Torquay v Altrincham

[IanGull01]

Did anyone think Bowman was out of order today?
Scored his penalty then thought it would be a good idea to throw the ball at the keeper to then spark a melee.

[arcadia]

I'm not going to say Altrincham are a bad side that's the reason we won, oh dam it I've said it. A win is a win and at last it looks as if Torquay United have a keeper.
Dan Lavercombe can be proud of his home debut but it does get harder now as the expectation is there now but he looks the part he's fit, tall and wait for it he came for a cross and kept us in the game at important moments.
The team improved as the confidence grew and Ives played very well but he must learn that he must play the ball the way he is facing instead of turning into trouble when under pressure as he's making the same mistakes all the time.
Briscoe is trying to hard to impress and needs to play within himself and not at full stretch. Ajala looked impressive today and would be my player of the season with McDonald.
It's nice to praise the team for change but Tuesday it will be a lot harder.

[Modgull]

No Brucie today???!

He's probably busy on Exeweb telling all and sundry just how crap the team is and how the manager hasn't a clue!

[lucy6lucy]

No Brucie today???!

He will be busy writing the match report from the scums 4-0 defeat

[lucy6lucy]

Did anyone think Bowman was out of order today?
Scored his penalty then thought it would be a good idea to throw the ball at the keeper to then spark a melee.

Great. After the reaction from Altrincham players the other year at their place at the final whistle, I have no love loss with them

[DevonYellow]

Did anyone think Bowman was out of order today?
Scored his penalty then thought it would be a good idea to throw the ball at the keeper to then spark a melee.

Yes. If they had done the same to our young goalie plainmoor would have been screaming murder. Unnecessary and out of order. A shame because he took the penalty well.

I dread to think where we would be without his goals this season.

[Swanny]

A reasonable performance today and most importantly a win to lift our spirits. Torquay's goals on 22 and 27 minutes came at convenient times and both had a little of bit fortune about them. But they gave Torquay a welcome cushion for the rest of the match and the first half was comfortable for Torquay. The second half was more even and both teams had decent chances. Enter Torquay's youth keeper Lavercombe who rightly won sponsors and Twitter MOTM for a rare clean sheet. Crowd a disturbing 1,462, 84 of whom were from Altrincham.

Torquay were on top in the opening exchanges but Altrincham had the ball in the net after around 5 minutes. Lavercombe made a decent parried save and they scored the rebound but it was ruled out for offside. Torquay had another touch of fortune when their experienced keeper went off injured and was replaced by a young keeper. Torquay's main threat was down the wings through Ajala on the right and loanee Daniel on the left. They pose quite a handful for the opposition and if only Ajala could get his final ball right when he is in a promising position he would be a cracking footballer. Torquay's opening goal was created by Bowman who was clear on our right. His low cross was not great and should have been cleared by their defenders but Daniel showed great close control and finished with a low powerful shot into the net. Shortly afterwards Bowman ran with the ball in the box, there appeared to be a trip from a defender, Bowman went down easily and the referee pointed to the spot. Bowman injured his shoulder in the process but dispatched the penalty with confidence. As the ball rebounded out of the net, Bowman caught it and lightly dropped the ball onto their keeper's head who was still on the ground more in fun than anything else. A right old melee broke out with angry Altrincham players laying into Bowman. Bowman and an Altrincham player were booked. Bowman shortly afterwards was replaced by Campbell due to his injured shoulder. Torquay saw out the rest of the half comfortably 2-0 up.

The second half Torquay played in fits and starts. Campbell brought a decent save from their keeper and he had 2 other chances he put wide from defensive mix-ups. One of them Campbell robbed their keeper outside their penalty area on our left but missed the target with the goal gaping. Altrincham grew stronger and Lavercombe saved a 1-on-1 by parrying with a strong arm. Lavercombe later produced a great flying diving save which reminded me of Poke at his best. It was also Lavercombe's all round game that impressed me. He is a decent height and physique and had a real calm presence about him. His kicking showed excellent technique as he kicks quite effortlessly and is accurate and he does not seem to shirk coming off his line for crosses. It's early days but I hope he features more next season.

The second half opened up to quite an entertaining game with both teams threatening. At times you worried that Torquay's defence did not close down well enough at times and with better finishing Torquay could have been found out and at least we had a keeper who saved the defence's blushes. Richards came on late on for Briscoe who I thought was hit-and-miss today - on one hand he made some telling runs and passes but on he otherhand he gave the ball away too often.

I thought today's line-up had a good balance about it. Both our wingers offered width and a decent outlet and they both possess some lovely footballing tricks. McQuilkin and Harding worked well together in central midfield as they seem to complement eachother. Both of them showed decent distribution today. The defence was mainly solid but were exposed at times down the middle.

I cannot make the last 2 home games so that was my last game this season. It's been another horrible season and today at least showed what we should be doing to part-time teams in this division. We really should have far too much ability and skill and fitness against these sort of teams who try hard but really have limited quality. One or two of Altrincham players really looked out of shape and our biggest failing this season is beating these sort teams. It's been quite embarrassing but thankfully not today.

[Dave_Pougher]

I was in no way being disrespectful to Martin Rice. Has been a great servant for the club and stuck with them through thick and thin!!

Just praising a 17 year old that has come in and stepped upto the mark very well!

If we want things to change for the better at TUFC then perhaps they have to change here for the better also.

