FAC1: Mansfield v Torquay Utd. 6 Nov 2010

Good stuff. That was a real banana skin and it was good to see us come-through. Sounds like Kee was shooting on site (full of confidence) and nearly made it 2-0 just after Benners scored.

Interesting to hear that the replacement for Charnock was EO'K - Bucks certainly didn't hold-back. Hopefully Rose will be back ready soon - didn't hear what his injury was.

Shame that Barnet didn't complete their side of the bargain today - although perhaps an away match at The Valley in their replay will give them a bit of money (not enough to pay for Izale Mcleod's medical bills I would think though!). I'd fancy us to give a real game against most of the remaining teams in the draw.

EDIT - some interesting results - Gillingham losing to Dover at home and Rochdale losing to FC United of Manchester, Dartford holding Port Vale, Vauxhall Motors drawing at Hartlepool, Tamworth beating Crewe. Would fancy Swindon Supermarine in round 2, although I would expect us to get someone like Peterborough away!

Yeah I heard that too, the old stiff calf muscle rutine `eh! Just jokin`I thought I could bring a beef joke into this but failed miserably!

That would depend on totally on texture and how long it was hot! Sorry! ;D

Hi all - my first post on here, and just back from this afternoons game. I'm a 2nd year university student at Westminster, living in Milton Keynes, and a Gulls fan since 1997 thanks to parents being from the bay. Decided after a year or so of reading posts that I should lose my TFF virginity with a match report from today's game.

Well what a horrible game that was! Arrived at a very cold Field Mill at 2.15 and wandered over to the ground with my Dad. A reasonable £10 got me into the ground, and quite a smart one it is too. Two tiered on one side, and modern one-tiered stands at either end...but a stand that makes our own grandstand look like Wembley on the far side! However, unhappy memories from previous visits (the postponement fiasco, and the 3-0 loss under Leroy) left me a little fearful. Watching the players warm up, the only absentee I couldn't account for was Guy Branston, injured apparently?

On to the game then, and a very cagey opening with both sides exchanging some early snapping tackles. Wroe, particuarly, was on the end of a crunching tackle that saw the offender booked, but, equally, Oastler was really getting stuck in for us as well. Mansfield were passing and moving nicely, and, a couple of times, our marking let us down a little bit at the back, allowing their wingers to flash low crosses in which thankfully no-one could connect with. The only time a connection was made was when a cross hit Charnock on the back which required a spectacular reflex from Bevan to prevent us going behind. We had a few chances of our own, Mansell sending a fizzing shot over the bar and, after a great headed flick on from Zebs, Benyon found himself through one on one but forced an excellent save from Pilkington in the Mansfield goal. But overall our passing game wasn't as good as theirs and we were looking suspiciously one-dimensional. Ramone Rose unfortunately went off after only 15 minutes, having had a few nice touches, and Billy Kee came on, which was a real dissapointment. Let's hope it's not too serious. Kee was impressive though, putting himself about excellently, and sent a couple of long range efforts wide after some neat build up play. And then, just as it looked as though we were getting back into it, Mansfield won a very soft free kick, the resulting effort looking as though it was going well over before dipping and clipping the crossbar. Hearts in mouths time!

So halftime came and in all honesty both sides were lucky to go in without conceding. It did feel like we weren't using our strength out wide though but that, if we could, we would be in with a chance.

The second half began at a ferocious pace with the Gulls, presumably after a real talking to by Bucks, set about Mansfield and really had them on the ropes. Oastler (I think) set up first Benyon, and then Nicho, for chances that they both hit straight at the impressive Pilkington. Then Zebs went on one of his runs where it looks as though he's completely out of control, but put in a great cross which Benyon headed straight at Pilkington. And then Nicky Wroe chipped in with an effort, picking up the ball from about 40 yards, beating 3 or 4 players, and then unleashing a shot that went well over in the end. Nicky then had another great chance from the edge of the box after a corner was cleared, but Pilkington again saved well down low to his right. Frenetic stuff, and it wasn't done yet! Robbo then had a great chance from another corner, but headed just wide of the near post. Zebs again went on one of his runs, and ended up putting in a cross-cum-shot that was cleared off the line by the Mansfield left-back.

