Mansfield Town v Torquay United - 26/4/14
Posted: 26 Apr 2014, 22:09
Really enjoyed today, was a right laugh in all honesty and as I had accepted long ago that we were going to be relegated although it felt a bit odd being 3-1 up but it not mattering. It was just too little too late and I'm not going to go into blame for today. We've been down for a while now and today was simply about being proud to represent our club as Torquay United fans and that we did, very well indeed.
The noise was superb and the banter was hilarious, I even laughed at some fans singing that their keeper Lewis Price was a paedophile but only because there was a lad stood behind me who was singing along and he was about 6 years old!! I bet he wouldn't be singing it if he knew what it meant!!
There was a conga which I reluctantly declined to tag on the end of, mainly because I had tonsillitis, bad ankles and had just quaffed a pie which was hotter than the sun. Ok so I couldn't be arsed but the former excuses were still true. Everyone was in great sprits and the afternoon sort of sorted itself out early on when Cobblers raced into a 2 goal lead at Dagenham and although we can slag off Knill and pour scorn on Daggers for essentially giving up the fact is that over the course of the season we have been consistently poor, poorer than every other team in the division overall and so we deserve it.
In many ways we were spared the drama as it panned out and early on the game became meaningless in the grand scheme of things thanks to the game at Dagenham. That said, the lads out on the pitch today were superb and why oh why didn't they get their fingers out of their arses when we DID have a chance?! It was all just so unnecessary.
Like Lucy said on another thread, it was hilarious when we all kept singing ON THE PITCH! ON THE PITCH! ON THE PITCH! even though nobody had any inclination of doing so and the Mansfield stewards sprung into action forming a large cordon of railings and men and trying desperately to get things secure. They were panicking and taking it all deadly serious (which they should - not having a go at them for that). It was cruel really, they are only doing their jobs but it was bloody funny! If anything it was the children from the home ends who needed babysitting when they ran over to us at the final whistle gloating and goading. Once they get a good shoeing from someone then they'll learn, they always do. If not then they go on to become fully fledged football hooligans so have a word eh mums and dads before they get out of hand and come home from somewhere more hostile than Torquay with broken ribs.
It's a shame really because I didn't think they would have that many knobs. Ok so run onto the pitch if you must. They are only young and must want to know what it feels like to run around on the turf of their club, I can appreciate that. But why run straight to us and start taunting us like you're Danny Dyer or summat? He's on Eastenders now so a lesson to you all. Don't copy Danny Dyer or you'll end up in a dead end job.
I was in the bar at the ground and spoke to quite a few stags fans who were really great blokes and they wished us well for next season and likewise me to them so overall I think they are a great club with loyal fans, they just have a problem with kids showing them up which is a shame. I can confidently say that if the boot was on the other foot and it was our last home game of the season then hardly nobody would run onto the pitch and if they did they certainly wouldn't go to the away fans and give them jip. It didn't work anyway because we had been down long before we arrived in Nottinghamshire and so we'd got used to it. The taunts had no credence or no effect.
Anyway, I must congratulate CH and the lads for what they achieved today and a tiny part of me has swung towards getting behind CH for next season. His team selection today was the most preferable I think we could have hoped for barring Tonge but he did ok today and the manner in which they approached the game has given me a slight bit of hope that CH can actually maybe do a job next season. I'm still not convinced but I don't feel as totally despondant as I have done.
Ricey had a few saves to make but none greatly troubling and the defence were reasonably solid. Mansell had a lively game today and should have got us a 4th when 6 yards out with an open goal he chose to try and outwit the keeper by whacking the ball back to his left instead of just leathering it straight into the net as it came to him. The keeper guessed and went to his left and blocked it when it was easier to score. A giant squid camped on the goal line with predator boots on each tentacle would have found it harder to score. Shocking miss and then a chorus of 'that's why we're going down' which I thought was a little unfair because from what I've seen this season, it's not missing chances that has led to us being in the shit but not even creating any chances like that one to score from.
Lathrope was solid.
