Match Sponsor - HERALD EXPRESS
Match Ball Sponsor - THE JONES FAMILY
United slipped to a hugely disappointing defeat this afternoon at home to Farsley Celtic. An own goal by Simon Rayner, albeit an unlucky one on the part of United's goalkeeper, was enough to clinch the points for the visitors in their fight against relegation.
Straight from the off United didn't seem to be at the races and were strangely subdued in front of an expectant crowd. United were playing into a fairly strong wind so the need to play the ball to feet and have an assured touch were paramount but United were finding it tough going and Farsley gradually got a foothold into the game and were looking the more dangerous side on the attack.
The only goal of the game came from a throw-in by on the Farsley left, Downes collected the ball and played a decent ball into the United area where Reeves nodded the ball down for McNiven to have a shot from twenty yards out; it was a decent strike which beat the diving Simon Rayner low down to his right but the ball hit the post. Unfortunately for the Gulls 'keeper the ball then rebounded of the upright and struck him before ending up in the roof of the net. An unlucky goal to concede but Farsley had been edging the play and were now a team full of confidence.
United's first meaningful attempt at goal didn't come until the 27th minute when Chris Zebroski had a shot from twenty yards that was tipped over by Aspden in the visitors goal. United then had a succession of corners and put the Farsley goal under some pressure without creating any clear cut opportunities. The best chance for a second goal in the match fell to the Farsley captain, the impressive Iqbal, who met a corner with a free header which went over when he should have hit the target.
Tony Bedeau pulled up on the stroke of half-time with a hamstring injury which meant the introduction of Jody Banim as a direct replacement. The first half ended and was greeted by a strange silence. Paul Buckle and Shaun North must have been as flummoxed as the spectators and probably a good deal angrier after watching United put in a totally uncharacteristic performance. Surely the second half would bring normal service resumed?
United had the benefit of the wind behind them in the second half and started in a slightly more up tempo mood than they had in the first period. What turned out to be United's best chance of the match came in the 53rd minute when Zebroski sent Roscoe Dsane through with a header over the top; Roscoe held off Santos and rounded Aspden but his shot from a narrow angle was blocked by Iqbal and eventually cleared by Santos after Chris Hargreaves had tried to send the ball goalward. United seemed to be unsure if they should play the ball wide or long up the middle and eventually seemed to be doing neither. Farsley themselves seemed unsure if they should press for a second goal or sit back on what they had and in the end decided to hang on to their one goal lead and who could blame them?
Lee Phillips and Darren Mullings were introduced to the action in a bid to shake things up and both players certainly made an effort to increase the tempo and aggression of the United team but today so many of the side seemed to be off form and despite the consistent efforts of Chris Hargreaves and Tim Sills in trying to pull United back up to their usual levels it was a frustrating hour and a half for everyone watching. All credit must go to Farsley for securing the win but they must have been expecting more from the Gulls. The team have hit so many heights this season and I'm sure will hit some more before the middle of May but today was a bad day at the office and no-one will be hurting more than Paul and his staff. Tuesday night against Oxford United is a chance to put quite a few things right and we can expect a response worthy of this Torquay United team.