At this point, Bucks bought on Stevens for the excellent Oastler and, a few minutes later, O'Kane on for Charnock (who also had a great game) who sadly limped off. However, with the team galvanised by the influx of pace that accompanied those subsitutions, we went at Mansfield again. After a free kick was cleared, O'Kane broke at speed and we were 3 v 3 - he played in Stevens with a superb ball. Danny cut inside (leaving their fullback on his arse) and shot low for the near post. Pilkington got down well though and made the save.

But he wasn't so lucky the next time. Again, O'Kane counter-attacked and played in Stevens once more. Again Danny cut inside but this time picked out Benyon at the far post with a great low cross. Elliot had time to control it, and then sent it accross Pilkington into the opposite corner...right in front of the Gulls fans!! Delirium from the travelling Gulls!!

Full time came very soon after, and, to rapturous applause, Bucks and his boys came over to celebrate with the fans what was a very ugly but hard-fought win! A result that was very harsh on Mansfield, I thought, but who cares!

Special mention to the travelling fans - we turned up in great number with 201 of us there, and sang our hearts out. Also special credit to the polite round of applause given when Tyrone Thompson came on for them. A nice touch. Mansfield's fans also did them credit as well - they sang constantly for 90 minutes and were very loud. Some good natured banter was had too. Their keeper Pilkington also deserves a mention, a great performance from him, and a top guy for applauding us Gulls fans at the end as well.

My ratings:
Bevan - 8 - Didn't have a massive amount to do but that reflex save from Charnock's deflection was world-class. Kept us in it and for that reason alone is worth a high rating!

Nicho - 7 - Was caught out a few times in the first half, but overall was very sound. Set pieces weren't as good as usual, but defended excellently.

Ellis - 6 - One of his quieter games. Marking was a little suspect early on, but picked it up as the match went on and did little wrong.

Charnock 7 - Took his chance to impress well. Had Mansfield's striker in his pocket most of the game, tackled well, and read the game nicely. Will be a shame to see him move on, if indeed he does.

Robbo - 8 - One of his best performances. Solid and dependable, kept their winger pretty quiet, and passed well out of defence too. Always a handful at corners as well!

Zebs - 7 - We didn't really utilise him enough. He terrified their fullback though, beat him constantly, and sent in some good crosses. Only complaint is that, for me, he didn't track back enough to help Robbo.

Wroe - 7 - Great to have him back to his old self. A real box-to-box performance. Helping out in defence, spraying around some lovely passes in the middle, and marauding forward well too.

Oastler - 7 - Really impressed by this lad. A tenacious midfielder who isn't afraid to get stuck into a tackle. A few wayward passes at times, but overall I'm delighted Bucks brought him in.

Mansell - 7 - His usual passionate self! Shouting at team-members, organising everyone, and really helping the youngsters through what was a very tough and physical game. Commited tackles, and a few fizzing shots as well.

Rose - 6 - Had 15 minutes before being stretchered off. A couple of nice touches but his afternoon was, dissapointlingly, cut short. Hope he's ok.

Benyon - 8 - Did not stop running all game, a constant menace for Mansfield. Won a suprising number of headers too. Took his goal brillantly. When you see the highlights, you'll see what a difficult chance it was and how well he did. Fantastic stuff.

SUBS:
Kee - 7 - Great performance from the lad and you can see his confidence is back after his goal from Tuesday. Put himself about well, made lots of runs off the ball, and had a few chances as well. Glad he's back on form.

O'Kane - 7 - Excellent cameo role - came on and ran at Mansfield's creaking defence and had a hand in the goal.

Stevens - 7 - Ditto above. Turned their fullback inside and out several times before having a hand in the goal as well.

Overall, a superb afternoon, and a great result!

