It was a case of cometh the hour, cometh the man for Torquay United as substitute Ashley Yeoman netted the winning goal in their relegation battle with Bury in injury time.
Captain Lee Mansell had given the Gulls the lead when he headed home a Dale Tonge cross on eight minutes, with his first goal since New Year's Day 2013, but Clive Platt levelled for the Shakers on 66 minutes.
Torquay almost regained the lead a minute later when Aussie defender Aaron Downes headed a Danny Stevens corner narrowly over.
However, inside the first minute of four extra added on minutes for injury time, Yeoman- who has spent most of the current campaign on loan at Bideford and Dorchester- pounced from eight yards to score the decisive goal that leaves the Gulls five points from safety.
It was Yeoman's first appearance since he returned from his most recent loan spell with Dorchester, and he picked the perfect opportunity to score what was his first goal for Torquay of the current campaign.
The win is a welcome boost for Chris Hargreaves' side- following the announcement that Joss Labadie won't be appealing against his ten-match ban for biting Chesterfield's Ollie Banks- and if they can secure another three points again Newport County on Saturday, then things will become very interesting at the bottom of the League Two table.
Wednesday, 19 March 2014
Sunday, 16 March 2014
A DEFINING WEEK
The outcome of this week's matches involving Torquay United and Exeter City could go a long way to deciding whether the number of football league teams in Devon drops from three to two, or potentially even one.
Chris Hargreaves' Torquay side host Bury on Tuesday night, a match which sees former Gulls' assistant manager Chris Brass return to Plainmoor, before facing Newport County at Plainmoor on Saturday.
A return of six points from these two homes fixtures would move the Gulls, who lost to Cheltenham on Saturday, up to 39 points, which would- depending on results elsewhere- place them within two or three points of the safety mark.
However, before any match action takes place Torquay have until midday on Monday whether to appeal against Joss Labadie's ten-match ban handed to him by the Football Association for biting Chesterfield's Ollie Banks during their League Two encounter with the Spireites.
Exeter City- fresh from securing a point in a 1-1 draw with Newport today- will host Fleetwood Town and are desperately in search of their first win at St James Park since October 5th when they beat arch rivals Plymouth Argyle 3-1.
A week before that result, the Grecians won 2-1 away at the Cod Army with emergency striker Scott Bennett netting both goals.
The Pilgrims could do both United and City a big favour if they were to defeat Accrington Stanley, who are one of three teams- including the Grecians, currently locked on 41 points near the foot of the table.
Chris Hargreaves' Torquay side host Bury on Tuesday night, a match which sees former Gulls' assistant manager Chris Brass return to Plainmoor, before facing Newport County at Plainmoor on Saturday.
A return of six points from these two homes fixtures would move the Gulls, who lost to Cheltenham on Saturday, up to 39 points, which would- depending on results elsewhere- place them within two or three points of the safety mark.
However, before any match action takes place Torquay have until midday on Monday whether to appeal against Joss Labadie's ten-match ban handed to him by the Football Association for biting Chesterfield's Ollie Banks during their League Two encounter with the Spireites.
Exeter City- fresh from securing a point in a 1-1 draw with Newport today- will host Fleetwood Town and are desperately in search of their first win at St James Park since October 5th when they beat arch rivals Plymouth Argyle 3-1.
A week before that result, the Grecians won 2-1 away at the Cod Army with emergency striker Scott Bennett netting both goals.
The Pilgrims could do both United and City a big favour if they were to defeat Accrington Stanley, who are one of three teams- including the Grecians, currently locked on 41 points near the foot of the table.
Wednesday, 12 March 2014
LABADIE CHARGED
Torquay United midfielder Joss Labadie has received a ten-match ban and a fine of £2,000 from the FA found him guilty of biting an opponent during the Gulls' league clash with Chesterfield last month.
Labadie, 23, who scored the winner for Torquay in their recent 2-1 win over Rochdale- ironically one of Chesterfield's main promotion rivals- which boosts the Gulls' chances of beating the drop was issued the punishment, which will see him miss the same number of matches that Luis Suarez did when he bit Branislav Ivanovic when Liverpool played Chelsea last season.
