FL2: Torquay United v Bury 16th October 2010

I wasn't going but had a phone call from two disillusioned Argyle mates so made the journey down on a glorious day. I don't know where to start really - it was a pulsating game which ended up with a completely depressing result.
I was dismayed when the referee came out. I remarked to my friends that we would be completely up against it. It started with a home game against Huddersfield some years ago when this goon grinned inanely all afternoon and awarded the visitors the game with some terrible decisions.. Since then I don't think I have ever seen him give Torquay anything.
Won't do a full match report but if ever a match turned on one decision it was lemon headed Branstons ridiculous knocking over of Sodje for a gift of a penalty to let Bury back in a game that failing that they would have been out of.
No wonder Buckle was indignant afterwards and Branston was hauled off at half time. He is turning into a liability.
Shortly after the penalty award Ellis recieved the same treatment on the edge of the six yard box but of course the grinning idiot did not give a penalty. He compounded this by refusing a stonewaller for a foul on Benyon in the box. I am not sure what the guy has against us but there must be something.
After going four three down we actually had our best period and spurred on by the magnificent Zebroski we deserved a draw at least and looked to have got one as livewire Benyon who gave Sodje a torrid time slammed home a close range equaliser only to be booked for handball - I didn't see it.
Furious protests by Buckle towards the ref at full time at not suprisingly so.
For all the action it was a dreadful result as we blew another two goal lead and we are hurtling down the league.
Can't fault the manager really either.
The key point for me is why we are now leaking so many goals. The answer I think lies with the managers decision to keep starting O'Kane and Stevens. It is like we are putting out a mens team and including two twelve year old schoolboys. Neither player won one challenge all afternoon.
A prime example was their winner when Stevens failed to get in a tackle for a ball which was there to be one on the edge of our box..
Buckle is really hamstrung by the loss of Wroe, and whilst we are still paying him he sould be playing him (or at least putting him on the bench).
We have a loanee (Oastler) who by all accounts is a midfield ball winner - if that the case you have got to wonder at three each why he did not get thrown on at O'Kanes expense.
Similarly we have Gritton on loan who the manager clearly doesn't want.
We have Wroe on his way and Senda who it appears will never be fit enough to play.
Clearly we need one (or possibly two) players who actually can get in the team and make a difference.
With the likes of Benyon,Zebroski and Ellis we have players who are as good as anything in this division if not better but it doesn't bear thinking about how we are going to cope if we lose these in January.
We are now seven points off a relegation place and it is imperative that we beat the likes of Hereford and Barnet in up and coming matches.

Merse it can also be said that the three of them, one should be in a position to see what`s going on in nearly all occasions, between them they should have it covered and clearly didn`t on many occasions yesterday, I appreciate the fact that football is a very complex game of many permutations and the ball can break in an unexpected way and catch officials out every now and again but not so many times in one game, this would suggest that they didn`t perform very well or do their jobs correctly!

For the first half 'Stonewall' penalty the linesman must have seen it or he was afraid to give it. His view wasn't blocked - a straight forward push.

I'm normally at the match when the ref and his crew warm up - I will be popping into Specsavers before the next match and will ask them to view the chart to see if their mince pices are up to the job.

Shame I left my pitchfork and lighted torch at home.

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

Indicating that the squad is not strong enough to include a "bench" of whom at least one would "up the ante" if brought on to set the opposition additional problems when the game has become a little stretched and they might be showing signs of fatigue.

Successfull sides are ones who can set additional problems when utilising subs, not merely sending them on for crisis management; and we are not at that level at the moment.

I`ve always got my fork readyat the ground, you could borrow that!