Re: Aldershot vs Torquay
Posted: 17 Aug 2011, 14:05
I wrote this last night immediately after the game, just before the big crash nearly wiped another match report! Fortunately, I managed to recover it. It's a bit late, you all probably know what happened, but it's half an hour of my life I'll never get back writing it so I'm going to post it anyway!
Oh my god.Â
Normally I feel that maybe I write these reports too positively. But that was f*****g atrocious! We were so so poor, yet somehow, somehow we've come away with all 3 points when we have had 1 - yes 1 - shot on target, and it wasn't even that good! As one of my mates said leaving the game, "I thought the looting had stopped, but we've smuggled the points out of Aldershot".
It's hard to know how to break this report up. We started poorly, middle part poorly, finished poorly. After the high tempo start on Saturday, you could tell straight away that today was a different proposition. Aldershot were knocking the ball around with purpose, opening us up at will. But for all that, the chances they created wernt that clear cut and that was a pattern that followed all day.Â
Their first effort on goal was a tame free header from a corner which was straight at Bobby. Before we'd even had time to regroup, Gutteridge was firing a shot narrowly wide of Bobbys left hand post. The referee - who was terrible all day - was giving them a lot of free kicks, opportunities to load the box which they did, but surprisingly few chances came of it.
The Gulls - shooting first half towards the East Bank full of the Yellow Army in full voice - had little fluency or threat. Unlike Saturday, nothing was sticking to Howe or Atieno. O'Kanes touch and passing had deserted him, and Danny was bizarrely coming deep into the centre rather than attack the full back. Our first half was summed up when a well placed O'kane went to cross, but just shanked the ball straight out of play.
We never really got a foothold in the game, but we did actually generate a really good chance. The ball was worked between Atieno, Howe and Morris. I think it was a Morris cross-shot that reared up, and Howe's acrobatic back heel was deflected for a corner. But the corner was wasted and we reverted to type.
But moments later, out of nothing, we took the lead. Mansell striding forward, wide left of goal, cut in and opened up half a yard of space about 20yards out. He took aim, the shot moved a bit but there was no power or pace in it, and it was right down the keepers throat. But inexplicably, the absolutely uselss Jamie Young put nothing behind it, and it squirmed right through him and into the net. Think that legendary Taibi moment a Old Trafford, it was that bad! 1-0 gulls!
Did we push on from that? No, if anything it was worse. Sloppy passing, terrible movement and we soaked up wave after wave of Aldershot pressure. But aside from Rankine clipping the outside of the post (amidst a succession of cheap free kicks awarded against us), all that pressure didn't really amount to much and we made it to half time.
Second half - more of the same. Nothing was sticking to Howe or Atineo so the ball just kept coming back. But, aside from one full length save from Bobby nothing ever came of it. We wernt even looking that assured at the back, just grimly hanging on. The ref got no better, cheap free kicks going Aldershots way but nothing came of the endless balls they pumped into the box. it was a dreadful game of football.
Aldershot didnt help themselves with a range of bizarre substitutions. The rangey Rankine, who was winning his fair share in the air, was withdrawn for Reading loanee Taylor who was more of a midfielder. And the Lacey, threatening winger McGlashan was taken off for the equally pacey Bubb - but effectively they removed all height from their front line. Yet they still attacked at will, but their delivery was poor.Â
They did manage to cause hearts to flutter a couple of times. A twisting run from sub Rodman was cut back, but Hylton took a wild air swipe and only succeeded in flicking it away from the incoming Taylor. Closer to the end Hylton got perilously close to goal on an angled run, Robbo got too tight and pushed him to the turf but the ref waved no penalty - i thought it was a close call.
And finally, right at the death, the got a clear sight of goal. For the last 5 mins they sent centre half Brown up front, and from another aimless high ball he flicked it on to the onrushing Hylton who had finally nipped in behind. But on the volley, no more than 6yds out, Hylton lifted the ball over and the points were won.
Territorially and possession wise, we got murdered tonight. But some absolutely dire forward play from the home side, a slice of luck and some heroic defending and we were able to hold out. They have every right to feel hard done by, as we barely got out of our half. Our passing and general movement was utter dross, a number of players didnt put in much of a shift and on another day we would have got hammered tonight. The tempo, energy and quality from Saturday was missing. But, I can honestly say in 17years of supporting Torquay I have never seen us win a game like that. I suppose we defended pretty solidly, centrally anyway. And Manse was industrious as ever. And we're owed a bit of luck after the last minute goals and all that of the last few years. But today was a little glimpse into how bad we can get if it doesn't all click together.
The player ratings are hard as nobody truly stood out. But here goes
Olejnik - 7 - handling impeccable. Kicking terrible
Oastler - 6 - toasted by their sub winger. Awful distribution and poor positioning first halfÂ
Robbo - 7 - great aerial command, but teetered on the brink of out of control
Saah - 6 - improved as the game wore on, but sloppiness crept back in first half
Nico - 6.5 - solid enough, distribution way off
Mansell - 7.5 - my MOTM. worked socks off, and proved if you don't shoot you'll never score!
O'Kane - 5.5 - worst I've seen him in a while. Lost possession too often
Morris - 5 - it's frustrating watching his non-wing play. You can cross, so get into a position where you can cross it!!!
Stevens - 5 - drifted so far inside first half we had no width. Wasteful in possession second half
Howe - 6 - put himself about but wasn't sticking today
Atieno - 7 - higher rating for defensive duties! Won a lot of balls pumped into the box (at the wrong end!)
McPhee - 5.5 - less wasteful than Stevens but offered little
Kee - 6 - well at least he ran around a bit more than Saturday!