Here's to many more posts, and up the Gulls!

John

Thanks! Here's some pictures from the game as well, taken on my iphone though so not the best quality!

Warm up



The teams come out of the (ridiculously placed) tunnel



The final whistle!

What a great day out, shame the game wasn't as good but still a wins a win. this is my second away game now since ive been at uni but the trains are a lot cheaper to get now.

I got the train at 10:40 £12,50 return and on my second train by chance i happened to see John Milton who is the head scout at Torquay, we got to chatting and all of a sudden i was on the phone to Scott Bevan :S we got off the train and we went to the ground together, he went inside and came out with a ticket, a programme and a twix. I tried to find him after the game but I had to rush otherwise id've missed my train. So if you're reading John thank you very much

After that i met up with all the old lot from travel club in the bar and surprisingly got a warm welcome there was some good natured banter between the two teams but it was all fine and friendly

Sorry for rambling but onto the game. the first half we were very poor and mansfield seemed to be the better side, but they did not look magnificent compared to us. Unfortunately we were playing 4-5-1 at the start which in my mind never seemes to work for us, then unfortunately Rose went off injured (get well soon) but it may have been a blessing in disguise because we now reverted to a 4-4-2 formation with Billy Kee coming on. The |first half closed and Mansfield seemed a better team.

The second half started and both teams were now evenly matched but torquay were playing much better than before the break. we were finally passing the ball around and playing to feet, we were still playing a lot of balls in the air though, we needed it more to our feet.

On came the sub E'OK and made an immediate impact, the goal we scored basically came from a lovely play by E'OK, he ran with the ball put in danny stevens on the edge of the box, stevens passed it to benyon and then he somehow got it in the net, was proabably one of the luckiest goals he will ever score but who cares. Full time came and then i got my train back home. A 1-0 win in the fa cup, hoping for another team around the birmingham area for the second round.

there were 2 things that ruined the day though;
the first being that Becka one of the fans had to go to hospital for an x-ray but fortunately she had only sprained her wrist.

and the second being the idiotic mansfield fans trying to start fights outside the ground when they had all seemed so nice before hand :/

all in all a good day out for me, the fans were unsually quiet today.

On to ratings:

Bevan 7 pretty average day never seemed to have anything to worry him, but when he needed to make saves he did so comfortably

Nicho 6 yet again on and off had moments of class, but also moments of being poor, but still good overall

Ellis 5 not a great game for him today looked poor and tired, didnt head the ball enough

Robertson 4 not a great game at all, looked very poor and tired aswell, worse than ellis

Stevens 6 played well in his short time on the pitch even though wasnt on for very long, probably my highest ever rating ive given to stevens

Kee 7 a lot more confidence now he has finally scored, was shooting more, looking for the ball more and doing a fair bit of running a well played performance

O'kane 7.5 even though he was only on for a few minutes the differnce he made to the team was huge and played a big part in the goal

Zebs 6 played well throughout didnt get enough service though, and tries to do things that seem very dificult he seems to think he is a premiership player

Benyon 7 great running throughout and a well desreved goal, even if it wasnt a great finish

Rose no rating rli sorry, he looked quite good, very composed but maybe a little bit lazy at times, tried to do some dazzling skills and manged to pull some off a few times, a good player

other players i have forgotton sorry guys :S

forgot to mention that mansfield hit the bar, but big bevs had it covered.

man of the match is very hard to choose, id like to choose E'OK but he only played for 10 minutes although he did make a huge difference to the team

Billy Kee also deserves a mention for the amount of improvement he has gone through and alot more confidence

But it will have to go to Benyon because he played well throughout and ran well and he scored the goal.

But the real man of the day was John Milton for all the pre-match stuff he arranged for me

Im sure you will all be ranting about how i give benyon the MOTM but only a 7 but E'OK gets a 7.5. and also how i can't rate rose when he plays 17 minutes but i can rate E'OK when he plays 10
but i hope you will all understand
Sorry for the huge post i look forward to your replies