Dave
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Post by Dave on Sept 29, 2009 23:00:36 GMT
All Torquay fans should feel very proud tonight as the players gave everything they had to win this game and in my view were robbed of what would have been a fully deserved victory. The ref in the second half was so poor and his decisions cost us the result.
I did not stand on the popside in the end, but beside the dugouts as I wanted to observe Buckle during the match, I will make a post about that tomorrow as there were a few things I noticed.
So Mansell and Nico back and with Robertson in the middle with Ellis, the defence at last looked far more solid. How Ellis has never been able to get into the team I’ll never know, he is brave and beat Morgan who is taller than him, in the air all night.
We got a bit a luck on the five minute mark, Benyon giving away a free kick that was floated to our back post, the looping header toward goal had Poke beaten, but it hit the cross bar and came down on the goal line and in the end we cleared the ball.
A minute later the Aldershot keeper came to the edge of his box and just managed to punch the ball before Sills could get his head on it, the ball fell to Stevens, who hooked the ball well wide with the keeper stranded.
Sills did get a header on goal not long after this, the keeper made a save and the ball got fired back at the goal, a few shouts went up claiming the ball was over the line, but I don’t think it was.
Then on 28 minutes Sills was fouled outside the box, the free kick was rolled to Nico on the right hand side of the box, he hit a powerful low shot with his left foot, that the Aldershot keeper did well to keep out, diving low to get a hand to the ball as it looked to be going in just inside the post.
Stevens was having a great game and he found himself with three players on him, but he laid the ball back to Nico, who sent in a perfect cross, you just wished Sills was there to head it, but it was Benyon unmarked who had a free header, but put the ball well wide of the post, when he was well placed to hit the target at least.
Even more magic by Stevens saw his great work finished off by a good ball into the box to Benyon, who laid it to Sills who really should have scored, but his effort was saved.
So that was the first half and we were far the better team who had the best chances, but we failed to put them away and I just feared that in the second half we would get punished for all the missed chances.
The gate was given out before the start of the second half, a very disappointing 2271, but I suppose it was to be expected. Aldershot always looked dangerous with their pace and they broke up one attack early in the second half and somehow Ellis stuck out his boot and intercepted a pass into our box that might have seen us go a goal behind.
Then from a corner the away fans shouted for handball in our box, it sure did not look like it to me, the ref only seemed to make a decision when the Aldershot fans appealed. It was put away well enough, but I really did feel as angry as I felt Aldershot did not deserve to be in the lead.
For a short while after that Aldershot passed the ball that bit better than they had up until then, but were so guilty of time wasting and were allowed to get away with it. Benyon as he often does lately was getting a bit frustrated and allowing little niggles to creep in, but he did battle well and did so on the 55 minute and came out on top, got the ball to Carlisle, who blasted his shot well over.
We were now once again firmly on top, but just could not get the reward all the hard work deserved and Aldershot had a few good chances to put the game to bed, but some good saves by Poke and solid defending prevented that happening.
Sills went in on the keeper and got his first yellow card, I do feel he talked himself into the book, he did the same in the first half, when he should have just shut up and say OK ref, but the ref took no action, but you knew he would not a second time.
Danny had a half chance and hit the ball on the volley, I think it must have landed near Castle Circus, then Bucks made a change and on came Rendell and off went Benyon. I will say Benyon was shaking his head, I don’t think he felt he should have come off, but I was disappointed that Bucks just stood on the edge of is technical area, arms folded and did not look at Benyon or move to pat him on the back for all his effort, more about that in tomorrows post.
Rendell showed the things he does best and that is take the ball at his feet and lay balls around bringing in other players into the game. This was how we scored, he got the ball and played it out to Wroe who sent in a great cross and Sills was there to head it into the net. We fully deserved the goal, but you could not help fearing that Aldershot would get an undeserved winner at the end.
Then Sills was clearly tripped inside the Aldershot box, the ball had gone so I don’t think we could have expect to get a penalty, but the daft ref decided Tim had dived and gave him a second yellow.
We went straight down the tunnel and it was good to see Benyon leave the dugout to go and give Tim some comfort.