Yellow Army - 10 - outstanding noise and atmosphere throughout, even if that wasn't reciprocated on the pitch.
So there we go. Still can't believe how lucky we were!
Oh my god.Â
Normally I feel that maybe I write these reports too positively. But that was f*****g atrocious! We were so so poor, yet somehow, somehow we've come away with all 3 points when we have had 1 - yes 1 - shot on target, and it wasn't even that good! As one of my mates said leaving the game, "I thought the looting had stopped, but we've smuggled the points out of Aldershot".
It's hard to know how to break this report up. We started poorly, middle part poorly, finished poorly. After the high tempo start on Saturday, you could tell straight away that today was a different proposition. Aldershot were knocking the ball around with purpose, opening us up at will. But for all that, the chances they created wernt that clear cut and that was a pattern that followed all day.Â
Their first effort on goal was a tame free header from a corner which was straight at Bobby. Before we'd even had time to regroup, Gutteridge was firing a shot narrowly wide of Bobbys left hand post. The referee - who was terrible all day - was giving them a lot of free kicks, opportunities to load the box which they did, but surprisingly few chances came of it.
The Gulls - shooting first half towards the East Bank full of the Yellow Army in full voice - had little fluency or threat. Unlike Saturday, nothing was sticking to Howe or Atieno. O'Kanes touch and passing had deserted him, and Danny was bizarrely coming deep into the centre rather than attack the full back. Our first half was summed up when a well placed O'kane went to cross, but just shanked the ball straight out of play.
We never really got a foothold in the game, but we did actually generate a really good chance. The ball was worked between Atieno, Howe and Morris. I think it was a Morris cross-shot that reared up, and Howe's acrobatic back heel was deflected for a corner. But the corner was wasted and we reverted to type.
But moments later, out of nothing, we took the lead. Mansell striding forward, wide left of goal, cut in and opened up half a yard of space about 20yards out. He took aim, the shot moved a bit but there was no power or pace in it, and it was right down the keepers throat. But inexplicably, the absolutely uselss Jamie Young put nothing behind it, and it squirmed right through him and into the net. Think that legendary Taibi moment a Old Trafford, it was that bad! 1-0 gulls!
Did we push on from that? No, if anything it was worse. Sloppy passing, terrible movement and we soaked up wave after wave of Aldershot pressure. But aside from Rankine clipping the outside of the post (amidst a succession of cheap free kicks awarded against us), all that pressure didn't really amount to much and we made it to half time.
Second half - more of the same. Nothing was sticking to Howe or Atineo so the ball just kept coming back. But, aside from one full length save from Bobby nothing ever came of it. We wernt even looking that assured at the back, just grimly hanging on. The ref got no better, cheap free kicks going Aldershots way but nothing came of the endless balls they pumped into the box. it was a dreadful game of football.
Aldershot didnt help themselves with a range of bizarre substitutions. The rangey Rankine, who was winning his fair share in the air, was withdrawn for Reading loanee Taylor who was more of a midfielder. And the Lacey, threatening winger McGlashan was taken off for the equally pacey Bubb - but effectively they removed all height from their front line. Yet they still attacked at will, but their delivery was poor.Â
They did manage to cause hearts to flutter a couple of times. A twisting run from sub Rodman was cut back, but Hylton took a wild air swipe and only succeeded in flicking it away from the incoming Taylor. Closer to the end Hylton got perilously close to goal on an angled run, Robbo got too tight and pushed him to the turf but the ref waved no penalty - i thought it was a close call.
And finally, right at the death, the got a clear sight of goal. For the last 5 mins they sent centre half Brown up front, and from another aimless high ball he flicked it on to the onrushing Hylton who had finally nipped in behind. But on the volley, no more than 6yds out, Hylton lifted the ball over and the points were won.
Territorially and possession wise, we got murdered tonight. But some absolutely dire forward play from the home side, a slice of luck and some heroic defending and we were able to hold out. They have every right to feel hard done by, as we barely got out of our half. Our passing and general movement was utter dross, a number of players didnt put in much of a shift and on another day we would have got hammered tonight. The tempo, energy and quality from Saturday was missing. But, I can honestly say in 17years of supporting Torquay I have never seen us win a game like that. I suppose we defended pretty solidly, centrally anyway. And Manse was industrious as ever. And we're owed a bit of luck after the last minute goals and all that of the last few years. But today was a little glimpse into how bad we can get if it doesn't all click together.
The player ratings are hard as nobody truly stood out. But here goes
Olejnik - 7 - handling impeccable. Kicking terrible
Oastler - 6 - toasted by their sub winger. Awful distribution and poor positioning first halfÂ
Robbo - 7 - great aerial command, but teetered on the brink of out of control
Saah - 6 - improved as the game wore on, but sloppiness crept back in first half
Nico - 6.5 - solid enough, distribution way off
Mansell - 7.5 - my MOTM. worked socks off, and proved if you don't shoot you'll never score!
O'Kane - 5.5 - worst I've seen him in a while. Lost possession too often
Morris - 5 - it's frustrating watching his non-wing play. You can cross, so get into a position where you can cross it!!!
Stevens - 5 - drifted so far inside first half we had no width. Wasteful in possession second half
Howe - 6 - put himself about but wasn't sticking today
Atieno - 7 - higher rating for defensive duties! Won a lot of balls pumped into the box (at the wrong end!)
McPhee - 5.5 - less wasteful than Stevens but offered little
Kee - 6 - well at least he ran around a bit more than Saturday!
Yellow Army - 10 - outstanding noise and atmosphere throughout, even if that wasn't reciprocated on the pitch.
So there we go. Still can't believe how lucky we were!
