TT BLOG

Clive Hayward – @Byehorse

Clive discusses the Gulls

A TALE OF THREE REFS

The National League South is not renowned for a high standard of officiating. Why should it be? It’s further down the pyramid than Tutankhamun. Most of the players have got other jobs and if the officials can get by without guide dogs we must probably be grateful. But as football fans we find it incredibly frustrating when they get it wrong.

Last week we felt really hard done by as Alex Beckett failed to combat Chesham’s persistent timewasting.

This week, against Slough, it felt like winning the lottery when Jonathan Maskrey clamped down early. He rightly booked the keeper for picking the ball up on the touchline and sprinting back towards his box like Rory Underwood as he sought to prevent Torquay from taking the throw he had given away.

Up the road in Bath, the incomparable Marc White was soon to feel aggrieved. By many accounts his Dorking side were resorting to some creative game management as they sought to hold on to a 2-1 lead at Twerton Park. That was the background to the sending off of Josh Taylor late on. Dorking were probably right that the ref- Neil Pratt: a headline writer’s dream- wrongly repositioned their throw in. They probably also have a point that his decision to caution Taylor for giving the ball to an alternative thrower (“Briggsy!”) was harsh. But if I’m honest, the world could have done without the rushed-out Bunch of Amateurs clip telling us how hard-done-by Wanderers were. The trademark Janet and John narration and the lengthy accompanying “MW” tweets gave us a bit of Sunday entertainment. But you’d have to be made of stone not to have laughed when they conceded a 100th minute equaliser, wouldn’t you?

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A TALE OF TWO CITIES

Opinion about Exeter City varies amongst Torquay fans. Their ground has been extensively redeveloped since we last played there. I used to love that away end. We would cram in there most Boxing Days. You were really close to the action and on the odd occasion when we came out on top it was a brilliant place to celebrate. They are supporter-owned, have a brilliantly-functioning academy, have the Midas Touch in cup draws and all things considered they have done brilliantly to make themselves safe again in League One with a good win at Bristol Rovers (who now look in grave danger).

Down among the dead men, we now have to focus on trying to get a win at Truro City. It’s not ideal, but it’s where we are. Last year, at Gloucester, we got an important win against The Tinners late in the season in front of the onlooking Ollie Watkins. Ollie spoke to my friend Sam Lardner, and told him that with Euros selection secured he was hoping to pick up some striking tips from Brad Ash. I think that’s what he said. It worked anyway!

I’m hoping that Good Friday will live up to it’s name. Torquay will be very well supported in Cornwall, and I suspect it will be a good test of the infrastructure in and around the new ground which is apparently situated some way out of town, just east of the Scilly Isles. The weather forecast is poor. We’re going to get wet (some of us inside as well as out). It’s a game that has been in most people’s diaries all season, and with both clubs having genuine title ambitions a win would be huge. But it’s only a game of football, and although a bad result will certainly condemn us to the play-offs we need to try to keep a sense of perspective. Let’s make our presence felt but do it in a way which makes the club proud of us.