On this performance we should all take great heart and look forward to our next game, it we work as hard and put in the same effort, then we can win and I’ll tell you something, on today’s showing, all our players looked like they can play in this league.
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Post by jmgull on Sept 29, 2009 23:17:22 GMT
A breathless match, with two sides giving it everything...... spoiled by the most hapless performance of refereeing i've seen in many years, you thought some of the BSP refs were bad, this idiot was worse than any i can remember.......continually failing to play the advantage, continually getting in the way of play (to allow the ball to hit you 4 times is pretty bad positioning!)......the way he allowed Aldershot to waste so much time was ridiculous, easily stamped out by a yellow card or two, then he added only 3 mins at the end...........add the fact that he got every single major decision (all against us!) wrong, it really was quite galling to have the much needed win denied by his incompetence.
We were excellent tonight and the crowd were pleasingly vocal with their support.........the players commitment could not be faulted, maybe they now realise that several of their futures in league football as well as their managers are in serious danger, we outfought and outplayed a decent and dangerous Aldershot side for long periods and had enough chances to win comfortably, their keeper had a brilliant game and saved them from a hiding.
1st Half.....
5 mins - poor marking from a free kick results in an Aldershot player having a free header at the back post, the header loops over Poke but hits the bar, Poke brilliantly saves the follow up......our defence`s only major blemish of the night.
20 mins - An inswinging corner from Nicho is met by Sills, brilliantly palmed away by the keeper, Hargreaves follows up from an acute angle, the keeper brilliantly keeps it out....or does he? several of our players appeal that the ball is over the line but its waved away, Buckle later claimed that the ball was yards over the line on the radio after having seen the pictures.
28 mins - Sills misses a sitter when he tries to sidefoot home a clear chance set up by Benyon.....saved well by the keeper.
40 mins - Nicholson fires a free kick from 22 yards......he's absolutely "mullered" it, its destined to rocket perfectly in the bottom corner.......the keeper, at full stretch somehow gets down and across to push it onto the post.........a world class save!
We had one or two other chances that i've probably forgotten but at the break you had that horrible "Plainmoor" feeling......we'd played well, created good chances but it was still 0-0.......we'd probably pay for it in the 2nd half!
The second half was only a few minutes old when from an Aldershot corner, the ref gave them a penalty for the harshest of harsh handballs..........the Aldershot players didn't even seem to appeal for it, the ball, apparently hit an unsighted Robertson, i certainly couldnt see an outstretched arm.........when you're down the bottom these kind of decisions go against you i suppose.
The players, you could tell were rapidly getting fed up with this ref.......but we continued to dominate the game and kept up the high tempo and started to push aldershot further and further back.
The keeper and his defence continued to keep us at bay, we were still creating chances but as the 2nd half wore on it started to look as it was going to be another awful result.
Rendell was introduced for the hard working but ineffective Benyon and it made the difference for me.........Rendell gave Sills the physical support he needed and Aldershots defending started to get more desperate as the game wore on.
..........then the turning point.......a rare and very swift Aldershot breakaway with about 10 mins left from a cleared corner left an Aldershot player one on one with the keeper to beat from 10 yards, thankfully Poke made a superb double save after it had looked odds on a classic sucker punch.
Back we came, Rendell had a header saved, Robertson had a header cleared off the line........finally we broke their resolve when a Wroe cross found its way to Sills at the back post......waves of joy and relief swept over Plainmoor, there was still 7 mins or so left.......you fancied that we could now go on and win the game.
The ref had the last word...........a cross from the right aimed at the far post, Sills and the defender jumped together but neither could reach it and they both ended up on the floor in a heap.....Sills was up first to go after the ball which would have stayed in play........the defender then had a complete "rush of blood" and flung out a leg and clearly tripped Sills...........down he went.......PENALTY!!! surely!
No, he bloody well booked Sills for diving.....2nd yellow and off!!!
Not only were we denied the pen, we were then denied the chance to batter Aldershot for the final few minutes.........now down to ten men with just one up front.
At least the rot has been stopped, if we play even close to this level we will soon start climbing the table, no doubts.
