FL2: Port Vale v Torquay United 28th August 2010

Brings back some wonderful childhood memories of the great mid sixties sides of Frank O'Farrell.
You just went to the match or listened for the away result and expected a great performance and a win week in week out. The current squad have a great deal to live up to especially for those who remember that era but they are doing a fantastic job and whatever happens the current squad and setup will be remembered for a very long time to come for all the right reasons.
I would love to think that the public of Torbay and the surrounding area start to get behind their local club and support it.
May be to much to ask I think..

Fantastic result - glad the other site is still down as no doubt there would be couple of individuals calling for PB's head after letting in a goal! Roll on Southend!

Just got back from the game and very happy with the 3 points today we were very close to going home with only 1.

The performance of a few players was very average for me today, we started well and looked a top of the league side for the first half hour of the game. Once we went 2 - 0 up the players seemed to relax and get very laxidasical and we seemed to invite pressure and sure enough their goal came. Port Vale were huffing and puffing but looked fairly leggy after their midweek game and were not creating much in the way of clear cut chances, pretty much the same as ourselves. Bucks changed to a midfield 5 with Zeb going out on the right and Benyon alone up top which really resulted in Vale struggling to get past us on the flanks at all.

With the card happy ref seemingly booking anyone making a challenge the game never really got flowing in the second half. Vale went very close to an equaliser a couple of times in the later stages as we literally parked the bus and tried to catch them on the break.

Well we hung on and did not play that well, but who cares if you can play average and still win away, thats a good sign!

BEVAN (man of the match) 9 Incredible double save in the second half, he gets a 9 for that alone, solid catching and punching.

NICO 6 Did ok

ROBBO 6 Did ok

ELLIS 7 Solid

PICKLER 7 His head must hurt after winning all those headers

MANSELL 6 Average


WROE 6 Average


CARLISLE 5 I know hes only just come back but not his usual confident self, looked adrift at times and off the pace of things


STEVENS 5 I really like the lad but a lot of things he tried just didn't come off and he lost possesion frequently. No end product!

BENYON 5 Not his usual tigerish self and for neautrals maybe even dissinterested!


ZEB 8 Never stopped running and made a real pain of himself, won our penalty and was a thorn in their side the whole game. Between him and Bev for man of the match.

Out of the subs O'kane looked head and shoulders above Stevens and Carlisle when he came on. Good on the ball, didn't give the ball away, and a threat going forward. He nearly scored as soon as he came on but their keeper rushed out and blocked his shot after a powerfull run. He also forced their keeper into a good save from a 30 yarder in the last minute. Gritts came on and did a half decent job, although mansell will not thank him for a hospital pass which left him with no option but to clatter a player in a 50 50 which resulted in a yellow card.
Billy Key only appeared briefly.

Well 3 points and we are still top but we looked very average for long periods today and kept giving the ball away needlesly to a Port Vale side who never looked that much of a threat. Obviously well chuffed with the 3 points but think Bucks will be concerned with a couple of the performances today.

Back from the match, fed and watered, and ready to report.

Ground was quite impressive (even if a bit pricey for league 2 at £19!) and as the humourous chant went "your ground's too big for you...". Clean and spacious with an impressive programme (with very good coverage of our boys old and new) it struck the right chord for a visit on a bizarrely mixed afternoon weather-wise.

Another positive upbeat performance from the off from the lads, and it was great to see them get off to another flyer. Zebs had the making of their defense (especially their no.5, who was a pure throwback to the big old carthorses we saw many years ago, zebs could've slipped it past him and ran on all day long!) and why their their keeper had to rush out like he did stays a mystery to us. But thanks anyway keeps. Nicky converted coolly which was a relief after last weeks effort, and it eased the team and fans into a more confident relaxed phase.

Zebs got his reward from a corner with a show of persistance and positional awareness. Stunned the home fans, lovely. The game was a stop start job with some simply baffling decisions by the ref (not to mention the linesman who on two occasions waited for 5 seconds before flagging the direction of a throw, and once he actually waited for the ref to direct before flagging!), it was not a dirty game and a shame so many yellows were shown. Their fans felt hard done by too with several early shouts for handball and penalties, but they were laughable.

Well the record had to end sometime, and I had thought Vale were capable, unfortunately they proved me right with a fine strike. As the home fans celebrated this famous goal, I was very impressed to see movement amongst our fans. A standing ovation as the teams lined up to re-start was a lovely and befitting gesture towards the players and manager for this remakable achievement.

As the first half drew to a close it was obvious that, as much as we were coping with the renewed pressure Vale were putting us under, we needed the break to reorganise and get our heads back on.

The second half started with us kicking into a stiff breeze and I expected an onslaught. It didn't come. Once again, as against Bradford, we were playing against a team hotly tipped for promotion. Yet when they were asked to show themselves, they were found wanting. There were times when they should have done better, crosses were misplaced or chances were fluffed, but generally we thwarted them whatever they tried. They had one free kick outside the box that got through the wall and Bevs got down well to block it, only for it to fall to their striker. Bevs just blocked it again, and stood up to knock his own save round the post. And when they got one past him, there was Ellis on the post to clear off the line. Impressive, you can see why we've only conceded once in 11 games! We finished the stronger side, and by the scores of Vale fans leaving early or crowding by the exit, they knew it too.

Benyon ran his socks off, Zebs played really well, Mansell and a few others were throwing themselves into tackles and in front of attempted crosses and shots. And after a seemingly shaky start, Branston was up to his normal strong performance. After coming on as a sub, Eunan nearly scored with his first touch/run, and showed some fine passing and awareness.

And I could never tire of hearing the chant as we trooped out of the ground "we are top of the league, sing we are top of the league.." Goosebumps, fantastic!!

What did make of Mark Ellis today Warwickgull?

As you say yourself Warwickgull, "it's all about opinions", so if that were the case how the hell do you think a manager and a highly motivated team who (to quote Peter Taylor last week) "are clearly playing for their manager" tolerate that?

I think it highly unlikely that a player who "didn't look interested" would survive the first cursory detection of such an attitude from the manager.

All im saying is between 2 neautrals and myself the general opinion was Benyon spent to much of the match wondering around looking down on his luck! Maybe (not interested) was the wrong and a harsh description, but the normal Benyon who chases every last cause was certainly not on display for long periods today!