A LITTLE MORE FIRST HALF MAGIC WILL DO FINE AS UNITED GRAB FIRST WIN IT WASN’T ALL DOWNHILL IN A PIZZA GOAL FEAST
Seven goals, three more yellow cards but not only three points but a precious first win - nobody pretends following the Gulls is an easy journey.
It was certainly a Saturday afternoon in Berkshire full of drama, ups and downs - all seven goals scored going down the slope - “Down the hill’s a big advantage,” was Gary Johnson’s verdict - a nail biting backs-to-the-wall second half and a pizza delivery man.
For the Yellow Army, once again in great voice and numbers swelling the home attendance, they were in dreamland as United raced into what appeared to be a commanding first half lead with Armani Little in his element with two opportunist strikes plus two assists His performance was recognised in the Vanarama Team of the Week and in the Non-League Paper.
After the interval it was a different story - ‘a game of two halves’ - as the home side roared back into the contest but for the last half hour, including the eight minutes of added time, United, in Johnson’s words, “defended like Trojans”, throwing bodies on the line with some desperate defending. Presumably they reminded each other of the ’T-Cup’- think clearly under pressure.
“We’ve got things to learn from the match,” was the manager’s assessment, adding,”We needed the three points to get our season going.” But it was good to see him with a smile on his face and later too, jumping off the team coach at the traffic lights to hand deliver spare pizzas to some hungry Gulls’ fans.
Saturday’s BBC Radio Devon summariser Damon Lathrope felt the game was not only a great advert for the National League but also he could see Torquay going on a decent run.
With fifty goals across the division crowds got plenty of entertainment with a good number of high attendances: Chesterfield 5,229, Grimsby 5,030, Notts County 5,291, Southend 6,030 all higher than those crowds at the three League 1 matches played as well as six in League 2.
There’s another big test on Saturday with Grimsby in town and no doubt the search for squad additions continues.
With Grimsby’s home and away support coupled with United’s first win Saturday’s fixture is one which ought to attract decent numbers.
Football fans find it hard to see their team lose at home especially twice at the start of a new season but it seems too early, especially as the Gulls are unbeaten away, for the negativity amongst some.
Last week’s vote returned over 90% optimistic about the season underlining that the club has a top manager. We’ve looked from afar at the clubs paying out huge financial gambles for promotion but United are rightly staying within their means and as Johnson regularly reminds us, “Developing and improving young players is what a club like ours is all about.” This is something United fans need to remind ourselves. *************************************************************
They might have had to perform without friends, families and crowds but GB’s Paralympians deserve huge praise for not only overcoming personal adversity but also proving what great athletes they are with 41 gold medals in a total of 124. Wheelchair rugby looks really dangerous!
Torquay United’s Women’s South Western Premier League season got under way at Bishops Lydeard on Sunday with a 4-2 win. Laura May, Ellie Bishop, Beth Everson and Danni Wyatt on the score sheet.
Trending on social media at the moment is Andysbeermats an initiative started by Andysmanclub to promote support for mental health, particularly male suicide in the under 45 age group. Beer mats with contact details are now available for tables and bars in pubs and clubs around the country; it would be great to see them in Boots & Laces / the Gulls’ Nest at Plainmoor. If one beer mat helps save one person it would have been worth it. *******************************************************************
Strange football facts: There are 210 countries registered with FIFA but in the history of the game only eight teams have won the World Cup: Brazil 5, Germany, Italy 4, Argentina, France, Uruguay 2, England, Spain 1.
The most red cards in a match? In 2011 in an Argentinean league match between arch-rivals Claypole and Victoriano Arenas 36 were given to every player, substitutes and coaches.
This week it’s another chance for Three Word Fun. Following Saturday’s first win at Maidenhead what are your three words to sum up your day? ‘Back on Track’ or ‘Pizza Delivery Man’ could be early contenders. Send yours to: fanszone.tu@gmail.com or Twitter: @FanszoneT
Let’s get Plainmoor rocking against Grimsby. To all the Yellow Army get behind the team and stay safe.
COYY
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