Torquay United v Aldershot Town – Monday 25th August 2014
Posted: 24 Aug 2014, 10:48
After another disappointing 0-0 draw, Torquay play at home against Aldershot on the bank holiday Monday. The visitors for Monday’s game are nicknamed ‘The Shots’, let’s hope that our shots find the back of the net for this game! Aldershot have had a pretty good start to the season, winning two, drawing one and losing one. They drew 1-1 the Saturday just gone at home to Forest Green Rovers. The two sides for Monday’s game have faced each other a good number of times in recent history, the most recent a 1-0 defeat on Tuesday 19th February 2013. I’m sure we all remember the terrific 4-3 victory at home against Aldershot on Tuesday 2nd October 2012, coming back from 3-0 down! The last 5 against Aldershot have gone like this; LLWWWL. It’s even Stevens. An interesting stat for you all, the last time we played Aldershot that WASN’T a Tuesday night was Monday 3rd March 2008, where the Gulls lost 2-1 at home. Also, the last time we played Aldershot on a Saturday, was Saturday 8th April 1990, where Torquay lost 2-1 again at home.
Aldershot Town have 7 points so far this season, sitting in 9th position with a +4 goal difference. I’m pretty confident in saying that Aldershot will probably be unchanged for the game on Monday. Torquay will see ex-Gulls players Joe Oastler and Damon Lathrope, I’m also pretty certain that they will get a good reception. So here’s the line up they had against FGR;
01 Smith
02 Oastler
12 Gibbs
04 Lathrope
05 Wilson
06 Barker (Tonkin - 39' )
08 Molesley (N'Guessan - 63' )
14 Roberts
11 Scott
09 Williams (Fitchett - 79' )
07 Hatton
Substitutes
03 Tonkin
10 Fitchett
13 Thomas
18 N'Guessan
19 Derry
I hope the Aldershot fans bring good numbers to Plainmoor for Monday’s game, their fans are superb. It is always a great atmosphere away at Aldershot, good drumming by both supporters and good noise. Let’s hope we see something like that tomorrow. The Shots fans are a colourful bunch, with many flags and banners to get behind their team.
As for Torquay, this will be a difficult game. The visitors have a strong side and they will be much better opposition compared to Southport and Dartford. Seeing as we could only draw to those sides, I’m not sure United fans are very confident. There needs to be a change up front seeing as we have been unable to score without Bowman. Many Gulls fans are calling for Pearce, perhaps moving MacDonald to right back and having Downes and Pearce in the middle. Having said that, I’m not sure Hargreaves will do that seeing as we have kept three clean sheets. The real issue is how we are going to put that ball in the back of the net. Briscoe is not a winger. He doesn’t have the pace; he looks more like a forward to me. Maybe put Briscoe alongside Ofori-Acheampong, or Yeoman and bring Ofori on later on in the game. Perhaps it is time for Chappell to see what he’s got and put him on the wing, with Cameron on the other. We’ve got Ajala to use as well, as a sub or as a starting player. The centre of midfield should stay as it is. Here’s the side I’d like to see;
Rice
Tonge (Wouldn’t mind seeing MacDonald here, but I think Dale will play)
MacDonald (Therefore Pearce would be here)
Downes
Cruise
Cameron
Young
Richards
Chappell/Ajala
Briscoe
Yeoman (Ofori-Acheampong ’60)
Substitutes
Seabright
Pearce/Tonge
Chappell/Ajala
Wakefield
Ofori-Acheampong
The odds; Torquay 11/10, Aldershot 9/4, Draw 9/4.
This will be a difficult game for the home side, so they will need all the support they can get. The atmosphere against Southport was very poor in the first half, but picked up in the second. I realise that the atmosphere relies on how the players are performing, but the support really does help. The drum will be there again, let’s get behind the lads to try and get three points. Every game is winnable, we can do it.
COYY.
Link to main site; http://www.torquayfans.com/2014/torquay ... -2014-3pm/
Aldershot Town have 7 points so far this season, sitting in 9th position with a +4 goal difference. I’m pretty confident in saying that Aldershot will probably be unchanged for the game on Monday. Torquay will see ex-Gulls players Joe Oastler and Damon Lathrope, I’m also pretty certain that they will get a good reception. So here’s the line up they had against FGR;
01 Smith
02 Oastler
12 Gibbs
04 Lathrope
05 Wilson
06 Barker (Tonkin - 39' )
08 Molesley (N'Guessan - 63' )
14 Roberts
11 Scott
09 Williams (Fitchett - 79' )
07 Hatton
Substitutes
03 Tonkin
10 Fitchett
13 Thomas
18 N'Guessan
19 Derry
I hope the Aldershot fans bring good numbers to Plainmoor for Monday’s game, their fans are superb. It is always a great atmosphere away at Aldershot, good drumming by both supporters and good noise. Let’s hope we see something like that tomorrow. The Shots fans are a colourful bunch, with many flags and banners to get behind their team.
As for Torquay, this will be a difficult game. The visitors have a strong side and they will be much better opposition compared to Southport and Dartford. Seeing as we could only draw to those sides, I’m not sure United fans are very confident. There needs to be a change up front seeing as we have been unable to score without Bowman. Many Gulls fans are calling for Pearce, perhaps moving MacDonald to right back and having Downes and Pearce in the middle. Having said that, I’m not sure Hargreaves will do that seeing as we have kept three clean sheets. The real issue is how we are going to put that ball in the back of the net. Briscoe is not a winger. He doesn’t have the pace; he looks more like a forward to me. Maybe put Briscoe alongside Ofori-Acheampong, or Yeoman and bring Ofori on later on in the game. Perhaps it is time for Chappell to see what he’s got and put him on the wing, with Cameron on the other. We’ve got Ajala to use as well, as a sub or as a starting player. The centre of midfield should stay as it is. Here’s the side I’d like to see;
Rice
Tonge (Wouldn’t mind seeing MacDonald here, but I think Dale will play)
MacDonald (Therefore Pearce would be here)
Downes
Cruise
Cameron
Young
Richards
Chappell/Ajala
Briscoe
Yeoman (Ofori-Acheampong ’60)
Substitutes
Seabright
Pearce/Tonge
Chappell/Ajala
Wakefield
Ofori-Acheampong
The odds; Torquay 11/10, Aldershot 9/4, Draw 9/4.
This will be a difficult game for the home side, so they will need all the support they can get. The atmosphere against Southport was very poor in the first half, but picked up in the second. I realise that the atmosphere relies on how the players are performing, but the support really does help. The drum will be there again, let’s get behind the lads to try and get three points. Every game is winnable, we can do it.
COYY.
Link to main site; http://www.torquayfans.com/2014/torquay ... -2014-3pm/