Leaving the ground this evening, felt like another 'get out of jail free' card had been played. Quite an achievement given that Torquay *should* have probably won the game, but in the end went home with what their disgusting play, time wasting tactics deserved - NOTHING!
The less said about the first half the better in my (humble) opinion. It was, at times, shockingly poor from both sides. Passes going astray, no pattern let alone too much invention on what to do. Granted Torquay did start the brighter of the two sides - too much turkey sandwiches for the Cherries before hand perhaps - and they did create the better chances - not that there were many to speak of. Both keepers had their fingers stung with a couple of saves they had to make. But in truth that was about it.
As for the second half, that was a totally different kettle of fish ...... again it started in lively fashion as our visitors tried to assert themselves having dominated for large periods of the opening 45 minutes. The improvement for the Cherries came with the introduction of Steve Fletcher for Jeff Goulding, although I honestly thought that taking Alan Connell off would have been the better option.
Ex-Cherry loanee, Jake Thompson was making a nuisance for himself, and was clearly a threat while he remained on the pitch. Time and again, as he did while in red and black, he created problems with his wing play. Thankfully his crossing was dealt with by either Jalal, or the back 4 who were more than aware of his abilities.
Then the break came for Torquay. A (Tyrone) Thompson cross found Rendell deep in side our penalty area who side footed the ball home in to the bottom right hand side of the goal, leaving Jalal stranded. Cue mass celebrations from the large visiting support.
With time running out, and the Cherries becoming frustrated with Torquay (understandably) getting as many men behind the ball as possible, the ball found its' way through to Liam Feeney who raced towards goal to fire home in to the top left corner of the goal frame in the 84th minute). Cue mass celebrations from the large home support!
With 5 added minutes indicated the comeback was completed when Brett Pitman was adjudged to have been fouled by Lee Mansell to concede a penalty, which prompted a mass protest by just about the entire visiting squad towards the referee and his officials. The Torquay bench didn't look too happy either! Up stepped Brett Pitman to convert the penalty in the 95th minute to secure an oh-so-vital win to maintain the Cherries push for automatic promotion.
At the final whistle, the Torquay players, and bench surrounded the match officials in the centre of the pitch protesting at their apparent injustice.
I cannot finish this match report without a comment on the referee ..... Mr Singh. I know we get some inept officials from time to time, but Mr Singh took the biscuit today! He showed the yellow card TWELVE times, with Torquay United winning that one 7-5! To book players for nothing challenges was bad enough, but to miss dreadful challenges to the likes to Ryan Garry, who had to leave the game due to an elbow and to another on Steve Fletcher who was callously brought down by two and NOT produce any cards was inexcusable!
As for our visitors, they did get what they deserved today - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Inspite of their whinging at the end of the game.
All in all, a professional and determined performance from the Cherries who never got going for large parts of the game, but we keep on winning!
Jason Pearce
AFCB: Jalal, Bradbury, Garry, Pearce, Cummings, Feeney, Hollands, Partington, Goulding, Pitman, Connell
Subs: Thomas, Guyett, Fletcher (for Goulding, HT), McQuoid (for Connell, 68 mins), Robinson (for Garry, 75 mins)
Andy Burton, Portsmouth