FL2: Aldershot v Torquay United 13th April 2010

Gentlemen, ladies and all fellow TFFers, without wishing to labour over a point I shall make continually in this brief match report, that was absolutely flaming sensational from the lads this evening.

From 30-9 (I think those were the numbers back to front) each player gave 100% and not a percentage point less, right from the opening minute to the 95th.

Aldershot's only moment of note came in the opening minute, with a shot that was well saved by Michael Poke, but from that point onwards, bar very few scares, it was all Torquay. This new away formation of 4-4-1-1 with Rendell in the hole behind Benyon is extremely effective and completely stifled a Shots team that had been among the best in League Two over the last six weeks. The great thing about playing like this, is the formation can so quickly change to 4-2-3-1, with Zebs and Carayol supporting Rendell going forward and Wroe and Mansell sitting in front of the back four making the side look so solid.

The opening goal came, as it should with the tactic we are using, on the counter attack, but it owed a lot to the strength of Elliott Benyon, who again displayed a new found belief in his ability that had been missing from time to time earlier in the season. He held off a defender a lot bigger than him, tricked into the box and fired through the gaping hole that the Shots keeper had left between his legs. A great goal and well deserved reward for a fantastic display from the No 9.

A second was coming for most of the half, with Nicholson's wicked free-kick glanced, I think by Robbo, towards goal only for the keeper to pull off a Banksesque save on to the top of the crossbar from near the floor.

But eventually it arrived, although it owed more to Carayol's whiff in front of an open goal, deflecting off a defender to Rendell, whose own scuffed shot seemed to deflect at least once off a defender before nestling in the corner of the net. Queue more scenes of delirium from the noisy and superb Yellow Army, numbering around 450 I believe.

Little pressure from the Shots still, but by now Torquay were constantly ripping them to shreds down the flanks, with Zebs and Carayol both to the fore. Unbelievably the Shots left-back, beaten all ends up all night by Zebs, was named MOTM probably because of all the work he had to do to stop the score getting out of hand.

Now I might be accused of over-egging the pudding here, by basically ignoring the second half, but we did exactly what we needed to do - put two banks of four in front of the penalty area and stop Aldershot being a threat. That, Sirs and Madams, was exactly what happened. The whole back four was superb, Robbo barely troubled by a supposed dangerous winger, likewise Nicho, but helped out a great deal by some excellent tracking back by the two wingers, who put in some yards going forward and backwards. Shots had a couple of half chances, but nothing worthy of a save, and Pokey just had to deal with a couple of decent crosses, but did so without a fuss.

Meanwhile all these positive second half scores from the other grounds were filtering through, and by the end of four minutes of extra-time, we find ourselves in 19th place and one win (or one Grimsby loss) away from safety.

A thoroughly well-deserved standing ovation was well received by the players, and everyone wearing yellow headed off up the hill, through the park and back down to their cars and coaches in the town centre with huge smiles on their faces...and who could blame them for that was the best away performance I have seen from a Torquay United side in years...better than the 3-0 win at the same ground two seasons back and that is 100% for sure because this team has been through so much in the last six months that there have been times when you couldn't have blamed them for rolling over and accepting the inevitable. Now there is absolutely no need to do that - just move on, play the same 11 at Grimsby and hope for 90 minutes of the same...passion, effort, non-stop running, tackling, and victory.

Marks:
Poke 9 - I'm not going lower than that through the whole team!
Robbo 9 - kept a dangerous winger completely anonymous
Nicho 9 - likewise, and always so dangerous at set-pieces
Ellis 10 - fanbloodytastic performance. Marvin Morgan - who's he?
Branno 10 - sensational. Thou shalt not pass
Zebs 9 - Brilliant going forward for 45, brilliant defending for 45
Wroe 9 - Best I have seen from him all season and dare I say finally growing into role as captain...even gave Branno a bollocking at one point, which was well received.
Manse 9 - Tackled all night, broke up attacks and was all over the midfield
Benyon 10.01 - MOTM. Ran his socks off in lone striker role. Kept two defenders busy and worthy of his goal
Rendell 10 - Looks made for role just off a striker. Won plenty in the air, won plenty on the ground and I'm giving him the goal even if it probably was an OG.
Carayol 9.99 - Growing up every time I see him. Worked hard helping out Nicho when needed and a constant menace going forward.

