FL2: Hereford v Torquay 1st Jan 2011

Your not refering to Mr.Poke by any chance?

I still want to know if these legendary meat pies were any good at Hereford!

Just got back. I would say in some ways that was two points dropped, but at the same time we didn't deserve to win making such terrible errors like we did today.

We had a very good opening spell leading to our goal, we knocked the ball around neatly and often looked like we had at least two more players on the pitch than Hereford. Our goal was neatly worked and a fine finish from O'Kane - well worth waiting up to watch on the football league show (although perhaps if you are of a nervous disposition then I would avoid it because we gifted them two goals). Ashley Hemmings looked bright and had a great effort from range hit the bar - he often was missed by their terrible centre-halves and could have been sent-through one-on-one a number of times (although it is easy to spot that from the lofty position of the seating in the away end!), Zebs had the beating of their left back and O'Kane was excellent. The balls-up that resulted in Hereford scoring saw them gain a lot of confidence and it was a relief that Benyon put us back in control with his quality finish from a tight angle. I knew it wasn't "job done" but I thought that we would get another goal in the second half and that would be enough.

The second half was a masterclass in why we can be so frustrating. Bevan gifted them a goal with such poor handling (and to think that I joked to Gipsygull at half time that the Hereford team needed to coat all the balls in butter as a handling error was the only way that they would score!). He did redeem himself not long afterwards with a very good double-save to prevent Manset (their MOTM) a winner but it is fair to say that his performance was generally very poor in terms of kicking, positioning and handling and didn't inspire the confidence that he should do.

The introduction of Kee seemed far too late to be of any use as Hemmings had tired and ceased to be effective long before he finally went-off. I would have certainly liked to have seen a player like Manset up-front for us, he caused us a lot of problems and his quick-thinking when Bevan got him a deserved goal (Fleetwood on the other hand was terrible).

Some musings on individual performances:
Bevan - inspired zero confidence and at fault for the second without a doubt - I'd need to see the first again to be sure
Nicholson - poor delivery and hit the first man with too many of his crosses. Definately a blip on an otherwise excellent season.
Oastler - very quiet - hardly noticed him for much of the first 60 minutes, maybe that isn't a bad thing!
Branston - looked hike he had been shot when he did his hamstring but thankfully walked-off without much problem. I don't think that we looked any worse at the back when Robertson came on, although I think we'll miss him if Constable plays on Monday.
Ellis - Error-strewn display today. Back to your best on Monday please.
Mansell - A reasonable display although some of the basic mistakes he made were so frustrating
O'Kane - Great performance - proved today that his awareness and execution is second to none in the squad, destined for bigger and better things - hopefully for some money.
Wroe - OK I suppose - faded as the game went-on.
Benyon - Was left on his own far too often. Great finish and was unlucky to hit the post in the second half. He'll be missed!
Zebroski - Slaughtered his full-back but didn't see so much of the ball in the second half. He was clearly targetted by the Hereford cloggers in for the last 1/2 hour.
Hemmings - Started well but I thought kept getting dragged out of position and didn't show enough discipline. I think he should have got more of the ball when we made himself space.

Aside from our two efforts hitting the woodwork we didn't force a save of any note from Bartlett. I was too far away to see whether Benyon was fouled or not but Bucks clearly through that he was. I wasn't too far away to see Billy Kee scuff a perfect chance to make it 3-2 late-on, either side of Bartlett in the same way that he hits the ball in warm-ups and it would have been a certain goal.

I don't expect a League 2 team to be able to pass perfectly, but it was no good to watch us retain possession, give great movement, outplay their midfield much of the time but just hump it to Benyon so often - their centre-halves were very, very poor but this gave them a chance to nullify so many of our attacks.

I've no doubt that Bucks will be positive about this performance and say that we were unlucky to only draw. We have got (I think - certainly thereabouts!) 67 points from the last 46 games and I am generally very pleased with our team and progress, but today was very disappointing for me.

After picking up my sister to then go on to the match we were met with the unedifying sight of a couple of lads standing in the middle of Teignmouth Road with their pants around their ankles and proudly displaying their bits. It may have been a rather dubious New Year's Resolution on their part but it was also a harbinger of things to come with two almighty cock ups gifting Hereford a share of the points.....

I don't get to many away games but wondered whether this was the only English Club we visit that going through another Country is the quickest route? Also, is it usual for no chips to be sold at the away end? On the plus side the upper storey seating allowed for an excellent view of the game.

I think the first half can be summarised with a slip up, a cock up and two good well taken goals. Apart from a spell shortly after we scored I thought we were the better team with some nice short crisp passing at times particularly played out well on the wings. Zebroski got outside the right back a few times but couldn't get that killer pass inside the box. O'Kane seemed to find a bit of space as their defence didn't pick him up on a number of occasions as he got forward. It is from this combination that the opening goal came as Zebroski decided to cut inside and found O'Kane on the edge of the area and managed to get a good shot into the top left hand corner of the goal for a well deserved lead.

Shortly after, Hemmings switched to the right wing and with the ball again cut inside and from 25 yards hit smashed a shot that crashed into the bar and out behind for a goal kick, if that had gone in things would have been very very different. Earlier, Bartlett, under pressure from Wroe(?) had slipped and completely missed the ball to concede luckily for him only a corner.

Unfortunately, a major turning point occurred when a through ball to the edge of the area with Ellis (not his best game and I thought his distribution was poor today)under pressure from Fleetwood and as Bevan came to the edge of the area to collect my impression was that Ellis got a touch that took it pass Scott allowing Fleetwood to get past and shoot into an empty net. This heralded a spell of pressure from Hereford with the home crowd getting behind their team as Torquay conceded a number of corners.

However, the pendulum swung again just before half time when a ball into the area was collected by Hemmings and although his shot ricocheted off a defender it fell kindly to Benyon who made no mistake from a narrow angle near the corner of the six yard box. 2-1 and surely we could go on to beat a poor Hereford side?

In the second half, the game did begin to open up and Hereford started to create some chances. An unnecessarily free kick conceded near the far touch line saw Bevan juggle the cross and under pressure from Manset, (who generally made a nuisance of himself with Bevan making a good double save later on from him)dropped the ball and a back heel from the same striker scored the equaliser. Benyon had a claim for a penalty turned down and Kee shortly after coming on hit a weak shot at the keeper after a good through ball from Danny but it was not meant to be. Branston pulled up very suddenly and could be out for some time?

Hi greedygull and a warm welcome to the TFF, its good to see any football fan moving here from another part of the country, taking an interest and following our beloved TUFC. Are you planning to attend home games?

I was not at yesterdays game but understated Oastler did a reasonably good job on keeping Bauza quite, its just a bit of a shame we were not at our best at the back yesterday and as a result lost two points as we should maybe have taken all three.

Thanks Ricardo, I was told about them and wondered just how good they are, a good pie is excellent but a average pie is dire. I wonder if we could start a Pie League to see who comes out Pie Champions at the end of the season. In Oz we have what`s called a `pie floater` which consists of a meat pie on peas, doesn`t sound much but their bloody nice after a pint and a footy match. I might just have to start a pie thread in the popside! ;D

Please enjoy the Pie Thread on the popside, all comparisons should be made over there!