We still have some weak links.......our wingers do not beat their men and we aren't getting decent crosses in, we need another partner for Sills, Benyon is an impact sub at this level, sadly, he just lacks that yard of pace......Rendell or williams up front for me.
The defence was solid enough, Ellis was excellent again, Mansell has been missed badly and Nicho's dead ball skills should justify his selection.
Hargreaves is back to his best at last and Wroe had a much better game too......they won the midfield battle tonight.
At least tonight, we looked like a league side and its pretty obvious Bucks hasn't lost the dressing room, the team played for him alright........ after the previous few games this performance will hopefully do the players confidence the world of good...........3 points v Bury please!
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merse
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Post by merse on Sept 30, 2009 2:41:07 GMT
I was only trying to say that alan at game we are playing well but cant find the net Buckle has made his point tonight with not adding toddy to the squad, The ref has been a disgrace wth his decisions with what Alan has told me. I for one do not want to be bottom of the table and if buckle doesn't sort the squad out then he and we will be in trouble ?Why is Toddy not good enough tonight then? I know long way to go and we can still do it but not after the last 6 games am not happy!  Do I sense another case of female romance here when the subject of dropping players is concerned? First it was Hilly was the reason Buckle was in your bad books, now Toddy. Do you seriously think the manager has a look througfh his squad and finds the longest serving and then the one with the most horrible case of illness in his portfolio to begin the basis of picking his side? The manager IS sorting his squad.........................he's left out the most error prone defender tonight now that he has the resources of other fit players to do that.....................previously he hadn't. I really think you will be in a minority of one here! |
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Post by Budleigh on Sept 30, 2009 6:51:05 GMT
Of course, if Sills was sent off with a straight red then an appeal can be made... but as it was it seems to be a second yellow leading to the red.
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Post by Budleigh on Sept 30, 2009 8:10:06 GMT
As can be seen, the ref has the yellow card out as well so was a second yellow for the 'dive'...  |
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Post by Budleigh on Sept 30, 2009 8:12:30 GMT
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Post by lambethgull on Sept 30, 2009 9:58:33 GMT
Good reading. Especially the bit where our crowd is descibed as 'raucous', and even 'vociferous'! Fair play to those who went last night for getting behind the team. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2009 10:42:37 GMT
The statistic of one point from a possible twenty one doesn't make happy reading but last night's performance certainly gave renewed hope to most Gulls fans. I'm not sure how much influence the return of one key character can have but it was great to see him out there as the players warmed up. Maybe his influence has been missed a lot more than we appreciated and thankfully last night saw him back in a Torquay shirt...yep....Gilbert the Gull was back !!!  Also nice to see was the return of Lee Mansell. It should be remembered that we are unbeaten in every game that Mansell has started this season. Keep him fit & the points should soon start to pile up. Not all Gulls fans have been happy seeing our goalkeeper wearing a red jersey this season. With Aldershot wearing their traditional red shirts this meant that our man between the posts had to ditch the usual shirt. Sometimes I've been a little critical of Buckle but I'll readily admit he used this problem to his advantage & pulled off a psychological masterstroke. He sent Poke out dressed in all black. Poke naturally assumed the aura of the great Lev Yashin...looking the spitting image of Russia's legendary goalkeeper, renowned for his all black kit. Frankly it's difficult to tell them apart..as these pictures prove.   The downside being that the sight of an all black kit seems to inspire all goalkeepers & the Aldershot No1 played a blinder all evening. The first half was a reasonably entertaining affair with both defences pushing up & congesting play a little to much. A shot on target from Sills, and a blistering free kick from Nicholson being the highlights. Ellis continued his heroic perfomance following on from Grimsby. Whatever faults there might be in other parts of his game,& they've not been too evident recently, young Mark must be one of the best defensive headers of the ball in the division. He wins virtually every challenge in the air & it's not just getting a slight head to the ball, it's strong effective clearances which get the ball well away from our area. Yashin was troubled once when Aldershot hit the bar but otherwise looked comfortable. The surface was surprisingly slippery but we'd seen a keenly contested