The former Notts County midfielder was alleged to have bitten Spireites' striker Ollie Banks during the clash between the Gulls and Chesterfield on February 15th, and the accusations first emerged when Banks posted pictures on Twitter of what he claimed to be bite marks.
Spireites manager Paul Cook later claimed that Chesterfield's French striker Armand Gnanduillet had been bitten at the club's AGM a few days later.
However, Chesterfield did not make an official complaint at the time nor did match referee Carl Boyeson take any action over the alleged incident.
Nevertheless, if it can be successfully proved beyond all reasonable doubt that Banks' wound was indeed a bite mark then it is only right that the punishment should be upheld.
Torquay have until midday on Monday 17th March to appeal against the decision, which could potentially see Labadie absent for the remainder of the season.
Labadie, 23, who scored the winner for Torquay in their recent 2-1 win over Rochdale- ironically one of Chesterfield's main promotion rivals- which boosts the Gulls' chances of beating the drop was issued the punishment, which will see him miss the same number of matches that Luis Suarez did when he bit Branislav Ivanovic when Liverpool played Chelsea last season.
The former Notts County midfielder was alleged to have bitten Spireites' striker Ollie Banks during the clash between the Gulls and Chesterfield on February 15th, and the accusations first emerged when Banks posted pictures on Twitter of what he claimed to be bite marks.
Spireites manager Paul Cook later claimed that Chesterfield's French striker Armand Gnanduillet had been bitten at the club's AGM a few days later.
However, Chesterfield did not make an official complaint at the time nor did match referee Carl Boyeson take any action over the alleged incident.
Nevertheless, if it can be successfully proved beyond all reasonable doubt that Banks' wound was indeed a bite mark then it is only right that the punishment should be upheld.
Torquay have until midday on Monday 17th March to appeal against the decision, which could potentially see Labadie absent for the remainder of the season.
Sunday, 9 March 2014
MILLER DOUBLE SEES GLOVERS TWO POINTS OFF SAFETY MARK
Ishmael Miller marked his return to the Yeovil Town by scoring twice as the Glovers defeated Sheffield Wednesday to move within two points of the Championship safety mark.
The Nottingham Forest loanee struck with a goal in each half to complete a brace, after recovering from injury, to secure a two goal victory for the Glovers against the Owls.
As a result of the win, Yeovil are now in 22nd place in the Championship and two points behind 21st placed Millwall with a game in hand.
Survival in the Championship would represent a huge achievement for Glovers' manager Gary Johnson, but there is still a lot of football to be played.
However, if Yeovil can show the kind of quality and resolve they showed against Wednesday, and in the week before against Reading when they drew 1-1 despite being reduced to eight men following the dismissals of Joe Ralls, Byron Webster and Kieffer Moore.
Another factor that has given the Glovers a chance of competing with some of their division's bigger spenders- it was revealed this week that their Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers spent more on wages last season than UEFA Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund.
In a weekend in which former Yeovil loanee Steven Caulker netted twice for Cardiff City against Fulham, two of their current crop of temporary signings played a starring role at Huish Park.
Miller, who has extended his loan from the City Ground until the end of the campaign, scored what proved to be a crucial double for the Glovers, and Irish central defender Shane Duffy produced a solid display in the heart of the Yeovil defence, which would surely have impressed the onlooking Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill who was observing his display at Huish Park.
The Nottingham Forest loanee struck with a goal in each half to complete a brace, after recovering from injury, to secure a two goal victory for the Glovers against the Owls.
As a result of the win, Yeovil are now in 22nd place in the Championship and two points behind 21st placed Millwall with a game in hand.
Survival in the Championship would represent a huge achievement for Glovers' manager Gary Johnson, but there is still a lot of football to be played.
However, if Yeovil can show the kind of quality and resolve they showed against Wednesday, and in the week before against Reading when they drew 1-1 despite being reduced to eight men following the dismissals of Joe Ralls, Byron Webster and Kieffer Moore.
Another factor that has given the Glovers a chance of competing with some of their division's bigger spenders- it was revealed this week that their Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers spent more on wages last season than UEFA Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund.
