TUFC 0 v 0 Southport
Torquay United had a frustrating afternoon when taking on Southport at Plainmoor on Saturday afternoon. Not only did they have to take on their opposition but also a referee who’s decisions left many in the ground scratching their head, none more so than the United manager Chris Hargreaves who was visible upset with a number of incidents given against his Gulls side.
The biggest decision came in the 20th minute when Ryan Bowman was shown a straight red card for reacting to a unfair tackle from Scott Kay, the United player appeared to head butt his opponent as the pair disagreed about the challenge, Scott himself was booked for his part in the incident. United then had to play the remaining 70 minutes a player down but they never gave up and produced a performance that should have given
remained unchanged from the side that won 3-0 on Tuesday night against Welling Utd, United manager Chris Hargreaves resisted the temptation to bring in K Pearce, with the defender remaining on the bench for a second game. The opening 15 minutes gave both both sides early opportunities to take the lead. First United’s Briscoe put in a great low cross from the right into the six yard box keeper saved low down to Bowmans feet. Brogan shooting across united keeper Rice but the Gulls man was able to gather the ball well and then Evans saw his effort saved by the legs of the Gulls keeper for Southport. Ashley Yeoman was then brought down on the edge of the box by Luke George after the United player had split the centre paring. The Southport player was shown a yellow card when the United players felt more punishment should have been given. The resulting free kick from Cameron went over the bar. 13 mins Bowman grazed the bar with an effort from a cross by United’s full back Tonge. Cameron cross just over Bowman and the ball fell to Briscoe whos outside of the foot strike just went over the bar from an aquite angle. Tensions remained high for the rest of the first half and the game became an untidy affair with the referee seemly loseing control of certain situations and frustrating the United management team. Even with United down to 10 men the visitors offered little in attack and United remained the more likely to break the deadlock. >>> Hargreaves made a tatical chat the break, with Ashley Yeoman making way for United new boy Ofori-Acheampong to give the Gulls attack some much needed presence. The player almost had an instant contribution when Cameron broke down the left and placed a low cross into the six yard box but the United substitute lifted the ball over the bar from very close range. Brogan (51) centre of box rice in front low and pushed wide of the post when the Southport player should have given the away side the lead. Cameron tried his luck from distance on the hour but his strike sailed over the bar without troubling the Southport keeper. Tonge and Ofori-Acheanpong had half chances both deflecting out for corners. Young 30 yards tipped over, Cameron to Ofi held off turned shot well saved by keeper 74mins out to Young. Ajala half chance edge area. 83 Ofore-Acheanpong another chance from right side of the box but again the keeper pushed the ball wide of the Southport goal.
TUFC: Rice, Tonge, Cruise, MacDonald, Downs, Briscoe (Ajala 70), Harding (Richards 82), Young (Capt), Cameron, Yeoman (Ofori-Acheanpong 45), Bowman (S/O 21)
Subs Not Used: Seabright, Richards, Pearce
Southport: Lloyd-Weston, Mitchell, Fitzpatrick, Collins, Foster, Brogan (Capt) (Smith 78), George, Kay, Evans, Hattersley, Marsden (Lynch 73)
Subs Not Used: Connor, Brodie, Rutherford
Referee: Dean Treleaven
Attendance: 1,997
