Gulls Live

Torquay v Crawley

2009-04-11T11:38:00.001+01:00

Due to technical problems, today's live updates will appear on the main Herald Express website www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk in the Sport section.

GOAL - GULLS 2-0 KETTERING

2009-04-04T16:23:00.001+01:00

ir Sturrock makes it 2-0 with a neat finish after Nicky Wroe put him through from midfield.

2009-04-04T16:21:00.001+01:00

Great shot from Nicky Wroe after a run down the left from Sturrock. Harper saves at the second attempt. dsane should have buried it when he had the first chance but dithered over the ball and the chance was gone...again.

2009-04-04T16:20:00.001+01:00

A worrying momnet for the Gulls on the hour as Westcarr crosses from the right but Marna drives his shot high over the roof of the stand as Hargreaves flies in to tackle him.

2009-04-04T16:17:00.000+01:00

Dsane shoots over the top in the 56th minute after a good run across the defence.

2009-04-04T16:16:00.001+01:00

Westcarr looks lively for Kettering down the right and they're having the better start to the half.

2009-04-04T16:09:00.001+01:00

Double substitution for the visitors at half time, with Marna and Westcarr on for Solkhon and Wright.

HALF TIME - GULLS 1-0 KETTERING

2009-04-04T15:58:00.001+01:00

2009-04-04T15:44:00.002+01:00

Fantastic save by Kettering's Harper in the 43rd minute from a powerful chris Todd header.

2009-04-04T15:39:00.001+01:00

Great save from Scott Bevan in the 40th minute, hanging on to a shot by Ryan Charles at the second attempt

2009-04-04T15:34:00.001+01:00

Another corner to Torquay - their seventh of the half - and Carlisle swings it in only for the mighty Branston to head clear.

2009-04-04T15:31:00.003+01:00

Luke Potter swings in a free kick from Kettering's right. It's aimed at the far post but curls high and wide.
Sturrock shoots wide after a melee in the box in the 30th minute. Robertson had an effort blocked, too.

2009-04-04T15:25:00.001+01:00

Dsane has a shot blocked from 10 yards after 25 minutes. We are very much on top here but, as usual, will need to score again...

GOAL - GULLS 1-0 KETTERING

2009-04-04T15:13:00.003+01:00

Chris Robertson puts the Gulls in fron after 20 minutes, finding the roof of the net from close range after Sills flicks on a nicko long throw from the right.

2009-04-04T15:13:00.001+01:00

A flurry of corners for Torquay but no real chances. Ten minutes gone.

2009-04-04T15:05:00.001+01:00

Nicholson pings in a free kick in the third minute and Robertson meets it 15 yards out. it's on target but easy for Lee Harper.

2009-04-04T15:03:00.001+01:00

It looks as if Hargreaves has won the toss and we're playing towards the Babbacombe End in the first half.
We're off.

2009-04-04T15:00:00.001+01:00

More network connection problems here, apologies for the 'down time'. You haven't missed a lot. The teams are on the pitch, Gulls in gold and Kettering in white with a bold red cross on the front, white shorts and socks.
A minute's silence here.

2009-04-04T14:33:00.003+01:00

Lee Mansell is back for the Gulls at right back. Chris Robertson moves into the middle and Lee Hodges drops to the bench.
It's a great day here, although the pitch looks a bit on the hard side. There's water going on it before the start so it should be fine.

2009-04-04T14:32:00.000+01:00

TORQUAY: (4-4-2) Bevan; Mansell, Robertson, Todd, Nicholson; Carlisle, Wroe, Hargreaves, Dsane; Sturrock, Sills. Subs not used: Benyon, Hodges, Carayol, Stevens, Christie.

KETTERING: (5-3-2) Harper; Bennett, Branston, Dempster, Geohaghon, Potter; Solkhon, Boucaud, Charles; Wright, Seddon. Subs not used: Eaden, Potter, Beardsely, Marnia, Westcarr.

REFEREE: Paul Melin (Surrey)

GULLS v KETTERING

2009-04-04T14:18:00.001+01:00

Welcome to sun-soaked Plainmoor for the play-off six pointer between Torquay and Kettering. No team news as yet, but what an afternoon!
Shirt sleeves and a goal-fest, I reckon...

