Bulls pipped by Torquay

The only goal of the game scored in the second period gave Torquay a somewhat flattering victory at Edgar Street this afternoon.

Captain Luke Graham Followed By Keeper Rhys Evans

Rhys Evans started between the sticks with Leadbitter, Luke Graham, McDonald and Bush forming an impressive back four.  Pilkington, O’Keefe, Kingsley James and Rob Purdie lined up in the central division with Michael Rankin and Dan Walker up top.

Bush and Pilkington combined well on the left to create an early opportunity for Walker but his shot was blocked before a Pilkington free kick from out wide saw Rankine’s effort turned away for a corner.

For Torquay, Chapel broke from midfield but Leadbitter was quickly across to cover.  Kingsley James was lectured for little more than a firm tackle yet when Torquay’s Thompson deliberately handballed and then kicked the ball away nothing was said.

Dan Walker’s low cross was smothered at the near post by keeper Martin Rice and Pilkington ballooned over from 12 yards before Kevin Nicholson’s cross was hooked clear by the returning Luke Graham.  Chris Bush produced a trademark long throw from the left that was laid off by Walker and O’Keefe’s shot from 20 yards was pushed round the post by Rice.  Pilkington took the flag kick and with Rankine causing mayhem in the 6-yard box, the ball fell to Walker at the back post but his effort was scuffed wide.

Dan Walker Failed To Score When Well Placed

Fullback Dale Tonge swung a cross in from the right and Thompson headed over when well placed.  When The Bulls broke upfield, Rankine was distinctly unimpressed not to be awarded a foul when Downes was climbing all over him.

Josh O'Keefe Gives A Torquay Player The Look Whilst Michael Rankine Gets More Physical

As the half drew to a close, Purdie broke through the central area to release Pillkington and his low cross was swept goalward by Rankine only for Rice to acrobatically tip over the bar.

HT Bulls 0  Torquay 0

The Bulls returned unchanged for the start of the second period and Rankine forced an early throw deep in the Torquay half but it came to nothing.  Dan Walker cut in from the left but his low shot from 20 yards was deflected clear.  O’Keefe was upended following a mazy run but, sadly, Pilkington’s free kick sailed high over the bar.

The visitors made several sorties upfield but all were comfortably dealt with by the impressive Bulls’ defence until the referee bought a dubious fall in the box by Elliot Benyon.  Chasing a through ball, the Gulls’ frontman headed for Rhys Evans rather than following the direction of the ball, tucked his foot under the outstretched Evans and took the traditional tumble to the ground.  There was some joy forthcoming however when Billy Boden, himself being guilty if similarly duping the referee on an earlier Stratospheric day at Torquay a couple of seasons ago, saw his spot kick saved by Evans.

There followed a raft of changes by both sides that served to disrupt the flow and focus of the came.  Torquay scored the only goal shortly after when a corner from the left was headed in powerfully by Aaron Downes.

Rice Rose Well To Keep Out A Shot From Substitute Jon Brown

Chris Sharp, who had replaced Rankine, glanced a header well wide from Joel Edwards’ accurate cross and when Purdie was chopped down near the penalty box, Jon Brown’s effort was tipped over by Rice.

Jon Brown

FT Bulls 0  Torquay 1

Att: - 556 including 47 in the away enclosure.

This was another good workout against higher graded opposition, which will have helped fitness and Martin Foyle’s assessment process.  Michael Rankine again impressed winning his aerial battle and showing well as a target man.  His hold up play and link work was a good as we’ve seen so far.

Dom Collins

The defence looks well settled and continued in good form following the introduction of Dom Collins and Joel Edwards while the midfield kept shape and showed an ability in change positions without disruption to the system.

Rankine apart, we still look a bit short of threat in the striking area but with two weeks to go and possibly a couple more players to arrive it’s maybe too soon the panic about the goalscoring.

Next Saturday provides the test of Cardiff City at the traditional kick-off time of 3.00pm as Martin Foyle wraps up his pre-season preparations before start of the Skrill Premier on Saturday 10^th August.

See you next week.

Starting XI: Evans, Bush, Graham, McDonald, Leadbitter, James, Purdie, Pilkington, O'Keefe, Walker, Rankine.

Subs: : Sharp, Collins, Edwards, Brown, Lloyd-Weston, Murphy. 

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