THREE AND EASY FOR AARON JARVIS AS PLAYER OF THE SEASON HITS HAT-TRICK
CAN UNITED WIN TODAY AFTER CHESTERFIELD SHOCKER?
UNITED WOMEN CLOSING IN ON TITLE
What an afternoon at Plainmoor in the Spring sunshine. Where to start? Of course step forward Player of the Season as voted by the Yellow Army, Aaron Jarvis who cemented his name in Torquay’s roll of honour.
But what about keeper Mark Halstead who for many was the hero of the hour with at least three worldly saves? That he kept the ball out of the net in both halves kept the Gulls in the game as visitors York threatened to break United’s fans’ hearts.
To record a fifth consecutive win, given the team’s dire circumstances, is no mean feat and with 15 points from the last 15 has sent supporters into dreams of yet another Great Escape in the club’s history.
Social media and the forums were awash with people trying to work out and predict what could happen in the final three fixtures. Could Torquay catch and overtake Aldershot? What if Maidenhead don’t get any more points? Are York still in danger?
Then it all came crashing back to earth on Tuesday as a rampant Chesterfield looked like Brazil, passing United out of the game from the start. We should probably be thankful they only scored five.
Was it because there was no overnight stay as has been done for Saturday’s match or the loss of Hall?
Only a win today may keep the hopes alive but it’s looking grim.
No matter for how long you stare at the form table, the league table, compile spreadsheets, use a calculator or a slide rule and second guess the upcoming fixtures, none of us can predict how this season is going to finish.
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Aaron Jarvis, of course, made the Non-League Paper Team of the Day for his hat-trick and with a little more luck could have made it four or even five. He was also named in the Vanarama Team of the Week.
This was his second hat-trick of the season, his first was against Aldershot, and is the first double in a season since 1965-1966 season when guess who completed the feat - Robin Stubbs of course who was there in the directors’ box, as usual, to witness Jarvis’ goals.
Congratulations to Nico Lawrence on his Young Player of the Season award, pretty impressive for a loanee who only joined the club in January.
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With the end of the season in sight these are exciting times at the top and bottom of many leagues. In League 2 it’s looking like Rochdale will be in the National League next season joined by either a return for Hartlepool or Crawley or maybe Harrogate.
In National North it could be a swift return to the National League for King’s Lynn with AFC Fylde breathing down their necks. In the South, Ebbsfleet are already champions with Dartford and Oxford City in contention to join them.
South Shields are champions in the Northern Premier League so return to National North and in the Southern League Premier South Weston-Super-Mare are champions with the possibility of Truro City joining them. And don’t forget the battle in the National League between Wrexham and Notts County, although Wrexham could be champions later today.
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Non-League Crowd Watch: Macclesfield continue to attract huge attendances, this time 4,701 for a 2-2 home draw. South Shields had 3,061 while Dulwich Hamlet trying to escape relegation from National South won 2-0 against Taunton Town in front of 3,291.
In the National Premier another day of big attendances, some of the highest better than nine sides in League 2: Notts County 8,520, Southend 7,345, Chesterfield 6,733, Oldham 5,815, Barnet 5,265 and Torquay 3,469.
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This is a league table based on clubs’ average attendances: 1. Wrexham 9,960, 2 Notts County 7,842, 3 Chesterfield 6,857 4 Oldham 6,697 5 Southend 5,864 6 York City 4,784 7 Scunthorpe 3,240 8 Woking 2,679 9 Yeovil 2,618 10 Torquay 2,493 and in 24th place Boreham Wood 1,180.
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There was a big after the match row at Barnet on Saturday when Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson accused the Bees’ keeper Laurie Walker of cheating in getting Callum McFadzen sent off. Parkinson, for his troubles, also got a red card after the final whistle. But if you look at the footage what’s the difference between McFadzen’s late kick at Walker and Wealdstone’s Micah Obiero’s kick on Mark Halstead’s face that went unpunished back in March. And don’t forget
Obiero went on to score the winner. Just underlines the inconsistency of refereeing in the fifth tier.
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After a lengthy break without a match United’s Women were back in action at Liskeard Ladies on Sunday and what a dramatic afternoon it turned out to be. Going into the penultimate fixture needing four points from these two games, United, thanks to striker Connie Pengelly, took the lead only for her to be sent off not long after. Liskeard then levelled the scores.
Then further disaster struck as Sasha Mole received a severe knee injury requiring an ambulance. Poor Sasha had to lie on the pitch for over an hour before being taken to hospital. Playing her 100th game Danni Wyatt went off injured too. With only two subs, one of whom was recovering from a medical procedure, the game resumed after its lengthy break. And for much of the second half the Gulls played with nine, and for a while eight, in a ‘backs to the wall’ mentality ending the game in a 1-1 draw.
United’s Under-18s suffered an uncharacteristic 4-1 home defeat to fellow title challengers Bridgwater Town. They do, though, have a Cup Final to look forward to next month.
The women now need to win their final match at either Coach Road or Liverton to bottom club Royal Wootton Bassett on Sunday 30th, the day after the Wrexham match, to become champions and be promoted.
It would be good if Gary Johnson’s side have achieved safety by then too.
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Who’s been the best signing of the season was last week’s question. It was a close run thing as there were votes for young Nico Lawrence, midfield leader Kevin Dawson and experienced striker Frank Nouble. Can you separate them?
This is a second and final week to vote: fanszone.tu@gmail.com or Twitter: @FanszoneT.
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