FINAL SCORE - GULLS 4-1 BARROW

2009-03-14T16:54:00.001Z

2009-03-14T16:53:00.000Z

And to cap the late drama Barrow have had Walker sent off for a wild foul on Ellis.

GOAL - GULLS 4-1 BARROW

2009-03-14T16:47:00.001Z

Green scuffs the ball in after 88 minutes. The linesman flags for offside but the ref over-rules him. It's 4-1!

2009-03-14T16:40:00.002Z

Stevens pings a great shot just over the top with 10 minutes to go.
And Green comes on for Benyon after 86 minutes. Elliot has given us a man of the match performance today.
Green volleys just bwide with his first touch.

2009-03-14T16:34:00.001Z

A lovely header from Robertson brings a great diving save from Deasy in the 75th minute.

2009-03-14T16:29:00.000Z

Hargreaves apperas to be playing through the pain barrier here, and is moving better then he was.

GOAL - GULLS 3-1 BARROW

2009-03-14T16:27:00.001Z

Tim Sills makes it 3-1 after 67 minutes. Carlisle crosses from the left, Benyon helps it on with a flick over the defence and Sills heads it in at the far post from eight yards. That's 18 goals this season for the big man.

2009-03-14T16:26:00.001Z

Attendance 2,269

2009-03-14T16:24:00.001Z

Carlisle has just answered the question in the 65th minute, cutting in from the left and hammering one in from the edge of the box which deasy punches straight up into the air.

2009-03-14T16:22:00.001Z

Carlisle is coming on for Thompson after 62 minutes. He has scored winning goals on his last couple of appearances from the bench. We'll need another today, I reckon.

2009-03-14T16:17:00.002Z

Ellis heads wide from a Nicholson cross in the 57th minute.
Barrow are still giving this a right go, though.
Great chance for the Gulls in the 58th. Wroe burst down the right and crossed low into the box. Simon Spender just beat Benyon to the ball and Deasy was able to gather.

2009-03-14T16:15:00.002Z

Great break from Torquay with Stevens crossing low for Benyon. The ball goes out for a corner on the right.
Barrow full back logan is now down having treatment. He may have twisted his ankle.

2009-03-14T16:11:00.000Z

Hargreaves is really struggling now, and a substitution must be imminent.

2009-03-14T16:09:00.001Z

Deasy gathers the ball right on his line after a back header by Paul Jones puts the Barrow keeper under pressure.
Thompson now appears to be wide on the left with Wroe in the middle.

2009-03-14T16:06:00.002Z

Tyrone Thompson lets fly 25 yards out but it's high and wide.
Hargreaves looks to have hurt himself stretching for a tackle. It looks like a groin from here, if you see what we mean. He's limping it off by the look of it.
Barrow have just missed a great chance, with Spender lifting the ball into the box and Bond taking his time before volleying into the side netting.
That was a let-off.

2009-03-14T15:57:00.001Z

No changes on either side as we begin the second half. The formation will be interesting.

HALF TIME GULLS 2-1 BARROW

2009-03-14T15:48:00.001Z

What a strange half that was. With an unusual formation and with a number of players looking distinctly uncomfortable in unfamiliar positions, we are still ahead with a couple of cracking goals.
Do we stick with this formation for the second half?
Probably. You can't argue with a 2-1 lead.

2009-03-14T15:43:00.000Z

There are two extra minutes to play, and we are laying siege to Barrow's goal. Benyon drives in a volley, but Deasy gets down to hang on.

GOAL - GULLS 2-1 BARROW

2009-03-14T15:40:00.002Z

Elliot Benyon puts us back in front after 39 minutes. Danny Stevens cuts in from the right and angles the ball back into the box. Benyon gets his 12th goal of the season with a sharp finish back across the keeper

2009-03-14T15:36:00.002Z

Great run into the box by little Danny, but his shot is blocked.
And Tim Sills is penalised for a push in the box when the general consensus is that Sills has been on the receiving end for most of the half.
We're in the 38th minute now.

