Shaymen’s slump continues as they miss out on chance to go top
THE STRANGE dichotomy was that Town came into the game with a chance of ending it top of the table, but finished it wellbeaten, playing far below the standards that had earned such an elevated status.
All Town’s hard work at Sutton in midweek was thrown away with another hugely disappointing Shay display.
“Two soft goals, early goals, which we gifted them,” said
I place a big emphasis on dominating both boxes and we didn’t do that
boss Pete Wild afterwards. “I’m really frustrated because if you gift teams like Torquay two early goals you’re going to find it really hard to get back into the contest.
“We had a big go at half-time, and it’s amazing when you start winning a few headers and tackles, the momentum and purpose that gives you. But you’re vulnerable to the counter-attack when you’re 2-0 down.
“The game could have been 6-4. One of the criticisms has been we haven’t created enough chances at home. We have today, we created far and away more chances.
“But if you don’t put them in the net and you’re vulnerable to the counter-attack, you’ve no chance.
“I place a big emphasis on dominating both boxes and we didn’t do that, which is why we got beat.”
There was nothing in the game prior to Torquay’s early opener, which had all too familiar echoes of the Bromley thrashing last Saturday, as it was far too easy for Torquay skipper Cameron to head unchallenged across goal at the near post from a corner.
A rash tackle by Jacob Hanson then gifted top-scorer Jamie Reid the chance to double Torquay’s lead from the spot.
Saikou Janneh spurned two good chances to make it 3-0, but he set-up Reid for his second of the game when The Gulls broke from a Town corner.
After new signing Jack Redshaw came off the bench, Town at least made a fight of it when Charlie Cooper’s lay-off was drilled across goal by Liam McAlinden.
Had McAlinden’s cross been met by the onrushing Sho-Silva, it would have been a grandstand finish. But from another Town corner, Torquay broke and substitute Kalvin Lumbobo-Kalala finished coolly past Sam Johnson.
Michael Duckworth slammed home from inside the box at the death, but that barely papered over the cracks.
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