TT MATCH VERDICT

Clive Hayward – @Byehorse

Clive discusses the Devon Bowl game

DEVON BOWL – BUCKLAND 2-2 TUFC (TUFC WIN 6-5 ON PENS)

A relatively strong Torquay team squeezed past Buckland on Tuesday night. It was a thoroughly entertaining game and both teams were a credit to their clubs.

It was also a first competitive victory for the palm tree away shirts. What a rollercoaster few months it has been for those garments!

Kevin Wills was able to field 4 first teamers in a strong starting line-up, and this is how they did:

· 23. Ollie Tomlinson – The forgotten man of Plainmoor produced a decent performance at a right-sided centre back in (wait for it) a back four.

· 8. Roddy Collins – Took the opportunity to show us that he can actually play a bit. He won everything he needed to, and passed it beautifully. It’s a reminder that pros are actually quite good.

· 22. Will Jenkins-Davies – Industrious and happy to take people on.

· 15. Jadyn Crosbie – showed real flashes of pace and power, and why he was clearly unplayable at a similar level last season. Unfortunately, he appeared to pick up a calf strain late on: probably nothing serious.

I spoke briefly to Paul Wotton at the final whistle, and he said he was really pleased with the attitude the youngsters had shown. Quite right: this was a proper test for the under 18s who formed the majority of tonight’s squad. There were several eye-catching performances, notably from:

· 7. Andrew Ellis – A great all-round performance reminiscent of a young Ollie Watkins. He smashed home a half chance to put United in front and then got everything behind a second half free kick from at least 25 yards for what looked to be a winner (it wasn’t).

· 10. Fin Herbert – Showed considerable pace down the left until finally falling victim to cramp.

· 5. Stevie Martin – Tall and quite imposing at left centre back: I thought he showed promise.

· 17. Freddie Hulance – A late substitute appearance. Although there was no time for Freddie to make an impact, I have to mention him because I spent a couple of years working with his Dad (who often made the experience more bearable!) and I know he was on cloud nine seeing the young man get his name on the team-sheet.

At most grounds the locals can quickly tell whether there is going to be a big crowd. Number of people standing in a certain location, or perhaps the length of the queue at the tea bar. At Buckland, a good indicator is the number of cars parked on the road outside. The further back towards the humpback bridge over the Plymouth railway line, the bigger the crowd. Tonight was quite a long walk, as plenty Torquay fans took advantage of a dry evening to return to one of our favourite venues.

A pint of Doom Bar was a welcome accompaniment to the first half, which I watched in the stand alongside my old friend/travel agent Andy Faulkner and his dog Ollie. Andy disappeared early to the bar (not an unusual occurrence) and left me in charge of the hound. Ollie is a white, cheerful terrier of some sort with an exceptionally placid temperament. We got on just fine.

Torquay had shaded the first half but Buckland never gave up and got themselves back into the tie with a smart first time finish from Charlie Shearer. Ellis’ second goal was not fatal either, and they probably deserved their second equaliser near the end. I was delighted with that one, because I had “bigged up” Ryan Richards before kick-off on the strength of his irrepressible display against Plymouth Parkway in preseason. He’s sharp, slap-headed and knows exactly where the goal is, and he proved it with a lovely finish when slipped in on goal seconds from the end.

So to the shoot-out. By now only Ollie Tomlinson survived from the Four Musketeers. He scored, as did 5 other young Gulls (including Ellis, with a stuttered run which annoyed the “sat-down-on-his-backside” keeper no end), and the 6-5 verdict meant that we could leave TQ12 still dreaming of silverware.

Whisper it, but that was our third cup victory in 7 days, following up on the FA Youth Cup win last Tuesday and Sunday’s Women’s FA Cup triumph.

Three wins in Newton…..you’ll never sing that!