Torquay United:December 2009

Hello everyone and thanks for checking in as I bring you the latest update in my Torquay story.

As the month began Craig Eastmond who was one of our short term Arsenal loans left the club and returned the London. He ended up with a rating of 7.23 and I would highly recommend him for lower league action.

Our first game of the month was at Plainmoor against Cheltenham and we quickly estbalished a base camp just outside their penalty area but for all our attacking prowess we had to wait until the 37^th minute when Hooks  pass found Barrowman for the opening goal. The two would partner up again after half time to double our lead but we allowed Cheltenham back into the game but a freakish own goal  by Cheltenham keeper Scott Brown awarded us the victory. However, after a such a tight defence early in the season we’ve allowed ten goals in our last four games which is worrying.

The game against Accrington was disappointing as both Barrowman and Carolan had several decent chances but were unable to make them count. In the end a late goal from Danjile Subotic who came on for the injured Benyon settled the match.

Next up was a home game against last place Darlington and with like Freeman returning from a short term injury I was expexting a goal glut. However, for the second time in a row we gave a less than stellar performance with Freeman setting up Barrowman for the only goal after 22 minutes. After the game had ended I made sure the team realized that this lazy attitude is not good enough and first place can soon slip away from us.

We were away to Crewe for  the following game and got off to a dreadful start as the home side moved the ball from their own penalty area into the back of our net without us making a single challenge. Two minutes later Barrowman put us back on level terms with an assist from Falkingham but poor marking allowed Crewe to take the lead once more just before the interval. Our first attack of the second half resulted in a corner which Carolan headed against the bar but fortunately rebounded into the path of Carlisle to make it 2-2. Levi Porter who came on for O’Kane in the dying minutes sent a lovely curling ball into the box and Freeman who timed his run perfectly smashed it into the back of the net on the volley for the winning goal.

We returned to Plainmoor for the visit of Hereford and Ryan Carolan headed us into the lead from a corner after 17 minutes. Eunan O’Kane’s darting run down the left flank three minutes later found Barrowman inside and he neatly placed the ball into the net to double the lead. O’Kane got on the scoresheet himself as Barrowman’s shot was pushed away by the Hereford keeper straight to him and he hammered it home. Barrowman then added another with a powerful turn and strike effort from just  outside the box 8 minutes from the interval. Hereford caught us napping and immediately pulled a goal back but  with them being reduced to 10 men the result was never in any doubt.

Two days later we were traveling up the south coast to take on Bournemouth. I had to rotate out nine of the prevoius starting eleven due to fatigue but also we had a Third Round FA Cup tie with Swansea at the end of the week. Left winger Eunan O’Kane picked up a more serious injury in training and will be out the rest of the season which is a huge setback.

Subotic got things going for us heading in from a Zbroski cross after only six minutes and Zebroski again would set up Benyon who was too quick for the Bournemouth defence and made in 2-0 which the score remained at until half time. Some sloppy passing by my back four allowed the home side an early second half goal but when Carolan’s header almost broke the back of the net in the 50^th minute the game was killed off. Althoughthe match stats showed a very even contest it was far from that with Nicholson converting from the spot and Subotic getting his second with a rocket of a shot to end 2009 on a high note.

Reserve left winger Levi Porter who had replace the injured O’Kane is also out for six months with torn calf muscle so I’ll have to look for two left midfielders once the transfer window opens.

League Table (which I remebered to do this time)

So we ended 2009 at the top of the table with an unbelievable 22 point lead so unless something totally ridiculous happens we should now be in with a very good chance of promotion. Still there’s a long way to go yet.

Luke Freeman was the best player for this month with a rating of 8.18 over his last 5 games. His loan spell terminates the first week of January so I’ll have to scout for another short term loan.

Fixtures

Thanks again for reading and enjoy your Sunday.