first half although scoreless. H.T 0-0 The interval arrives and immediately Joe Barlow is blocking the gangway as he stops to chat with 004. I hear 004 asking "oi Barlow..when's that ****ing blog gonna be updated" ? JB mumbles some sort of evasive answer before eventually shuffling off towards Boots & Laces. Jenni (who has her picture in the programme) comes on to tell us she has £300 for the holder of ticket No.07653. With astonishing speed, I timed it at 7 seconds after the number was read out, the winner appears on the pitch. His name is Colin. He disappears with equal speed without telling us where he's from or where he buys his exceedingly baggy jeans. The P.A announces that Northampton are winning (not good for us) and Aussie diligently attends to the playing surface. Second Half The game seems to have only been back underway for a few minutes when the Shots get a corner in front of their own fans. As the ball comes over the Ref apparantly sees it hit a Torquay hand..penalty! A well dispatched spot kick gives Yashin no chance. With six defeats behind you and finding yourself losing again I half expected heads to drop as everyone resigned themselves to the same old story. But to the credit of players & supporters alike that never happened. All eleven players worked harder than ever to get back into the game & the crowd got fully behind them. Which brings us onto the subject of the Ref ! Some poor decisions, showed a lack of understanding and in particular no grasp at all of the 'advantage' rule. A pretty innocuous challenge between Hargreaves & Chalmers saw the ball spin loose to Wroe who was about to continue the attack on the edge of the Aldershot area when we find that Mr Hill wants to bring back play for a Torquay free kick. Firstly it was barely a foul at all & secondly he's deprived us of a great advantage. Three Torquay players surround Mr.Hill in order to convey their displeasure. In an attempt to extracate himself from this Mr.Hill decides that the best option is to classify Chambers powder puff challenge as being a foul of such ferocity that it requires a yellow card. Poor Chambers is made the fall guy...issued with a totally undeserved yellow so the Ref can attempt to save face. We keep the pressure on but can't score. Aldershot break away but Yashin keeps them out with a double save which will surely earn him an 'Order of Lenin' award next time he's holidaying on the Black Sea. Benyon comes off & Scott Rendell comes on. I've already told Buckle that the Sills-Rendell combination won't work..I sometimes think he just doesn't listen. A few minutes later..we equalise! *blush* The goal comes from exactly the type of football that Bucks had planned for us in this division. I think he stated he wanted to see quick attacks with plenty of crosses into the box. If we can provide that, as we did in abundance in the final 20 minutes last night then you've got two decent headers of the ball in the centre. If you can bring up Ellis & Robertson for corners & free kicks thats more good headers. The tall Danny Mills underlines the type of game Bucks has been hoping to play. As the clock ticked down there was a bit of a melee in the area.. Sills & the defender on the deck..Sills gets up first, one stride & he's down again flat on his face. I scream for a penalty but the Ref awards.....an early bath to Tim ! I only saw the incident once & at 'normal speed' but thought Tim was tripped by a stray boot. He also went down very fast & hard & I'm not certain it's possible to throw yourself down in that way. F.T 1-1 Well done to all our players, whether it had ended up in a win, a draw or a 4-0 defeat we couldn't have asked more of them. MOTM went to Danny Stevens although Ellis was also outstanding again. But not a night for singling out individuals as it was a fully committed team performance. Let's hope the same spirit can be maintained for the visit of Bury on Saturday. |
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Sept 30, 2009 12:17:22 GMT
I can only echo what some fine posters have already written (and Aussie's fine assessment of the Ref!!) - a much improved performance.
Poke ****
(Made some outstanding saves that kept us in the game)
Nico ***
(Steady and with a fine pile driver of a free kick which their keep did well to save).
Robbo ***
(Steady)
Ellis *****
(Outstanding again, firm in defence with heading which clears the ball away well)
Mansell ***
(Great to have him back)
Stevens ***
(Not a MOM performance, ran well but final ball on occasions was the wrong one to play)
Hargreaves ****
(Battled away like a demon)
Wroe ***
(Drifted in and out but produced the cross for Sills)
Carlisle ***
(Worked hard as usual)
Benyon ***
(Worked well but tended to get caught offside a lot)
Sills ***
(Missed a sitter in the first half but you can always rely on the man to produce the goods)
Rendell ***
(Must have improved his jumping skills which were absent against Grimbsy)
What can you say about the Ref (and the Popside Lino) that hasn't already been said. He was very (to the power of 10) to say the least and hopefully the assessor will mark him down and his next match will be way down the football ladder.
