FL2: Torquay v Gillingham 22 January 2011

A few of our shortcomings were exposed today. When we are not quite on the top of our game as we were clearly not today its easy to see why we are vulnerable and have such a poor home record.
Out passed for the majority of the game and only some last ditch defending and some super goalkeeping kept us in the match particularly in the first half. Our fortuitous opener, resulting from a mistake from the Gills keeper, Julian was an early lift we were never able to build on and Gillingham must half felt unfortunate to be a goal down at the break. The second half was a similar war of attrition and again for worrying periods they seemed to retain possession and pass the ball through our midfield with consummate ease, you just felt that it was only a matter of time before they made a breakthrough. Having said that we created some good chances that would have knocked the stuffing out of them if they could have been converted and as series of stops by Julian made up for his early blunder. A hard fought contest and in truth Gillingham got what they deserved, again just a few minutes from time when not for the first time their left sided forward was allowed far to much time and space to cut in and fire a shot past Beavon. A fair result come the end we just couldn't get going against a strong and resilient Gillingham side who had weaknesses that we simply couldn't expose we just never got tight enough when they were passing through us and failed to pass the bell well enough to keep posession and fend of danger.
We are in escence a mid table side with the potential, with one or two of the right additions to do better but as we are set up at the moment its difficult to see how we can be a force and challenge for the playoffs.
However the real contest is next Saturday and without doubt the players will have to up their game considerably to win through. Crawley will give us even less time on the ball than we had today and today we struggled when pressed, gave the ball away to easily at times and failed to win enough second ball. Got my ticket after queuing for half an hour before ko though and will be optimistic on the day. I just hope we all have our happy faces on come 5.00pm on the 29th.

3 goals conceded in the last 5 minutes of the last two games = 5 points dropped.

Article from last season's HE:



4 -5 - 1 when your on top, don't you just love it.

Paul Buckle won’t have the sort of memories he might have hoped for in his 200th game as the Torquay United manager, he won’t be drinking any champagne tonight and will more than likely be taking tranquilizers to try and calm himself down before he goes to bed.

This was a game where Gillingham decided to give us the three points very early in the game and we then spent the next ninety minutes trying to give them back to them. This was a game were our performance was so frustrating for much of it and a game that had an exciting end for all the wrong reasons.

I got to the ground very early and spent a good deal of time talking to Jon and Barton Downs near the club reception entrance and during the time we were stood there, the queue grew and grew for the advance tickets for the Crawley game. By the time I went into the ground on the main stand side, the queue had reached the bottom of the road. When I came past the club reception at the end of the game a very large queue had formed again, so I think a lot of tickets were sold today.

A disappointing gate today for what looked on paper would be a very good match to want to attend and I also have to say the atmosphere was also very poor and nothing like it has been for the last two home games.

Bucks started with an unchanged side and it looked for the first few minutes, we were going to start the game in the same fashion we did against Crewe that saw us two nil up at half time and fully in control of the match.

We were gifted an early goal and it all came from a very slack pass played square by a Gillingham midfield player than O’Kane read and easily intercepted. He put his head down and headed straight down the middle toward the Gillingham goal and hit what I though was a rather tame shot from the edge of the box. It looked a very easy and straight forward save for Alan Julian to make, but he somehow dropped the ball and there was goal poacher Elliot Benyon to slide in and get the ball over the line.

After the goal we started to look very ragged in my view, so many poor passes getting picked off with far to much ease and to many players and O’Kane was the most guilty, making very poor decisions in the final third of the field.

One second Ellis was adding pounds to his transfer fee and the next was knocking loads off. He so nearly cost us a goal after he just wanted far to much time on the ball. Bevan had rolled the ball out to Mark who was in plenty of space, but he took to much time to pass or hit the ball up field and was robbed of the ball just outside our box. Had the Gillingham player then not lost his footing and fell down, he would have had an empty net to fire into. As it was the ball ended up going out for a corner and from that corner Bevan had to make a very smart reaction save that was top draw.

Gillingham just seemed so much quicker to the ball than us and were passing it much better, but we nearly went two up after a fine shot by Danny Stevens. Zebs was on the halfway line and the ball was high in the air, but he lost sense of just where the ball was. One Gillingham midfield player kicked the ball against a fellow team mate and the ball broke kindly at Danny Stevens’s feet. He went on a run and fired a good shot from just inside the box? that the Alan Julian had to beat out with both hands.
We started getting sloppy at the back and failing to get the ball clear when we should have been belting it up to the halfway line, it nearly cost us dear when Cody McDonald found the ball at his feet from a very poor clearance and forced Bevan into making another fine save.

Next it was Danny Jackman who profited from another tame clearance that only just went out side our box, he hit a rasping shot that Bevan had to get both hands to, to tip over the crossbar. That was it then for the first half, we were winning the match but could we hold onto all three points in the second half.


While we still looked a bit disjointed and still playing so many poor passes, we had a few chances to rap the game up and make sure of all three points. Ellis from a corner had a free header at goal and he got plenty of power into his header, but it went wide of the left hand post.

Zebs turned well and headed into the box but the angle just got to tight and his shot was saved easily at the near post. From a corner Ellis got in another header that the keeper just managed to get his hands too and force the ball onto the post, but as it was Ellis was flagged offside.

