MATCH VERDICT
Peter Wade
CHIPPENHAM TOWN 1-1 TORQUAY UNITED – MATCH SUMMARY
A game we should have won, against a not very good side, with a shed load of chances but only got a point.
How can a side play together so much but often look as though they do not know each other? But let’s be positive first; our start was better, the passing a bit better and within 11 minutes had taken control of the game. A good goal set up by Ash receiving a McGavin ball at chest height, saw him control it and roll a perfect ball to Jenkins Davies who took it on and finished well, low to the keeper’s right hand.
Now lets a get a second please, but no, as the final pass was often astray, the lively Dillon De Silva got away down the right often, but his final ball in was usually poor and that was true all game. The first half was comfortable, we pressurised a poor side who gave the ball away too often and apart from poor play from Harris that saw a shot blazed over by Chippenham, they did not really lay a glove on us.
The crucial moment was when a Gulls’ attack broke down with a poor McGavin pass that failed to reach Jenkins Davies, he tried to win the ball back and fouled in the process; the referee booked him with that modern view that it stopped a breakaway. De Silva worked hard, getting back to help cover and breaking forward quickly but weak shots and poor crossing meant the vital second goal did not arrive, as we prepared to face the wind and rain for the second half.
Then came the second half and another of those limp displays with a lack of quality that meant we could not take any of the chances we created in the last quarter of the game. De Silva is just so frustrating, as he would have been Player of the Match if it was based on being lively and involved, but is more than that. Then came a crucial three minutes as on 65 Jenkins Davies committed a foul, bit late, but nothing really, so why did the referee feel it was another very soft yellow card and a sending off?
Within three minutes, with United all over the place, an attack was not cleared and a cross shot was turned in by Chippenham. For five minutes it looked like we would cave-in, but to be fair we went for the win. How did Archer three times and De Silva not put away the glorious chances presented to them, they just had to score. Archer hit the bar with a deflected shot and a good run from him saw him have two clear shooting chances. A good many of the crowd of 651 were TUFC fans and by the end were probably resigned to keeping the point, which good work from Halstead ensured.
It was just yet another of those ‘Johnson’ style limp displays when we let poor sides off the hook.
PLAYER RATINGS
1. GK: Mark Halstead – 7
6. RB: Ross Marshall – 6
23. CB: Ollie Tomlinson – 7
21. CB: Dean Moxey – 7
26. LB: Archie Harris – 5
14. MF: Brett McGavin – 5
18. MF: Will Jenkins Davies – 6
8. MF: Asa Hall – 6
17. RW: Dillon De Silva – 6
30. LW: Ethon Archer – 5
11. ST: Bradley Ash – 6
Subs
4. MF: Tom Lapslie – 5
10. ST: Lewis Collins – 4
Rate the TUFC Players Here
MAN OF THE MATCH – OLLIE TOMLINSON
You tell me, as most did okay in the first half and little in the second. Defensively we did okay so I have opted for Ollie Tomlinson as he was solid, did nothing wrong and together with Moxey kept it steady.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Dean Moxey for reasons stated, Ross Marshall did a sound job, but tended to just belt it downfield in the second half and Mark Halstead who made several decent saves.
TACTICS
Same as Saturday, with a 4,2,3,1 formation. To be fair we passed the ball, not always well and poorly in the last quarter of then pitch, but we tried to play and should have scored more.
OPPOSITION
Another slightly below average National League South side who tried to pass the ball and often failed to achieve what they wanted. It is the sort of side we were promised that we would batter and like so many other games we sank to their level.
THE OFFICIALS
To quote a few other Verdict contributors I would say he gave us nothing without having a poor game. Too keen to apply the rules exactly with a needless sending off which pleases his observer but does nothing for the game.
CONCLUSION
We all crave improvement but we are just not seeing it. I am pleased for Gary that he now feels he is a bigger TUFC fan than those of us who go back 30 years and my negativity is not what the players need. Oddly, I thought the players playing well was the purpose of the game, but Gary knows better.
COYY – PETER
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