Me too this morning. The 4 and a bit hour drive back took it's toll last night and the loss of hour plus getting up early to watch Jenson triumph in Melbourne means that I feel knackered this morning.

The only highlight of the motorway journey back home was that I had enough foresight to turn off at Haydock Park and fill up the car for 11p less a litre for unleaded than if I stayed on the motorway. £1.25 at Knutsford Services, £1.14 at a Shell Garage a stone's throw from the M6. The spirit of Dick Turpin survives.

With regard to the should the keeper have been sent off for the tug on Rendell's shirt. Is it in order that Bucks asks the ref for the reason why he wasn't sent off and would the ref have answered him?

''Pictures provided courtesy of Torquay United FC & Pinnacle Photo Agency UK. Not to be copied or reproduced.''

To be honest, that match made me sick to my high teeth (or some such phrase). Paul Buckle was right. He's coached the boys as best he can but they've not scored their chances. Carayol and O'Kane on the wings looked excellent. Zebroski was assured and fought 'til the end. Rendell is clever and showed plenty of neat touches. All this meant we created a bucket-load of chances but the ball wouldn't get over the line.
Morecambe had one decent effort in the second half and the finish was clinical, in off the post. I should have known it would be Stanley to finish us off as I met one of his mates working in a Lancaster pub... having gone past Charnock services the previous day I thought Keiran might have had a cameo, maybe even goalscoring, appearance. Of course, I'm not superstitious and didn't believe anything of the sort... well, after I realised I'd lost my lucky pants anyway.

At the game I was annoyed that Rendell missed what seemed an open goal because the keeper was behind him from where I stood and I didn't see the tug but having seen it again several times on telly I'm furious that the ref didn't send the keeper off. Rendell was not only denied a goal-scoring opportunity he was simply denied a goal. The defender wouldn't have got across to stop him rolling it in. Besides, the defender was the only player remotely between Rendell and the goal, with the keeper behind him. If Rendell had been bearing down on goal, with only the keeper to beat and got pulled back it would have been a red card, so in this case the ref's failure to issue one is incomprehensible to me. He just bottled it !