I've had the night to think over what we saw yesterday and I'm still as frustrated now as I was walking out of the ground.
I actually thought we started the game really well, Cosgrove winning the ball high up the pitch and within the first minute, we've got a free kick just outside the penalty area. We've then managed to sustain some pressure but then we're hit with a sucker punch. The goal itself is one we've seen ourselves concede a plenty of times before. A high, hopeful ball to the back post, a header back across goal and a tap in for whoever is waiting to receive the ball. A very poor goal for us to concede and one in which I think could have been prevented. From there on, Torquay had something to defend and what followed for the next 87 minutes give or take was nothing short of embarrassing from their point of view. Their keeper for example, he must have taken at least a minute to eventually get the ball back in play from a goal kick and this happened at least 5 or 6 times and not once did the referee have a word. The constant fouling in an attempt to slow us down was frustrating, even more so considering I think their left back was very fortunate to stay on the pitch with two similar tackles on first Powell (I think it was) and then Kensdale and as such he was taken off at the break, yet more weak refereeing.
The second half again started well, we kept the ball well and got in to the final third at will but our desire to score the perfect goal is somewhat frustrating. So many times the opportunity to was there to have a shot at goal but instead we either took an extra touch or we tried to force another pass that went astray, it was so annoying to watch. We're then hit with another sucker punch. I can't fault Colin for this one though, the defection left him flat footed but before that, the way we just invited the goal scorer to drive through the middle of the pitch and get within shooting distance was poor from our point of view. At this point, for anybody watching it's clear that we are the much better team but we find ourselves 0-2 down having only faced 2 shoots on our goal. For me, the changes Kev then made somewhat improved us. Jack Bridge especially, his directness and knowing when to make the pass got us in to some good positions but again, thanks to a combination of good saves from the keeper, defenders throwing themselves in front of the shot and our own inability to shot and pass at the right time, it just turned in to one of the days sadly. Even when we did finally get one back (great header by the way from Wreh), I was never confident of then going on to find the equaliser. All in all, a very frustrating afternoon. I thought we played okay and I suppose one of the positives to take from the game is that we've created enough chances to win two or three games but we just couldn't make them count. That and the fact we've come up against another one of those teams that have no intention of actually playing football but would rather just break a game up, waste time and hope they get one or two chances, it was unfortunately for us, one of those days.
Going forward, I think Jack Bridge and Chris Wreh have to start against Barnet. Both offered more than those they replaced and both looked a threat. I also think that Lopata comes in for Lomas. Louis didn't have the best of games and was constantly being moaned at by Kensdale throughout the game. Set pieces are still a concern, not so much when defending them but our own. The amount of times our own corners lead to a counter attack is something Kev and the team need to seriously look at.
One last line from me, I thought once again we witnessed a weak refereeing performance. He allowed Torquay to pretty much take the **** out of him from the get go. The constant time wasting from the keeper deserved a yellow card much, much earlier than he got. The blatant fouling was a joke and as I've already said, their left back can count himself lucky we wasn't shown a second yellow before the half time break. Unfortunately, we all know how incredibly poor the standard of officiating at this level is but I can only imagine as a player, when you've worked hard in training all week and you play in a game where the oppositions tactics are to waste time and constantly foul you, it must be even more frustrating for them that the referee isn't strong enough to be more forceful in his punishments than it is for us watching on from the stands.
I actually thought we started the game really well, Cosgrove winning the ball high up the pitch and within the first minute, we've got a free kick just outside the penalty area. We've then managed to sustain some pressure but then we're hit with a sucker punch. The goal itself is one we've seen ourselves concede a plenty of times before. A high, hopeful ball to the back post, a header back across goal and a tap in for whoever is waiting to receive the ball. A very poor goal for us to concede and one in which I think could have been prevented. From there on, Torquay had something to defend and what followed for the next 87 minutes give or take was nothing short of embarrassing from their point of view. Their keeper for example, he must have taken at least a minute to eventually get the ball back in play from a goal kick and this happened at least 5 or 6 times and not once did the referee have a word. The constant fouling in an attempt to slow us down was frustrating, even more so considering I think their left back was very fortunate to stay on the pitch with two similar tackles on first Powell (I think it was) and then Kensdale and as such he was taken off at the break, yet more weak refereeing.
The second half again started well, we kept the ball well and got in to the final third at will but our desire to score the perfect goal is somewhat frustrating. So many times the opportunity to was there to have a shot at goal but instead we either took an extra touch or we tried to force another pass that went astray, it was so annoying to watch. We're then hit with another sucker punch. I can't fault Colin for this one though, the defection left him flat footed but before that, the way we just invited the goal scorer to drive through the middle of the pitch and get within shooting distance was poor from our point of view. At this point, for anybody watching it's clear that we are the much better team but we find ourselves 0-2 down having only faced 2 shoots on our goal. For me, the changes Kev then made somewhat improved us. Jack Bridge especially, his directness and knowing when to make the pass got us in to some good positions but again, thanks to a combination of good saves from the keeper, defenders throwing themselves in front of the shot and our own inability to shot and pass at the right time, it just turned in to one of the days sadly. Even when we did finally get one back (great header by the way from Wreh), I was never confident of then going on to find the equaliser. All in all, a very frustrating afternoon. I thought we played okay and I suppose one of the positives to take from the game is that we've created enough chances to win two or three games but we just couldn't make them count. That and the fact we've come up against another one of those teams that have no intention of actually playing football but would rather just break a game up, waste time and hope they get one or two chances, it was unfortunately for us, one of those days.
Going forward, I think Jack Bridge and Chris Wreh have to start against Barnet. Both offered more than those they replaced and both looked a threat. I also think that Lopata comes in for Lomas. Louis didn't have the best of games and was constantly being moaned at by Kensdale throughout the game. Set pieces are still a concern, not so much when defending them but our own. The amount of times our own corners lead to a counter attack is something Kev and the team need to seriously look at.
One last line from me, I thought once again we witnessed a weak refereeing performance. He allowed Torquay to pretty much take the **** out of him from the get go. The constant time wasting from the keeper deserved a yellow card much, much earlier than he got. The blatant fouling was a joke and as I've already said, their left back can count himself lucky we wasn't shown a second yellow before the half time break. Unfortunately, we all know how incredibly poor the standard of officiating at this level is but I can only imagine as a player, when you've worked hard in training all week and you play in a game where the oppositions tactics are to waste time and constantly foul you, it must be even more frustrating for them that the referee isn't strong enough to be more forceful in his punishments than it is for us watching on from the stands.