Sure, I'm biased, but I don't give a crap - those are the marks from the Shepperton jury and they are all well-deserved. A mention to about the Yellow Army, the best voiced bunch I have heard this season...a great mixture of Dotnetters, TFFers and people who've never heard of the internet. Kudos to the lads in and around the drum and let's have more of the same in the future.

I'm off to bed now, but glad I could write these words. I feel proud to be a Gulls supporter tonight and now know just how those who were at the Rochdale game felt. That was brilliant!!!

COME ON YOU YELLOWS!!!!

I heartily concur with everything written by capitalgull. Ratings included.

We were simply brilliant. Local bragging rights for me in this part of the world. A group text from me to the entire Shots supporting Cricket Club reads, "Outsung. Outclassed." No arguments.

The first half we destroyed them. The second half we quickly let them know there was no way back. We looked more likely to add to our lead. A great spirit sprinkled with a fair bit of class.

[/quote]
Fantastic result and what a brillliant run these last few weeks ;D
I now look forward to my trip to Grimsby and wont have to take the heart tablets!!
I am delighted for all the players,staff and fans who were there tonight--well done all.
I am even more pleased for those who saw the real picture of this season and kept the faith as REAL supporters do.
One final thought....I wonder how the Buckle out parade is going on in the far east??? ;D ;D ;D[/quote]


Just woke up and seen the result.......phew, fantastic!!!!! The last few games have been excellent from the lads. Which makes this season even more frustrating. With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight if it hadn't been for Buckles awful performance up until the end of Feb we would have had a comfortable mid-table slot sewn up. This season has been terrible, but when we confirm our safety on saturday we can breathe a collective sigh of relief and plan for next year.

With respect Longie, only a fool would celebrate this season as a success. It could be judged so by the outcome of safety. But not really at any other level. The club has shown little to inspire confidence that next season will be any different. Buckles management has been bizarre at times, the board have been conspicuous by their silence, off field distractions(ahem!) have affected the unity, the marketing and PR have been dreadful, internal club rumblings are divisive and we've lost a shed load of money. Looking at things another way, it can only get better!!

Thanks for the reports and the pictures, well appreciated another memorable night of following the Gulls!

A big well done to the management and the players! Itching towards safety!

Interesting that you think that Carayol "lost it". I am sort of perplexed that you can form that conclusion as Buckle never played him. Did you see him training or something. If he was never on the pitch I am not exactly sure what he was supposed to do.
Probably the same with Nico though - he seemed to have lost it, then found it (Six left backs later mind you). Then there is Ellis - he seemed to have lost it for two seasons, but seems to have suddenly found it all of a sudden (whatever it is). Perhaps these players were actually good players all the time and it was actually the managers fault for leaving them out. Perish the thought.

Perhaps you're half right in the assumption that they were good players all the time. Perhaps its equally the case that we've actually found the right mix of players in order to accomodate all of them. Having a pacey, non casual, high in confidence and most importantly consistent Carayol in the team actually allows the luxury of Nicholson, as the opposition winger has to now drop back and help out his full back. If he helps out his full back he's less likely to trouble Nico. Nicho played for 2 full seasons without any competition. This year he's had to fight for his place and prove he's worth a starting spot at a level of football which he's previously failed at. I wonder how many managers of League Clubs have scouted Nico in the past when he was at Forest Green and thought "he's a talented bloke, why is he playing in the conference"? I'm very happy that he's playing again and proving people wrong. But thats part and parcel football isn't it?

As for Ellis. Perhaps having Branston alongside him affords Ellis the luxury of knowing that he's not in the trenches alone and can go an attack the ball knowing that he has Branston's experience to get him out of trouble. Having big guy alongside you certainly did wonders for Exodus Geoghan when he was at Kettering.

But I suppose you can't please everyone. Just like the Chelsea fan on 606 last night moaning about Ancelotti after his team go 4 points clear in the title race.

Buckle out. He doesn't know what he's doing. How dare the manager of a football team drop players from the starting XI without consulting the moral majority. The young Exeter City upstart. Just who the bloody hell does he think he is?