In a weekend in which former Yeovil loanee Steven Caulker netted twice for Cardiff City against Fulham, two of their current crop of temporary signings played a starring role at Huish Park.
Miller, who has extended his loan from the City Ground until the end of the campaign, scored what proved to be a crucial double for the Glovers, and Irish central defender Shane Duffy produced a solid display in the heart of the Yeovil defence, which would surely have impressed the onlooking Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill who was observing his display at Huish Park.
Wednesday, 5 March 2014
ALL SIGNS POINT TO A RED AND WHITE FUTURE
Exeter City's run in the Under-21 Premier Cup might have come to an end against Burnley, but the young Grecians did themselves proud against the Clarets.
It took the addition of 30 extra minutes for their Championship opponents to finally see off the young Grecians; the score was 2-2 after 90 minutes as Jimmy Keohane and Tom Nichols cancelled out Archie Love's brace for the Clarets, but a strike from Nathan Lowe early in extra time broke Exeter's hearts- but they take a lot of positives from their progress.
After defeating neighbours Torquay United in the opening round, the Grecians then went on a giant-killing spree as Premiership sides Crystal Palace and Southampton were duly dispatched in the next two stages before they saw off Blackburn Rovers in the last 16 to set up a Quarter Final meeting with Burnley.
The Grecians' line-up on the night of their last eight clash with the Clarets included ten players who have tasted first-team football under Paul Tisdale this season, and to date they have also made 149 appearances between them.
Both Tisdale and Director of Football, Steve Perryman, were watching from the stands and would surely have been impressed with what they saw on display.
Also the experience of reaching the latter stages of a competition such as the Premier Cup will prove to be crucial in helping to aid the development of these young players.
It could well prove in time to be a case of the future being bright, but red and white.
It took the addition of 30 extra minutes for their Championship opponents to finally see off the young Grecians; the score was 2-2 after 90 minutes as Jimmy Keohane and Tom Nichols cancelled out Archie Love's brace for the Clarets, but a strike from Nathan Lowe early in extra time broke Exeter's hearts- but they take a lot of positives from their progress.
After defeating neighbours Torquay United in the opening round, the Grecians then went on a giant-killing spree as Premiership sides Crystal Palace and Southampton were duly dispatched in the next two stages before they saw off Blackburn Rovers in the last 16 to set up a Quarter Final meeting with Burnley.
The Grecians' line-up on the night of their last eight clash with the Clarets included ten players who have tasted first-team football under Paul Tisdale this season, and to date they have also made 149 appearances between them.
Both Tisdale and Director of Football, Steve Perryman, were watching from the stands and would surely have been impressed with what they saw on display.
Also the experience of reaching the latter stages of a competition such as the Premier Cup will prove to be crucial in helping to aid the development of these young players.
It could well prove in time to be a case of the future being bright, but red and white.
Saturday, 1 March 2014
ALESSANDRA THE GREAT
Plymouth Argyle striker Lewis Alessandra netted twice against his former club Morecambe to help the Pilgrims produce a five-star display to move within two points of the Play-Off zone.
Durrell Berry opened the scoring with his first ever goal for the club on five minutes before Alessandra found the target in the 40th minute to double their advantage.
In the second half, Curtis Nelson and Andres Gurrieri also found the target to increase Argyle's lead to four before Alessandra struck in the 90th minute- with this 11th goal of the season- to round off an impressive display for the Pilgrims.
Argyle have now scored nine goals without reply in their last two fixtures- they came away from Play-Off chasing Fleetwood Town 4-0 on Tuesday night- and are now two points off the Play-Off zone. The Pilgrims, in eighth place, have 48 points whilst Southend United-in seventh- have 50 points.
Alessandra's contribution in their win over Morecambe takes the total number of goals scored by him and his strike partner, Reuben Reid, up to 27 in all competitions, which is 20 behind the total scored by Paul Mariner and Billy Rafferty in the 1974-75 season.
Also, if either player manages to hit the magical 20 goal mark for the season then they will be the first Argyle player to do so since Tommy Tynan did so in the 1988-89 campaign.
