Torquay a Morecame Fans View

The weather for this fixture was ideal with sun and slight breeze after overnight rain.

These two seaside clubs have met twice before with a 2-2 draw at Torquay and a 2-1 home win for Morecambe in the return fixture. Both clubs have won through to league status via Wembley play-offs, Torquay regaining league status two seasons ago and the Shrimps moving to the league for the first time four seasons ago.

Morecambe kicked off and exerted early pressure with Wilson firing wide in the 2nd minute. A free kick taken by Stanley was volleyed over the bar. In the 10th minute, after initially waving play on, the ref conferred with his assistants and Parish was dismissed. The resulting penalty was saved by Roche but Benyon reacted first and volleyed into the empty net.

This goal did not reflect the early play. However, it did affect the rest of the game and the result.

Duffy was having a good game on the right flank and it was no surprise that the ten men equalised after a run by Wilson in the 30th minute. The surprise was that it was McCready who literally smashed the ball into the Torquay net from the edge of the box!

Half time arrived with a 1-1 score line.

The second half was a more balanced game. A good save by Roche from the dangerous Zebroski was followed by a volley which hit the base of the upright. Morecambe seemed to be tiring and Torquay scored their second in the 69th minute through Rose, a recent loanee from QPR. In the 72nd minute Benyon scored his second of the day.

In the 69th minute Jevons came on for the hard-working Mullin and Rundle for a tiring Duffy. In the 83rd minute Shuker was dismissed for an off the ball incident.

Although our team lost, I felt that Morecambe played well. I also felt that the early dismissal spoiled the game, although one positive to emerge for me was the fact that Drummond played really well as a “Ferdinand” type centre back for three quarters of the game.

Crowd : 2172 Away fans: 71

Torquay: Bevan; Rowe-Turner; Nicholson; Ellis; Kee; Benyon; Wroe; Macklin; Ostler; Branston; Zebroski`

subs: O`Kane; Potter; Stevens; Gritton; Rose; Hemmings

Morecambe: Roche; Stanley; Hunter; McCready; Drummond; Fleming; Duffy; Wilson; Mullin; Parish; Brown.

subs: Bentley; Rundle; Shuker; Jevons; Spencer; Capaldi; Walker.