2009-03-14T15:31:00.002Z

Boyd drills a low free kick from the best part of 40 yards just wide of Bevan's right hand post. Boyd crosses for Bond, but his header is high over the bar.
At the other end Nicko crosses from the left. Hargreaves gets his head to it 15 yards out but can't direct it on target and it flies wide.

2009-03-14T15:28:00.001Z

Stalemate at the moment. Our fast flowing start appears to have petered out. We have a lot of players looking ill at ease in unaccustomed positions.
Half an hour gone.

2009-03-14T15:26:00.001Z

Wroe is over on the right now.
Nicko drives in a powerful cross from the left which Hargreaves tries to direct into the path of Benyon but Barrow scramble it clear.

2009-03-14T15:22:00.002Z

Barrow's Jason Walker is off after treatment, but quickly back on again.
A very promising attack breaks down for us on the edge of the box.
Barrow break again but Mark Ellis gets to the ball ahead of Walker.
There are 22 minutes gone now.

2009-03-14T15:15:00.001Z

Thompson appears to be playing through the middle for us, with Wroe on the left. He's a right-footer, but there must be some method to this.

GOAL GULLS 1-1 BARROW

2009-03-14T15:12:00.001Z

Just when we were talking about it looking too easy, Jason Walker charges down a Hodges clearance wide on the Gulls left, races down the line and crosses low to the edge of the box.
Paul Brown reaches the ball first and drives it low to Bevan's left.
Good goal for them. Sucker punch for us.

2009-03-14T15:10:00.001Z

Lovely link-up between Wroe and Hargreaves on the edge of the box but Barrow clear.
We are really up for this today, by the look of it. Let's hope we can keep it up for the full 90.

GOAL - GULLS 1-0 BARROW

2009-03-14T15:05:00.002Z

Great goal in the 4th minute by Nicky Wroe. Tyrone Thompson breaks from defence down the centre, lays the ball off to Wroe in the left channel. Wroe cuts inside, steadies himself and shoots home right footed.
That's one of the best goal we've seen here this season.

2009-03-14T15:02:00.002Z

Boyd shoots from a free kick in the first minute, but it's an easy gather for Bevan in the Torquay goal.
And Benyon races through on a flick by Sills. He tries to flick the ball over the ample figure of deasy in the Barrow goal but Deasy blocks.

2009-03-14T15:01:00.001Z

Barrow kick off, playing towards the Ministand in the first half.

2009-03-14T14:57:00.001Z

The teams are out, with the Gulls in gold and Barrow in white shirts with blue trim, blue shorts and white socks. Their numbers are big and black.

2009-03-14T14:46:00.001Z

The sweepstake is a mighty four-quid-plus rollover, and I've gone for a 1-0 win for the Gulls. It's the first time these clubs have met for 39 years.
It was 1-1 that day, and Jimmy Dunne got the goal.

2009-03-14T14:38:00.002Z

Brilliant sunshine here this afternoon and almost a shirt sleeves day.
The Gulls are warming up, with Sills jogging alongside Damien Davey. There are still obviously a few concerns over his calf injury.

GULLS v BARROW

2009-03-14T14:26:00.002Z

The big news is that tim Sills is fit to start, and Iyseden Christie is fit to take his place on the bench.
Lee Mansell and Matt Green are dropped. Sills is in for Green and Danny Stevens in for Mansell.
We will line up 4=4-2 although the midfield four could be a bit fluid. we are Bevan; Robertson, Hodges, Ellis, Nicholson; Stevens, Wroe, Hargreaves, Thompson; Sills, Benyon. On the bench are Mansell, Carlisle, Green, Carayol and Christie.
Barrow are also 4-4-2, with Deasy; Logan, Spender, Jones, Holness; McGill, Bond, Boyd, Brown; Walker, Hunt.
On the bench they have Kerr, Woodyatt, Sheridan, Bayliss and Steele.
Referee is Ian Cooper from Kent.

2009-03-07T16:56:00.001Z

And once again that's going to feel like two points dropped, although as someone has just pointed out, seven points out of nine in a week isn't a bad return.
Onwards and upwards to Altrincham on Tuesday night, then.

