WHAT ON EARTH HAPPENS AT HALF-TIME?
AS UNITED’S FA CUP JOURNEY ENDS THE WOMEN’S SIDE SHOW THE WAY
FULL CREDIT TO THE YELLOW ARMY SUPPORT
These are testing times to admit to being a Torquay United supporter, up one minute
and down the next. For one moment, after walloping Aldershot, getting out of the relegation zone seemed a distinct possibility but the next little old Dorking Wanderers, bringing a fresh look to the National League, brought all dedicated fans back to reality.
Saturday’s second half shocker underlined the struggle the club is facing as the games go by and the goals go in.
It was August 13 the last time United kept a clean sheet. If you’re a neutral living in the Bay and you’ve watched all the home league fixtures this season you’ll have seen 44 goals in ten games, sadly 25 of them in the wrong net.
It doesn’t take a genius to work out what needs fixing and even the arrival of the much travelled and experienced Mark Ellis and Lucas Ness have failed to stem the flow.
And for how much longer will Ellis be able to stay as his home is in Nantwich where his family live?
It’s looking very much like Johnson will need to offload a number of his summer signings who clearly have failed to make their mark in order to bring a few, fit-for-purpose, newcomers in the EFL January transfer window.
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Here’s a sobering Spot the Difference:
5 February 2022 Wrexham (Home) Won 1-0
9 April 2022 Notts County (Home) Won 5-1
7 May 2022 Chesterfield (Home) Won 2-0
24 September 2022 Wrexham (Away) Lost 0-6
29 October Notts County (Away) Lost 0-4
12 November 2022 Chesterfield (Home) Lost 1-5
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The most recent league stats make for uncomfortable reading: 5 points from the last 18, one win and three defeats with goals for 14, against 18.
If there needs to be an inquest into what’s gone wrong one place to start is what for goodness sake happens at half-time? Against Derby we concede within minutes of the re-start; against Dorking we concede two inside the next ten minutes and then, lo and behold, the same happens against Chesterfield on Saturday.
The only glimmer of hope has been United’s FA Cup exploits. Firstly, the recovery from 0-2 down to Derby County to a much deserved draw in front of the ITV cameras.
But that was extinguished, again in front of national TV cameras, on Tuesday night at Pride Park where United ended up playing for pride in front of over 800 travelling supporters - what a great turnout.
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Torquay have only one home victory so far with five draws in a remarkable
sequence: v Oldham 0-0, v Scunthorpe 1-1, v Hampton 2-2, v Dorking 3-3,
v Altrincham 4-4.
Last weekend was the final round of Premier League fixtures before the World Cup gets underway on tomorrow as Qatar take on Ecuador. England’s opening match is on Monday afternoon against Iran to be shown on BBC.
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On Saturday December 3 the National League, to avoid a potential clash with England or Wales, can be moved to either a 12.30pm kick-off, or to a Friday evening or even Sunday. United are due to play at Dagenham & Redbridge.
National League Crowd Watch: Southend’s season has completely turned around after United beat them back in September as they’ve now gone 11 games unbeaten with a 2-0 win over Dorking in front of 6,400. Oldham are finding life in non-league just as tough as the EFL and lost at home to Barnet with 6,014 in attendance.
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At least one United side is leading the way, Steve Elswood’s Women’s team recorded a wonderful 2-0 away victory over Warminster Town Ladies thanks to goals from Mia Preston and Ellie Bishop
and now progress into Round 2 of the Vitality FA Cup for the first time in their history.
Their reward is an away tie at Bournemouth Sports Ladies on Sunday November 27.
Not content with that, United signed midfielder Anthea Kaptein from Ilminster Town Ladies after previously been at Exeter City on Monday to strengthen their quest for promotion.
A hat-trick from Jayden Gilbert, two from Ben Aldous and one from Brandon Quinn gave United’s Under-18s a comprehensive 6-2 league win at Mangotsfield.
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Ex-Gull Alex Fletcher, who had a loan spell from Plymouth Argyle, suffered an horrendous head injury whilst playing for Bath City when he collided with a perimeter advertising board.
The latest information released from the hospital reports that Alex remains in a critical condition in intensive care but is starting to show small signs of improvement.
Many non-league teams on Saturday stopped their matches in the 7th minute, Alex’s shirt number is number 7, to show a unity with a round of applause.
On a happier note, congratulations to another ex-Gull, Kevin Nicholson, on his promotion to assistant manager at Exeter City.
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TUST holds its AGM next Thursday, November 24 at 6.30pm, at the Torquay Athletic rugby club, open to all TUST members. There’s a free pasty (vegetarian available) with a free drink.
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So, last Sunday those at Plainmoor along with those watching on TV witnessed a peaceful pitch invasion celebrating Will Goodwin’s late equaliser. With the FA clamping down on such events is it likely that the club will find itself in trouble?
No doubt it depends on what the match referee will have written in his report.
This promised to be a busy week for United’s travelling supporters with a trip to Derby followed by a trek to London today for a match with Ben Wynter’s Barnet.
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Opinions about United’s new ‘beetroot purple’ shirt we're like Marmite; there are those who think it’s great while others are not impressed as they question why there is a need for a third shirt.
This week what are your views about United’s survival hopes? Send your opinion to:
fanszone.tu@gmail.com or Twitter: @FanszoneT
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