Inept – spelt C…R…A…P
Whatever the mathematics tonight the performance today tells you that Shrewsbury Town will not make the play-offs. The manner of the Torquay goal, in the fourth minute summed up the whole display. Whilst Ian Dunbavin, Matt Redmile and Mickey Heathcote were politely saying, “no, after you”, Richardson bundled the ball into the net.
Although Shrewsbury Town played in the Torquay half for long periods it can never be said that the Torquay goal was put under pressure, shots on target being at a premium. Early in the second half Rodgers picked-up the pieces from a defensive error but Kevin Dearden in the Torquay goal saved cleanly at his feet. In terms of clear-cut chances that was it. We could be playing now and it would still be one-nil.
Late changes were made with Steve Guinan, Karl Murray and Chris Murphy coming on for Aiston, Moss and Woan respectively. Guinan looked more than useful in the air and took up good positions on the far post. I’d give him a start against Lincoln with Aiston coming off the bench on the hour. It was pleasing to see Murray and Tolley play in midfield together, as last season proved they can play together and a midfield on Monday of Murray, Tolley Atkins and Lowe is not likely to give us any less penetration than the team that started the game today, which was:
Dunbavin
Moss Heathcote Redmile Rioch
Tolley Atkins Woan
Aiston Rodgers Lowe
The defence struggled greatly against what was, at the end of the day, ordinary opposition. I thought Heathcote looked to be carrying an injury. OK, Mickey Heathcote is always carrying an injury, but today his lack of mobility was alarming. Greg Rioch has lost his excellent form of the early season, and but for the injury situation in the full back position he could expect to be dropped in favour of Thompson, but we will have to see what reaction Darren Moss has to this his comeback game from injury. Things would have been a lot worse but for the ability of my man of the match Matt Redmile to come out with the ball stuck to his boot a half a dozen times or more.
In midfield Jamie Tolley did not seem to be able to get anywhere near the game until the last quarter when he did threaten the Torquay goal with a couple of long range efforts. Atkins was not at his best but tried to steady the ship on his own, he clearly needed Murray in there with him. Woan was ineffectual.
Aiston, Lowe and Rodgers had to survive on scraps. Lowe and Rodgers worked hard, Rodgers looking the most dangerous. Lowe was more influential when he took a withdrawn role. Aiston did not get into it at all.
The referee had a difficult job on his hands with the match having a keen edge to the tackling. It was one that proved beyond him, both sets of players being given cause to be exasperated with his decisions. Luke Rodgers was particularly hard done by to get a card for an elbow in a Torquay player’s head because contact was only made when the Torquay player was falling over as Rodgers tried to get past him.
The funniest moment for me was before the game when Murray addressed me as “sir” when proferring a New Meadow leaflet to me. What polite young men these public school boys are.
Off to Lincoln then. I have just beaten Lincoln 5-0 at Sincil Bank in 2002-2003 season on CM, hopefully that’s a good omen (I am clutching at straws), but I’ve got a better team than Kevin Ratcliffe:
Evans
Murphy Tretton Hughes Heckingbotham
Murray McInnes Hanlon Crowe
Collymore Steele