Then fair play to you sir for for having the courage to come on here and setting your meanings straight.

[lucy6lucy]

Rice away at southport was shit and lacked composure on and OFF the pitch. He knows he is back mixing cement. We have to start fresh next season, players have no loyalty these days so I have no sympathy in saying goodbye to rice. He was given the chance as number 1 and failed.

[ferrarilover]

Lavercome parried two into the most dangerous place he could do. He punched one he should have caught and his catching will have to be much improved if he's to make it. He's got a lot to learn and is, at present, our second best goalkeeper. Much hope for the future, but about a billion miles from the finished article as it stands.
MOTM was Ajala, in truth.

Properly daft reaction from the Internet about Bowman's gag. Bowman apologised and he and the keeper had a laugh about it. No need for any sort of wading in from Barry in accounts.

Let's not get too excited, Alty are an embarrassment to football. That 16 with his barnet like a dogs dinner and the "striker" who was only in the team because benching him would breach anti-discrimination legislation. That they're above us really is a perfect example of just how far we have fallen from what was, if we're honest, not an overly auspicious stating point.

Matt.

[Burnhamgull]

Let's not get carried away, Altrincham were very very poor and offered no threat whatsoever.

Lavercombe was cynically hacked down in the first minute and could easily have broken his leg. The referee should have brought out a card no question. After that assault, Lavercombe had a steady game and produced a couple of decent saves but he was never put under any pressure so we mustn't get overly excited.

I thought Pearce had a very good game. If on;y he had played more this season and shown interest when he has played. He was a totally different player today and Downes alongside him was also a tower of strength.

Up front, Bowman was childish to start trouble after scoring the penalty and perhaps it was karma when he got injured and went off so early. Neither Campbell or Briscoe did anything of note and that goes for the rest of the team too. A very average performance but a win is a win. Results means nothing however now as most of this team will not be there next season so there is little to be gained from wins other than boosting the fans morale a bit.

A crowd of 1400 is probably as good as we could have expected on a day like today. I suspect there will be a slight drop in Tuesday's attendance and then we have one more game and we can all disappear for the summer.

[lucy6lucy]

Lavercome parried two into the most dangerous place he could do. He punched one he should have caught and his catching will have to be much improved if he's to make it. He's got a lot to learn and is, at present, our second best goalkeeper. Much hope for the future, but about a billion miles from the finished article as it stands.
MOTM was Ajala, in truth.

Properly daft reaction from the Internet about Bowman's gag. Bowman apologised and he and the keeper had a laugh about it. No need for any sort of wading in from Barry in accounts.

Let's not get too excited, Alty are an embarrassment to football. That 16 with his barnet like a dogs dinner and the "striker" who was only in the team because benching him would breach anti-discrimination legislation. That they're above us really is a perfect example of just how far we have fallen from what was, if we're honest, not an overly auspicious stating point.

Matt.

Welcome back. Have you had an all- inclusive in benidorm over the winter or banged up in dartmoor.

[A Realist]

Lavercome parried two into the most dangerous place he could do. He punched one he should have caught and his catching will have to be much improved if he's to make it. He's got a lot to learn and is, at present, our second best goalkeeper. Much hope for the future, but about a billion miles from the finished article as it stands.
MOTM was Ajala, in truth.

Properly daft reaction from the Internet about Bowman's gag. Bowman apologised and he and the keeper had a laugh about it. No need for any sort of wading in from Barry in accounts.

Let's not get too excited, Alty are an embarrassment to football. That 16 with his barnet like a dogs dinner and the "striker" who was only in the team because benching him would breach anti-discrimination legislation. That they're above us really is a perfect example of just how far we have fallen from what was, if we're honest, not an overly auspicious stating point.

Matt.

I think their reaction was a culmination of things. It was a very soft penalty imo and one of those that many refs would not have given. Bowman clearly played for it. He had overran the ball and left his leg in so the keeper would catch him. It was one of those that you're glad when its your player that does it and are furious if they go against you. Then when he clipped the keeper with the ball, they couldn't really take it.

Funny you should mention the barnet of one of their players. I joked to someone today that their back line looked more like a poorly groomed boy band than they did a football team.

[SuperNickyWroe]

Welcome back. Have you had an all- inclusive in benidorm over the winter or banged up in dartmoor.

Think we all know the answer to that Lucy.

[arcadia]

Lavercome parried two into the most dangerous place he could do. He punched one he should have caught and his catching will have to be much improved if he's to make it. He's got a lot to learn and is, at present, our second best goalkeeper. Much hope for the future, but about a billion miles from the finished article as it stands.
MOTM was Ajala, in truth.

Properly daft reaction from the Internet about Bowman's gag. Bowman apologised and he and the keeper had a laugh about it. No need for any sort of wading in from Barry in accounts.

Let's not get too excited, Alty are an embarrassment to football. That 16 with his barnet like a dogs dinner and the "striker" who was only in the team because benching him would breach anti-discrimination legislation. That they're above us really is a perfect example of just how far we have fallen from what was, if we're honest, not an overly auspicious stating point.

Matt.

Good to see you back Matt your right about Lavercombe parrying the ball to dangerous positions but our number one keeper would have let the first shot in. Lavercombe did a bit better than play well and gives us all a bit of hope and there is nothing wrong with that. He's got that presence about himself and I just want to see him after a few more games.