FINAL SCORE - GULLS 1-1 R&D

2009-03-07T16:51:00.002Z

Danny Stevens shoots left footed from 20 yards. It scuffs along the ground but Roberts holds on.
Another low cross from the right by Stevens in the third minute of stoppage team brings a crunching challenge between Roberts and Robertson, from which Rushden emerge with the ball.
Burgess drives a great shot from 25 yards for the visitors but Bevan takes it in the midriff and hangs on.

2009-03-07T16:50:00.000Z

There will be four added minutes to play.

2009-03-07T16:47:00.002Z

Great run down the right by Benyon. Hargreaves challenges for the cross but the ref judges it as a foul on the keeper.
Finally a free kick for Torquay - 35 yards out and central.
Wroe and Nicko over it. Wroe touches it to his left and Nicko drives it. Roberts saves.
Right back to the other end where Kelly shoots from 20 yards out on the left and hits the bar.
Smith comes on for Rankine for the visitors.

2009-03-07T16:44:00.002Z

Attendance is 2,161.
Torquay have a corner on the right with six minutes to go.
It breaks eventually to Nicko, but his shot is deflected behind for another one.
This time the ref gives a foul by Robertson and it's a free kick for the visitors.

2009-03-07T16:40:00.003Z

Osano gets a booking for a foul on Carayol in the 80th minute.
Nicko whips in the free kick from wide on the left. Now it's a corner for the Gulls on the left. All sorts of pushing and shoving on the far post, but nothing comes of it.
Great save from Bevan in the 82nd minute. R&D sub Marcus Kelly shot from 20 yards and a deflection off Woods looks to be taking it in before Bevan gets down. And the home keeper denies Downer from the corner, too.

2009-03-07T16:37:00.001Z

And it's a booking for Hargreaves, who caught Burgess late.
Green bursts through in the left channel on a long through ball, but his volley lands in the directors' box.

2009-03-07T16:35:00.002Z

Benyon's downward header bounces kindly into Roberts' hands. Hargreaves puts Benyon in with a typically brave header but Rushden clear.
We are still playing high balls into the box, but without Tim Sills we don't exactly have many tall players to aim at.

2009-03-07T16:31:00.001Z

Good cross by Danny Stevens from the right but Benyon can't get anything on the header.
Wroe and Carayol get in each other's way on the edge of the box and neither can get a clean shot on the bouncing ball.
Penalty shouts turned down as Chris Robertson goes sprawling in the box.
We have just over 15 minutes left.

2009-03-07T16:27:00.002Z

That came out of the blue, but what a good finish from Tomlin. And sure enough, right on cue, the downpour arrives.
And Tomlin has another go in the 69th minute, but Mansell clears.

GOAL - GULLS 1-1 R&D

2009-03-07T16:20:00.003Z

The sky is getting darker here. There's a downpour coming.
Stevens is playing on the right, with Green partnering Benyon up front.
Torquay have a corner on the right. Nicko curls it but Roberts catches easily.
Tomlin fells Muzzy and Mr Johnson has finally had enough and books him.
Free kick wide on the left after Carayol is fouled. Nicko pulls it back for Danny, who tees it up and shoots from 20 yards. Roberts tips it over the bar. Glorious!
Tomlin equalises in the 65th minute. He collected the ball wide on the left and cut inside to shoot low inside the far post with his right foot.

2009-03-07T16:18:00.001Z

And Tim Sills succumbs after 59 minutes. He was suffering with calf injuries in the week, and he looks in some pain as he comes off, to be replaced by Danny Stevens.

2009-03-07T16:14:00.002Z

Free kick now wide on the left for Torquay, Nicko to take.
It's headed clear by Osano.
There are 55 minutes gone now.
Marcus Kelly is on now for the visitors, replacing Chris Arthur.

2009-03-07T16:11:00.002Z

Gareth Jelleyman comes on in the 51st minute to replace Robinson, who is clearly still feeling the effects of his clash with Sills.
Corner on the left for Torquay in front of the ministand. Woods meets it but it's cleared.
Now Tomlin is down hurt, but he's up again quickly.

2009-03-07T16:09:00.001Z

A great ball round the corner by Sills releases Benyon in the 49th minute. Elliot is bearing down on the keeper with the ball at his feet when the lino's flag flutters and he's offside. The Pop Side disagree. It was mighty close.