Our best chance came after Benyon made a fine run beating the offside trap and from the right-hand side of the box unselfishly laid the ball on a plate to Danny Stevens. Danny looked certain to score, but somehow a defender just got a block on Danny’s shot.

Benyon was clearly held in the box from behind, the defender had his arms rapped around Elliot’s neck and dangling over his shoulders, was it a penalty? Paul Buckle felt it was and I’m sure after they went and scored, that was what Bucks was complaining about to the ref.

Elliot had one good shot that I thought grazed the left hand post with the keeper beaten. He got the chance after Nico hit a long hopeful ball down the channel that Danny went after. He was never going to get to the ball before their right back, but he closed him down and forced the defender to hit the ball toward the edge of his own box where Elliot was standing.

O.Kane did play one great ball that put Elliot in on goal again, but Elliot’s shot was saved at the near post.

He had to come on that Akkinfenwa and got the sort of Plainmoor reception he might have expected. He did not do a great deal but what he did do well was only because he was able to use the strength he has in that rather large body.

Elliot was in the wars and went down on the edge of their box and his nose was bleeding badly. He was fixed up but later after another bloody nose he was replaced by Billy Kee. Poor Elliot’s face looked a mess and was covered in blood when he came off, but at worst I would have thought he might have a bruise or two.

Then came their goal, Zebs had fouled the player out wide but as he stayed on his feet the ref waved play on and on he went and got away his shot that took a big defection giving Bevan no chance at all.

Bucks was soon gesturing to the ref about holding and it sure looked to me he was on about the Benyon incident in the box. I could not believe it when the ref came running over to Bucks and in a very loud and angry voice indeed, ordered Bucks to the stand.

The ref went back to the centre circle and Bucks just stayed in the dugout. The forth official and two stewards then had to get Bucks to come out of the dugout, but leave the area as well. Bucks just jumped over the fence and walked up a few of the steps. It did not take him long to be leaning over the fence shouting in something and it was at that point I believe the forth official told him to go to the dressing room.

Right at the death Danny could have won us the game, a fine run and pass by Zebs to Danny who just blasted the ball well over the crossbar.

After the match Bucks came out and stood on the grass by the tunnel waiting to have a word with the ref. Only the ref spotted him and refused to move any further until Paul Buckle was removed back to the dressing room.

I have never felt for Bucks so much in my life and he was harshly treated by the ref in my view, but that goal hurt Paul Buckle more than I think it hurt most of us at the game who might have felt we were lucky to be winning anyway.

We will need to play better next week if we are to progress to round five of the FA Cup

Great report n pics Dave ... now does anyone know if Bucks sending to the stands means he will be serving a dugout ban for three games ?? and or does it mean he wont be in the dugout for the BIG game next week....

As far as I remember Justin the ref stopped the game as Elliot went down someway outside the box and close to the touchline after getting a second head wound. Why he decided to restart the game with a drop ball is beyond me and why on the edge of our box?

Before I add my views on the game I would just point you in the direction of Paul Buckles interview on Radio Devon. If you get chance go onto the Radio Devon website and listen to it. He gives a very forthright view on the incidents which led to his sending off and I have to say I fully agree with him. It’s not only the ref to blame but also the Gillingham players who twice didn’t give the ball back to us when he then ref blew for to an injury and both times the ball was nowhere near the drop ball spot when play was stopped.

Could someone explain the rules to me as well as I am not completely sure myself anymore.

If the ref blows for an injury, can he/does he get a team to kick it back to the opposition or is it all done in ‘good faith’? either way they should not be having drop balls on the edge of the 18 yard box right in front of goal when play is stopped because of an injury , as Bucks says the respect bit works both ways.

This is the law that refers to a drop ball if the ref stops the game for serious injury, outside interference of the game or a defective ball



A dropped-ball (or drop-ball) is a method of restarting play in a game of association football. It is designed to offer no advantage to either side, generally being awarded when play has been stopped due to reasons other than normal gameplay or misconduct.

Award: A drop-ball is not awarded to either team; rather it is used to restart play when the referee has stopped play for any reason not listed for another form of restart. Examples include when play has been stopped due to serious injury to a player, interference by an external party, or a ball becoming defective.

Procedure: The ball is dropped by the referee at the point where the ball was when play was stopped, unless this is within a goal area in which case it is dropped on the goal area line parallel to the goal line.The ball becomes in play as soon as it touches the ground. Players must not touch the ball until it has touched the ground.If the ball leaves the field of play before it has been touched by a player, the drop-ball is retaken.

Infringements: There is no mention in the Laws of the Game as to how many players may take part in a drop-ball or where they may be positioned. However, it is traditional that a drop-ball occurs between a maximum of two players (one from each team).
If a player touches the ball before it touches the ground, the drop-ball is retaken.

Use in the modern game: This method of restarting play is rarely used in modern adult football as the players almost always elect to kick the ball out of the side of the field (thus taking it out of play) when an event requiring the stoppage of play — most often an injury — occurs. After the situation has been resolved, the opposing team who gained a throw-in typically concede possession to the other team after returning the ball in to play, as a gesture of good sportsmanship


While it states it is now rarely used in today's modern game, it only mentions when the ball is kicked out of play and the game was not stopped by the ref when the ball was in play.

I'm sure in most cases I have seen when the ref stops the game for a head injury, he drops the ball at the feet of a player whose team mate was injured and then he kicks back to the opposition. But if you go by the rules of the game, the ref did nothing wrong restarting the game the way he did.