Shaq showed in one game what Bodin can only DREAM about. Close control, directness, trickery, consistent end product, persistence even when faced with up to 3 men and deservedly got his goal. It was the first time I'd seen him today but I love him.
The noise was superb and the banter was hilarious, I even laughed at some fans singing that their keeper Lewis Price was a paedophile but only because there was a lad stood behind me who was singing along and he was about 6 years old!! I bet he wouldn't be singing it if he knew what it meant!!
There was a conga which I reluctantly declined to tag on the end of, mainly because I had tonsillitis, bad ankles and had just quaffed a pie which was hotter than the sun. Ok so I couldn't be arsed but the former excuses were still true. Everyone was in great sprits and the afternoon sort of sorted itself out early on when Cobblers raced into a 2 goal lead at Dagenham and although we can slag off Knill and pour scorn on Daggers for essentially giving up the fact is that over the course of the season we have been consistently poor, poorer than every other team in the division overall and so we deserve it.
In many ways we were spared the drama as it panned out and early on the game became meaningless in the grand scheme of things thanks to the game at Dagenham. That said, the lads out on the pitch today were superb and why oh why didn't they get their fingers out of their arses when we DID have a chance?! It was all just so unnecessary.
Like Lucy said on another thread, it was hilarious when we all kept singing ON THE PITCH! ON THE PITCH! ON THE PITCH! even though nobody had any inclination of doing so and the Mansfield stewards sprung into action forming a large cordon of railings and men and trying desperately to get things secure. They were panicking and taking it all deadly serious (which they should - not having a go at them for that). It was cruel really, they are only doing their jobs but it was bloody funny! If anything it was the children from the home ends who needed babysitting when they ran over to us at the final whistle gloating and goading. Once they get a good shoeing from someone then they'll learn, they always do. If not then they go on to become fully fledged football hooligans so have a word eh mums and dads before they get out of hand and come home from somewhere more hostile than Torquay with broken ribs.
It's a shame really because I didn't think they would have that many knobs. Ok so run onto the pitch if you must. They are only young and must want to know what it feels like to run around on the turf of their club, I can appreciate that. But why run straight to us and start taunting us like you're Danny Dyer or summat? He's on Eastenders now so a lesson to you all. Don't copy Danny Dyer or you'll end up in a dead end job.
I was in the bar at the ground and spoke to quite a few stags fans who were really great blokes and they wished us well for next season and likewise me to them so overall I think they are a great club with loyal fans, they just have a problem with kids showing them up which is a shame. I can confidently say that if the boot was on the other foot and it was our last home game of the season then hardly nobody would run onto the pitch and if they did they certainly wouldn't go to the away fans and give them jip. It didn't work anyway because we had been down long before we arrived in Nottinghamshire and so we'd got used to it. The taunts had no credence or no effect.
Anyway, I must congratulate CH and the lads for what they achieved today and a tiny part of me has swung towards getting behind CH for next season. His team selection today was the most preferable I think we could have hoped for barring Tonge but he did ok today and the manner in which they approached the game has given me a slight bit of hope that CH can actually maybe do a job next season. I'm still not convinced but I don't feel as totally despondant as I have done.
Ricey had a few saves to make but none greatly troubling and the defence were reasonably solid. Mansell had a lively game today and should have got us a 4th when 6 yards out with an open goal he chose to try and outwit the keeper by whacking the ball back to his left instead of just leathering it straight into the net as it came to him. The keeper guessed and went to his left and blocked it when it was easier to score. A giant squid camped on the goal line with predator boots on each tentacle would have found it harder to score. Shocking miss and then a chorus of 'that's why we're going down' which I thought was a little unfair because from what I've seen this season, it's not missing chances that has led to us being in the shit but not even creating any chances like that one to score from.
Lathrope was solid.
Shaq showed in one game what Bodin can only DREAM about. Close control, directness, trickery, consistent end product, persistence even when faced with up to 3 men and deservedly got his goal. It was the first time I'd seen him today but I love him.
