TALKING POINTS

Dan Elliott – @dan_torquay_man

Dan discusses the game at Enfield

FALSE START

It seems like a very long time ago now but as the gaffer said in his post match interview “You could not have asked for a worse start” and he was not wrong. I mean some of the Yellow Army were still finding their spot for the first half, while what sounded like Ray’s brother was still communicating the plans for directing the half time traffic of both sets of fans via the PA System. And before anyone could settle down and settle in for the game……it was a bleddy penalty.

I mean all the way from the other end behind the goal, even if you were stood by the long jump pit or on the VIP Balcony at The Cafe, you could see it was a pen! What a balcony by the way and what a building, absolutely stunning! Proper building.

Not a great start at all. Credit to the Enfield fans BTW, it’s sounded like they had some air horn you would expect to find on a truck featured on Ice Road Truckers or something from The Dukes of Hazard, whatever it was it was ruddy effective!

Good job.

KEY MOMENT (2 MINS) – ENFIELD PENALTY – YOUTUBE CLIP

IT’S A MARATHON NOT A SPRINT

Even with conceding so early, and boy it was early, the team just set about their business and essentially just restarted the game. It was a little clunky and scrappy to start off with but with some aggressive runs by WJD and some absolutely filthy touches from Mussa, you could see that if we could just bring it all together then it would be a good day. No disrespect at all but it did feel like there was a gulf in class between the two teams. I mean when Mussa is taking a ball from a throw in and bringing down mid air and gliding the ball past 2 defenders and leaving them for dead, you could tell it could be a long day for them. Luckily for us, we took our time, we stayed composed, we kept playing, worked the ball and the chances came. And we took them. Just to place on the record on that first half Enfield looked dangerous on the break and they had some real good chances. Whilst Enfield had moments, we had the majority of the play and made them pay with clinical finishing!

KEY MOMENT (30 MINS) – THOMAS EQUALISER – YOUTUBE CLIP

RUNNING AWAY WITH IT

Once that third goal went in straight after HT and at the start of the second half, the game was done and we were miles in front. It was a very long time that we could (my son George and I) actually enjoy a second half of football. So many Away Days we have done over the years and it’s been filled with misery and pain, however because we were so far ahead with so much of the game left to play, we could stand there stay warm, have a little sing song and enjoy ourselves. And you could tell the rest of The Yellow Army felt the same. With the team coach and travel club coach both parked at the start of the 4 x 4 400 metres relay on the track, giving off BIG Stamford Bridge vibes before The Roman Empires invaded, when you were used to seeing Gavin Peacock or John Spencer score and in the background was a Ford Cortina parked up by the goal next to an ambulance by a wheel barrow…….the superb travelling Yellow Army could enjoy a beer and a sing song as the walk to the coaches was shorter than to get another pint from The Cafe.

KEY MOMENT (33 MINS) – WJD FIRST GOAL – YOUTUBE CLIP

SEASONAL BEST ON THE ROAD

The four goals scored yesterday was the most that we have scored away from home this season, to back up the most goals that we have scored at home so far this season on Tuesday night vs WSM. Forgetting who the opponent was yesterday, that scoreline and performance has been coming and has been required for a very long time on the road. Since we dropped down a division we have become the main attraction when we travel on the road, you only need to see attendance figures when Torquay are in town and they are significantly increased. Yes it’s because of the amazing Yellow Army but it’s also the local fans that rock up now and then. The ones who we let them know EXACTLY who they are each week with “You’re only here for The Torquay” as it rings out most away days, apart from Boreham Wood as literally nobody was there apart from The Yellow Army, so much so we just sang at each other!! Anyway as I was saying since we dropped down a division we have needed to rock up and one of these away grounds with a plastic pitch, running track or both and just go in put on a solid professional performance get the win and get the hell out of there!

KEY MOMENT (47 MINS) – YOUNG GOAL – YOUTUBE CLIP

A LOVELY PLACE AT THE END OF DONKEY LANE

Special mention required to the people and set up at Enfield. Arriving into the stadium everyone that was there supporting and working as part of the club were extremely welcoming and friendly. I’ve said it once and won’t apologise for saying it again, that cafe, balcony and stand was absolutely stunning! That building and the set up was fantastic and the fact people could stand upstairs on the balcony with a pint and watch the football was simply beautiful, especially with the glorious winter sun or was it Autumn still, one for Chris. Shout out also to the two random Swedish Lads who flew over to take a game in and came back to their spot on the second half to see that the Enfield fans had moved to the other end (and as Ray’s brother requested 156,556 times pre kick off – they went via the cafe) and were confused on what was going on. The fact they were on the JD & Cokes didn’t help, however it was great to chat to them for a few minutes about football and famous Swedish DJ’s . Whilst Eric Prydz will always been my main man, you have to respect and agree with the boys that Avicii is Number 1 and will always be number 1 for them.

KEY MOMENT (80 MINS) – WJD 2ND GOAL – YOUTUBE CLIP

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS….. MORE AWAY PERFORMANCES LIKE THAT PLEASE

Football is not that simple and life is not that simple, but if we could just get that level of performance every time we turn up at some of these away days in and around the M25 that would be terrific. Not because anyone that’s here now can take ownership but last year was so ruddy awful and already I swear we’ve seen more away wins this season than the whole of last season. I’m sure last season we only saw us win at Slough and we that was it. This season we have seen us win at Bath, Toxic Chesham, Hampton AND Richmond and Enfield. It’s nice when you drive home after a win, just sayin!

EVERYBODY BOUNCE/TORQUAY EXILES

And finally, as mentioned already it was a pleasure and joy to be able to enjoy an afternoon where the game was done and it was time to have a sing song. Credit as always (easy to say but it’s true) to the Yellow Army as for the whole of the second half (no exaggeration) the loyal supporters sang their hearts out. That second half goal was so quick everyone got a little giddy and the singing started and momentum just continued. And finally, I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish a very Merry Christmas to all the Torquay Exiles. Speaking to some of the fans there yesterday the next away game they are going to is Slough on 4th Jan (we have been given the green light to head down to the Bob Lucas Oil Stadium at Weymouth on Boxing Day) meaning that would be their final away day this year, and what a game to finish on! Let’s hope for a prosperous Xmas and New Year for the Gulls.