2009-03-07T16:06:00.002Z

Muzzy is still in orange boots, too, and celebrates the first minute of the new half with a mesmerising run into the box which has no end product.
Robinson is down clutching his shin after a tussle with Sills and needs some attention. He's up after a couple of minutes of TLC.

2009-03-07T15:57:00.001Z

Nope, no changes on either side at the break, and we're under way for the second half.

2009-03-07T15:52:00.001Z

Torquay subs are warming up on the pitch. Rushden's are nowhere to be seen. Have they all gone in for a Bovril, or are we expecting wholesale changes in the visiting team?

HALF TIME - GULLS 1-0 R&D

2009-03-07T15:48:00.000Z

2009-03-07T15:47:00.001Z

Two minutes of added time to play.

2009-03-07T15:44:00.002Z

A simple finish for Sills. Clinical is probably a better word.
Now it's a corner on the left for Rushden. Burgess again.
Bevan punches clear, Wolleaston crosses it back in and Osano heads it over from six yards. That was a great chance for the visitors.

GOAL - GULLS 1-0 R&D

2009-03-07T15:41:00.001Z

Corner for Torquay on the left in the 41st minute. Carayol swings it into the box and Sills gets up unmarked six yards out to glance it in.

2009-03-07T15:36:00.002Z

A mighty drop kick by Bevan bounces just wide of Roberts' goal.
Muzzy runs through his repertoire of step-overs and stand-ons down in the corner. He finishes off with a cross but it's an easy catch for Roberts.
Great save by Bevan in the 38th minute. Burgess and Tomlin combine to put Wolleaston in for a sidefoot shot from after 15 yards, but Bevs is down sharply to push it away.

2009-03-07T15:31:00.002Z

Great catch by big Scott Bevan as Osano floats in a cross from the right for R&D. The Gulls keeper was under real pressure.
We are in the 32nd minute now with no score. The Gulls are just about on top but R&D look sharp on the break.
Burgess drives in a corner from the left in the 33rd minute. Hargreaves gets up to clear with a powerful header.

2009-03-07T15:27:00.002Z

Benyon gets in a header which makes Roberts stretch a bit, but the visiting keeper completes the save.
In the 27th minute R&D have a free kick 40 yards out. Nice movement in the box but Nicko clears.
Arthur tries a shot but it is deflected behind by Tim Sills for a corner.
Burgess takes, it breaks to Tomlin and is deflected behind on the other side. Burgess is the man who has to shuttle back and forth.
Torquay clear and Matt Green breaks but loses the ball.

2009-03-07T15:23:00.002Z

Corner to R&D on their left. it's their first.
Burgess finds Tomlin on the edge of the box. He sets himself and volleys. It's over the top but a bold effort. Round of applause.
Now it's a corner on the right for Torquay, and it's Nicholson to take it as ever.
Punched clear by Roberts for a throw on the other side, so it's Nicko making his weary way across again.

2009-03-07T15:20:00.001Z

Free kick to Torquay wide on the right again. Nicko will take it and curl it in.
He shoots but it's blocked by Wolleaston.
We are now midway through the first half and there's no score.

2009-03-07T15:13:00.002Z

Muzzy's orange boots are getting an airing today. They may just be his first half boots though.
Nasty foul on Muzzy by Kurt Robinson. The ref is giving him a yellow card which should make him a bit more careful from now on.
Corner to Torquay on the right.
There's a scramble in the goalmouth. Benyon's header hits the top of the bar and there's a R&D player injured on the line. It's Osano and he's up on his feet again.
Play restarts with a contested drop-ball.

2009-03-07T15:09:00.002Z

Matt Green and Lee Msnsell both have shots at goal in the seventh minute after a cross from the right but both are blocked.
In the 10th minute Benyon has a shot on the turn from the edge of the box but it's weak and no problem for Roberts.
Mr Johnson has already had a word with R&D striker Tomlin for dissent. He had a good game against us last time they were here but he does like to have a word with the officials.

2009-03-07T15:05:00.001Z

Corner on the left for Torquay in the seventh minute. Muzzy takes it. It curls beyond the far post and is put behind for another corner, to be taken from the right by Nicko.
This time it's cleared from the near post.

