Match 27
26th December 1972
Torquay (Home)
26th December 1972
Football League
Exeter 3-2 Torquay
What the papers said!
Torquay United, twice ahead in an enthralling local derby at St. James' Park, should have been able to toast a memorable victory last night. Instead they stood condemned by manager Jack Edwards as "a bunch of Father Christmases". While Exeter's John Newman celebrated "the best Christmas I've ever had in football", his Plainmoor counterpart emerged ashen-faced from the losers' dressing-room and slated his side for showing so much seasonal goodwill. "Have you ever seen goals like it?" he stormed. "We should have had that game in the bag by half time, but instead we behaved like a bunch of Father Christmases and started handing out goals like gifts. "I suppose that in the end a draw would have been the right result, but that's no consolation. We did not show enough bravery in their penalty box and were far too slap happy at the back."
As a match it was hardly a spectacle for the soccer connoisseur, but having said that it was one that 11,296 fans will remember for a long time to come. Torquay began the afternoon full of confidence and aggression and despite the firm, and sometimes bone-jarring tackling of men like Giles, Balson and Parker, made the City defence appear decidedly shaky. They built up some menacing moves down the right where Chad wick caused havoc with his sway ing runs and searching centres. He placed his corners with unfailing accuracy and in the first minute Jackson met one at the near post. The ball flew across the goal, but bounced unkindly for Trebilcock whose shot was smothered. Chadwick himself should have scored in the 17th minute after Trebilcock's shot had been charged down. But the winger failed to con trol the ball and Gibson scrambled it away for another corner as Boulton attempted to stab it home. Pook and Jackson got through some enterprising work in mid-field and it was Jackson who produced the best piece of football of the afternoon in the 23rd minute. Working in very little space, he eluded three fierce challenges and sidefooted a perfect pass into Boulton's path. But his shot on the run was deflected for a corner. The game erupted in the 25th minute when Torquay scored the first of four goals in an incredible. seven-minute period. Chadwick, moving to the left to take his sixth corner of the game, saw Wilson, under pressure from Harrison, fist the ball into his own net.
It was a bad day for goalkeepers. A minute later Exeter made their first positive raid of the afternoon. and Mahoney, attempting to punch Gibson's cross, made a mess of the whole thing, and in the scramble that followed Plumb headed on to the upright and Binney followed up to toe the ball over the line. Torquay's lead was restored on the half-hour when Boulton, full of running and enthusiasm, harassed Wilson to such an extent that the goalkeeper booted the ball against the inside-left's back and watched disbelievingly as Boulton rolled it into the vacant net.
Football League
Exeter 3-2 Torquay
What the papers said!
Torquay United, twice ahead in an enthralling local derby at St. James' Park, should have been able to toast a memorable victory last night. Instead they stood condemned by manager Jack Edwards as "a bunch of Father Christmases". While Exeter's John Newman celebrated "the best Christmas I've ever had in football", his Plainmoor counterpart emerged ashen-faced from the losers' dressing-room and slated his side for showing so much seasonal goodwill. "Have you ever seen goals like it?" he stormed. "We should have had that game in the bag by half time, but instead we behaved like a bunch of Father Christmases and started handing out goals like gifts. "I suppose that in the end a draw would have been the right result, but that's no consolation. We did not show enough bravery in their penalty box and were far too slap happy at the back."
As a match it was hardly a spectacle for the soccer connoisseur, but having said that it was one that 11,296 fans will remember for a long time to come. Torquay began the afternoon full of confidence and aggression and despite the firm, and sometimes bone-jarring tackling of men like Giles, Balson and Parker, made the City defence appear decidedly shaky. They built up some menacing moves down the right where Chad wick caused havoc with his sway ing runs and searching centres. He placed his corners with unfailing accuracy and in the first minute Jackson met one at the near post. The ball flew across the goal, but bounced unkindly for Trebilcock whose shot was smothered. Chadwick himself should have scored in the 17th minute after Trebilcock's shot had been charged down. But the winger failed to con trol the ball and Gibson scrambled it away for another corner as Boulton attempted to stab it home. Pook and Jackson got through some enterprising work in mid-field and it was Jackson who produced the best piece of football of the afternoon in the 23rd minute. Working in very little space, he eluded three fierce challenges and sidefooted a perfect pass into Boulton's path. But his shot on the run was deflected for a corner. The game erupted in the 25th minute when Torquay scored the first of four goals in an incredible. seven-minute period. Chadwick, moving to the left to take his sixth corner of the game, saw Wilson, under pressure from Harrison, fist the ball into his own net.
It was a bad day for goalkeepers. A minute later Exeter made their first positive raid of the afternoon. and Mahoney, attempting to punch Gibson's cross, made a mess of the whole thing, and in the scramble that followed Plumb headed on to the upright and Binney followed up to toe the ball over the line. Torquay's lead was restored on the half-hour when Boulton, full of running and enthusiasm, harassed Wilson to such an extent that the goalkeeper booted the ball against the inside-left's back and watched disbelievingly as Boulton rolled it into the vacant net.
Collection
Files
Comments