MATCH VERDICT

Andy Ealey

@Andy_Ealey

BATH CITY 1-0 TORQUAY UNITED – NLS – 13/04/24

After a much needed and vary rare away victory on Monday evening, the Yellow Army travelled to play-off hopefuls Bath City hoping for much needed points in our quest for Vanarama South survival!

On a sunny afternoon at Twerton Park, home of Bath City, 712 of the yellow and blue filled the away end with much optimism and hoped that today would be the day survival would be accomplished and we can thankfully wave goodbye to this wretched 2023/24 season.

However this is where the positivity ended and the encounter quickly became a 90 to forget, and one that most of the yellow army have grown accustomed to this season.

The same question was quickly ringing across the terraced end – “What do we work on in training Monday-Friday?” As a neutral it would be impossible to predict who was the full time professional outfit because sadly this was a drab game throughout.

Although Bath City are in the play-offs they were a very average outfit and apart from the only goal of the game from Elliott Frear, who finished well from inside the box with a well taken volley that fizzed past Halstead at his near post. Cody Cooke blazed over from close range during the second half, in their only other clear cut chance, this would be one for the neutrals to easily forget!

Torquay, on the other hand, played hoof ball for the majority and sadly again, something this season our supporters have grown very used to. If I’m honest, Will Buse in the Bath goal won’t get an easier afternoon to take a clean sheet. This consequently makes for a worrying watch for Torquay as we wonder who will come up with the goals/chances to create which would ultimately save us from the dreaded drop.

We have relied heavily most recently on some bright moments and creativity from the likes of Jude-Boyd and Archer but even for their levels they have recently set, they would be the first to admit that today they “weren’t at the races”. When that can happen in any level of football, you then expect others to come to fore and step forward in their own performance levels but as has been a common theme this season this hasn’t happened. Today looked as though the majority have resigned themselves to not being at Plainmoor next season and for the well travelled Yellow Army today, this was completely unacceptable.

There can be no surprise that come the final whistle and when the Torquay players filed over to the away end, they were met with boos and general unhappiness from the 712 who had travelled.

This upcoming next week and two games vs Taunton, and already relegated Havant is now proving to be a very pivotal week in the history of this football club. Whilst I KNOW the Yellow Army will be there in their backing across the two matches for our football club, we just hope the players are up for the fight too.

PLAYER RATINGS

1. GK: Mark Halstead – 6

Handling from crosses today pretty good, but when choosing to punch rather than easily catch during the second half was met by murmers of discontent behind his goal, took the wild decision to turn and berate the travelling support.

21. LB: Dean Moxey – 6

Nothing major to report from Moxey.

23. CB: Ollie Tomlinson – 5

Spent the majority getting “handsie” everytime he was involved in a dual with Wilson, always looked like a free kick against him waiting to happen.

8. CB: Asa Hall – 6

Looked a player playing out of position today and picked up a silly booking on Frear in the second half.

2. RB: Arkell Jude-Boyd – 6

No doubt he’s been a great signing for us on loan most recently but today was not one of his best especially defensively against a tricky Elliott Frear.

14. MF: Brett McGavin – 5

Was substituted in the second half to a chorus of boos and showed little awareness for a centre midfielder.

4. MF: Tom Lapslie – 7

Probably the best of a bad bunch today, did more things right than he did wrong.

27. RW: Jack Stobbs – 6

Frustrating today and even more so when you know what good delivery he can possess.

18. MF: Will Jenkins Davies – 6

For a player that showed much promise during pre-season I’m not actually sure what he brought to the table today.

30. LW: Ethon Archer – 6

Not one of his best games but every time he does pick up the ball it gives you faith.

11. ST: Brad Ash – 5

Headed across the box rather than on target during the first half, and more chance of getting an alcoholic beverage during the game than Ash keeping himself onside.

Subs

5. CB: Austin Booth – N/A

PLAYER RATINGS VOTE – BATH CITY (A) NLS

MAN OF THE MATCH – TOM LAPSLIE

As I said earlier, this was incredibly difficult to pick a stand out player, but the best of a bad bunch and it must be tough working with the lack of effort around you.

TACTICS

Torquay lined up in a 4-2-3-1 with Lapslie and McGavin holding. Stobbs and Archer were either of Jenkins Davies with Ash up top.

OPPOSITION

Expected more from the home team today as they are placed in the play-off section and have been for the majority of this season, but every time they did play long it looked like each play was a clipped channel ball into the correct areas which was a stark contrast to our hoof ball and hit and hope that we played throughout. Wilson looked lively up front over the first 5yds and gave both Hall and Tomlinson something to think about all game. Their defenders and Goalkeeper won’t have more of an easier afternoon this season.

THE OFFICIALS

Pleased to see the referee book Yeboah in the first half for a dive although from where we were standing, looked slightly suspect but refreshing to see a referee act with the card if he thought the player wasn’t fouled and instead threw themselves down in the hope of gaining a penalty.

Linesman on the dugout side took some stick from the travelling support and Brad Ash but apart from that nothing really noteworthy.

CONCLUSION

A very tough watch for us today and the fact that most were keeping track of the updated table and results around us we were even more disgruntled to see Taunton, Eastbourne and Truro all picking up 3pts.

As previously mentioned the next two games are absolutely massive for this football club, Tuesday especially is turning into an unofficial “Cup Final” and any supporter will take any showing as long as we get the job done, the backing of this football club from us as supporters has been fantastic all season, we spend our hard earned money and travelling time to support our team and all we expect to see is effort and performance and today this was non existent. Tonight, I will be drowning my sorrows completely writing off this afternoon, and whilst todays performance was incredibly poor, you can only hope the only direction is up and we see a huge improvement at Taunton and then Havant.

We can only hope and believe!

COYY – ANDY

SOCIAL MEDIA

The equation is simple.

Beat Taunton on Tuesday, Torquay survive.

Draw or defeat (God forbid) it's squeaky bum time.

The biggest week in our clubs history is about to begin. #tufc pic.twitter.com/cUCvgalnft

— TORQUAYTALK (@TORQUAYTALK) April 13, 2024

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