Durrell Berry opened the scoring with his first ever goal for the club on five minutes before Alessandra found the target in the 40th minute to double their advantage.
In the second half, Curtis Nelson and Andres Gurrieri also found the target to increase Argyle's lead to four before Alessandra struck in the 90th minute- with this 11th goal of the season- to round off an impressive display for the Pilgrims.
Argyle have now scored nine goals without reply in their last two fixtures- they came away from Play-Off chasing Fleetwood Town 4-0 on Tuesday night- and are now two points off the Play-Off zone. The Pilgrims, in eighth place, have 48 points whilst Southend United-in seventh- have 50 points.
Alessandra's contribution in their win over Morecambe takes the total number of goals scored by him and his strike partner, Reuben Reid, up to 27 in all competitions, which is 20 behind the total scored by Paul Mariner and Billy Rafferty in the 1974-75 season.
Also, if either player manages to hit the magical 20 goal mark for the season then they will be the first Argyle player to do so since Tommy Tynan did so in the 1988-89 campaign.
ENTER ENOCH
To aid Torquay United's fight against relegation from League Two, Gulls manager Chris Hargreaves has drafted in experienced front man Enoch Showumni to boost his side's attacking options.
Showumni, 31, joins Torquay in an initial one-month loan deal from Notts County and his size, strength and know-how could turn out to be crucial in helping the Gulls beat the drop.
At Plainmoor, he will certainly be surrounded by familiar faces, as the current Torquay squad includes three of his former Magpies' team-mates- Krystian Pearce, Joss Labadie and Karl Hawley- as well as two of his ex Luton Town colleagues- Lee Mansell and Danny Stevens- and Elliot Benyon who served alongside him at Bristol City.
Standing at six feet and five inches, Showumni is certainly the tallest of Hargreaves' vailable charges. To date, he has scored 64 goals in 352 appearances in a career, which has so far seen him take in spells with Luton, Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United, Falkirk, Tranmere Rovers and Notts County.
He has found the back of the net four times in 17 appearances for County this season, but has fallen down the pecking order at Meadow Lane of late.
A similar goal scoring return between now and the end of the season could play a major part in ensuring that the Gulls avoid a return to the Conference.
Showumni, 31, joins Torquay in an initial one-month loan deal from Notts County and his size, strength and know-how could turn out to be crucial in helping the Gulls beat the drop.
At Plainmoor, he will certainly be surrounded by familiar faces, as the current Torquay squad includes three of his former Magpies' team-mates- Krystian Pearce, Joss Labadie and Karl Hawley- as well as two of his ex Luton Town colleagues- Lee Mansell and Danny Stevens- and Elliot Benyon who served alongside him at Bristol City.
Standing at six feet and five inches, Showumni is certainly the tallest of Hargreaves' vailable charges. To date, he has scored 64 goals in 352 appearances in a career, which has so far seen him take in spells with Luton, Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United, Falkirk, Tranmere Rovers and Notts County.
He has found the back of the net four times in 17 appearances for County this season, but has fallen down the pecking order at Meadow Lane of late.
A similar goal scoring return between now and the end of the season could play a major part in ensuring that the Gulls avoid a return to the Conference.
A FEW FACTS ABOUT ENOCH SHOWUMNI
- Far from being your stereotypical thick footballer, Enoch has two degrees. He holds an BA in Business Administration from London South Bank University, and a Masters of Science from Leeds Metropolitan University.
- Although born in London, Enoch has also been capped twice by Nigeria. Both appearances came in 2004 when he was selected for the Super Eagles in the Unity Cup against the Republic of Ireland and Jamaica.
- Despite joining Luton at the start of the 2003-04 season, Enoch didn't officially sign his first professional contract with the Hatters until February as the club were in Administration at the time. Up until that point, he had been playing on an expenses-only basis.
- In 2002, Enoch appeared in a Nike advert before the 2002 World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea as a body double for former Arsenal and France midfielder Patrick Vieira.
- Another of Enoch's hobbies away from football is writing poetry, which recites live under the alias of Showman Da Poemcee.
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