Thought that Robbo and Ellis played well together and the team that played against the Shots (bar Sills, who will be missed) should start against Bury on Saturday.
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jerry
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Post by jerry on Sept 30, 2009 13:15:35 GMT
I think a suspension for 2 yellows (as opposed to a straight red) doesn't come into force for a week, so Sills will be ok for Saturday but will miss the Southampton game.
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Post by aussie on Sept 30, 2009 16:34:17 GMT
What can you say about the Ref (and the Popside Lino) that hasn't already been said. He was very (to the power of 10) to say the least and hopefully the assessor will mark him down and his next match will be way down the football ladder. At least you know where you stand with me, I don`t like too beat around the bush or mince my words, in your face kind of remarks are my specialty! The Ref was a complete cock, balls and all! |
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Post by khilllegend on Sept 30, 2009 19:15:40 GMT
I was only trying to say that alan at game we are playing well but cant find the net Buckle has made his point tonight with not adding toddy to the squad, The ref has been a disgrace wth his decisions with what Alan has told me. I for one do not want to be bottom of the table and if buckle doesn't sort the squad out then he and we will be in trouble ?Why is Toddy not good enough tonight then? I know long way to go and we can still do it but not after the last 6 games am not happy! Do I sense another case of female romance here when the subject of dropping players is concerned? First it was Hilly was the reason Buckle was in your bad books, now Toddy. Do you seriously think the manager has a look througfh his squad and finds the longest serving and then the one with the most horrible case of illness in his portfolio to begin the basis of picking his side? The manager IS sorting his squad.........................he's left out the most error prone defender tonight now that he has the resources of other fit players to do that.....................previously he hadn't. I really think you will be in a minority of one here! Fair doe's I stuck up for hilly as we were and still now friends and when he was leaving the club didn't do anything for him, so I organised a surprise party on my own to give him the send off he deserved with Buckle and the way they treated him was bad at the end, especially at wembley. And I know toddy got his faults through illness but I have helped him in the past too and I do care about him. My observation being the fact in no foul sense Toddy was Ill, got better Buckle sent him on loan got match fit again, now all of a sudden he is not even on the bench yesterday .. He is still a loyal player to tufc that didn't even want to go Salsbury as he just got married 5 days before and went and stayed away from his wife the first week of their marrage. He has served the club well and yes he hasn't played well recentley. BUT DO NO NOT knock him he is a good player as was Hilly and Buckle has dropped them both like a stone ... Sorry my views I will gets lot's hating me now! |
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Sept 30, 2009 19:29:52 GMT
I thought Robbo and Ellis were as good (if not better) than a certain Mr Woods and Mr Taylor in their prime.
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merse
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Post by merse on Sept 30, 2009 19:36:15 GMT
I'm not knocking Chris Todd Anna, I'm making an observation of his performances in League football. Managers cannot afford to let emotional/home circumstances to get in the way of decision making so whether or not Todd had just got married when he was lined up for that loan which turned out to be a vital part of his rehab is irrelevant. I'm the type of "Old School" that had I been the manager and anything been siad to me about his wedding, I would have seriously questioned his professionalism for getting hitched during the season...........there's a nice long close season on full pay for all that nonsense! It's the same with professional footballers who manage to get their wives pregnant for a delivery during the season......................remember how Trevor Francis pointed out that such a thing wouldn't be tolerated in the ultra professionalism of Italian football and how disappointed he was with one of his players during his time managing QPR? Sorry Anna, I love Hilly (known him for years) and commiserate with Toddy and his cancer, but in professional sport when at work, work comes first ~ or there's always an option for the individual to take alternative action and put family first as one of Hilly's old managers did and look where that got him!
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merse
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Post by merse on Sept 30, 2009 19:37:32 GMT
I thought Robbo and Ellis were as good (if not better) than a certain Mr Woods and Mr Taylor in their prime. But where they as funny as Laurel & Hardy?  |
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