2009-03-07T15:03:00.002Z

Free kick this time from the right. Woods curls this one into the box. Sills meets it and it's a header on target, although it's an easy take for Dale Roberts.
Hope clatters Benyon and it's another free kick for the Gulls in the fourth minute.
We were right about this being a physical game.

2009-03-07T15:02:00.001Z

Nicko curls in a free kick from the left after 45 seconds. Woods meets it at the far post but puts the ball over the bar.
Not an easy chance, but a chance nevertheless.

2009-03-07T14:59:00.002Z

We appear to have won the toss and will play towards the Babbacombe End in the first half. R&D are having a team huddle. In your own time, lads...
The announcer here has just urged 'Fortress Plainmoor' to become the '12th man'.
Oh dear.

2009-03-07T14:47:00.002Z

Rushden seem to have brought 30 or so fans, sheltering from the drizzle in the Herald Express away stand.
And the teams are on the field, Torquay in all gold as ever, R&D in all white with red trim and red numbers. Very smart and very easy to read. We're happy.
They are a big team, too. This could be quite a physical challenge.

2009-03-07T14:34:00.001Z

Referee is Kevin Johnson from Bristol.
Chris Hope is Rushden's player to watch, according to the Herald Express. we also like the look of midfielder Andy Burgess.

GULLS v R&D

2009-03-07T14:28:00.002Z

Welcome to a grey and chilly Plainmoor, where we line up with that attacking 4-4-2 line-up that converts to a 4-2-4 going forward.
We are Bevan; Mansell, Woods, Robertson, Nicholson; Carayol, Wroe, Hargreaves, Green; Sills, Benyon. On the bench are Thompson, Carlisle, Hodges, Stevens and Ellis.
R&D are also 4-4-2 and will be Roberts; Osano, Hope, Downer, Robinson; Burgess, Wolleaston, Beecroft, Arthur; Rankone, Tomlin. On the bench are Jelleyman, Mcguinness, Kelly, Smith and Hilliard.

FINAL SCORE - GULLS 3-3 FGR

2009-02-24T21:42:00.002Z

Mr Creighton goes off to a chorus of boos, but it has been an entertaining evening. It's two points dropped for the Gulls, though, thanks to a virtuoso performance by Mangan.
Good performances all round from the home team, but down in that dressing room they'll see it as points lost.
Full report and pictures in Wednesday's Herald Express and at www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk

2009-02-24T21:40:00.001Z

Christie is through on goal but this time he is offside.
Long throw from the right by Nicko. Is this our last chance?
The ball bounces around the box. Christie shoots but it's saved.

2009-02-24T21:39:00.001Z

Wroe drives a shot over from the edge of the box. There are two of the added minutes to go, and Burton is going as slowly as he possibly can to take the goal kick.

2009-02-24T21:38:00.001Z

There are four minutes added on.

2009-02-24T21:36:00.001Z

Corner on the left for the Gulls, to be taken by Carayol, but it doesn't beat the first man.
We're in the last minute.

2009-02-24T21:34:00.001Z

Christie is in behind the FGR defence in the 88th minute but is crowded out.
Matt Green is named man of the match and the attendance is 1,554.
There are two minutes to go, plus whatever the man in black adds on.

2009-02-24T21:31:00.000Z

Double substitution in the 84th minute.
Danny Stevens replaces Green for the Gulls. Michael Symons replaces hat-trick hero Mangan for Forest Green.

GOAL - GULLS 3-3 FGR

2009-02-24T21:24:00.003Z

Benyon is off in the 77th minute and Christie is on.
This is crucial, too. Benyon has looked sharp and Christie will need to hit the ground running.
Green lashes a shot from 10 yards but it hits Sills and goes behind.
Mr Creighton is now telling Hargreaves and Sills to calm down.
And Christie DOES score. Carayol crosses from the left and Christie stabs it in at the far post from point-blank range.

2009-02-24T21:21:00.002Z

Hodges is booked for handball, we think, in the 73rd minute.
Could that have been a match-changing decision, ruling out Benyon's goal. We have no way of knowing if it was the right decision, although we all thought Benyon came from behind a defender.
Brown is down for FGR, and taking a very long time to get back up again. 76 minutes gone.