UNITED EASE PAST TIM SILLS’ WIMBORNE INTO THE NEXT FA CUP ROUND
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE EXETER CITY SUPPORTERS’ TRUST 20 YEARS IN CHARGE
TWO TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR TORQUAY WOMEN’S SUNDAY MATCH
It’s FA Cup time and getting through to the next round is every team’s target and on Saturday Torquay had a comfortable 3-0 win at Tim Sills’ Wimborne Town to do just that.
The result was never in doubt although the home side, in front of a record crowd of 1,852, swelled by great numbers from the Yellow Army, gave it a good go especially in the second half.
United now have a home tie in the 3rd Qualifying Round to Southern League South side Hungerford Town who were relegated from National South at the end of last season. Hungerford, of course, were the first team Gary Johnson faced in 2018 when he took over as manager.
This is likely to be another match where United will go into it as favourites but in the last round Hungerford had an impressive 4-1 win at Chippenham.
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Back to Saturday in Dorset, Brett McGavin, who at last has begun to show his talent, made the Vanarama FA Cup Team of the Week.
Also praise to Tom Killick, recently sacked as Poole Town manager after nineteen years in charge, whose match summary on BBC Solent was top drawer. He won’t be out of work for long that’s for sure.
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Three sides, after poor results over the weekend, are looking for new managers: Oldham Athletic sacked David Unsworth as they went down 3-0 at Bromley, Gloucester City in National North parted company with Tim Flowers following a 3-0 home FA Cup defeat to AFC Totton for whom Scott Rendell grabbed a hat-trick while Andy Welsh lost his job at Bury AFC.
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FA Cup Crowd Watch: Macclesfield v Buxton 2,220, Yeovil Town v AFC Stoneham 2,021. Non-League Crowd Watch: York City v Southend 4,679, Hartlepool v Woking 4,214, Kidderminster v Solihull Moors 3,016.
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With referees under instruction to ensure time wasting is penalised and infringements like kicking the ball away are punished, it’s no surprise that there have been more yellow and red cards so far this season not to mention matches lasting more than a hundred minutes.
In the National League nineteen teams, out of twenty-four, have had at least one player sent off with the number of red cards up 60% compared with last season.
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Tom Lapslie scored Torquay’s last goal at Wimborne and on Saturday his brother George, playing for Gillingham, opening the scoring against Morecambe in League 2.
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Following hot on the heels of last week’s story about the Southend owner Ron Martin comes an investigation into what’s happening at National North side Scunthorpe United.
According to reports, David Hilton, who took over at Glanford Park, had served, under a different name, a two year prison sentence for fraud. He has now put the club up for sale.
Stories like this, if true, strengthen the argument for those in football who want to see the introduction of an independent regulator which seems likely after the King’s Speech in November.
In total contrast a supporters’ trust has shown that it can run a successful football club. Our friends at Exeter City are celebrating their 20th Anniversary of owning Exeter, happily coinciding with the team being top of League 1.
It has taken a lot of hard work on the part of mainly volunteers who back in 2003 rescued the club from administration. The trust’s membership rocketed over night when news spread of the club’s plight and through painstaking dedication the club has gone from strength to strength helped by a money spinning cup tie with Manchester United plus developing a number of players from their highly regarded academy sold for millions of pounds.
TUST is pleased to have a strong, on-going relationship with the Exeter trust.
There are plenty of clubs run by supporter trusts. These are a few: AFC Wimbledon, Bath City, Bury AFC, Darlington, Dorchester Town, Hereford United and Newport County.
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Torquay Women are finding life in the National League hard going as they went down to a 2-1home defeat at Coach Road on Sunday.
Despite playing well, United went a goal down to visitors Keynsham Town but following a number of near misses Rachel Griffiths equalised until thirteen minutes from time, looking suspiciously offside, Keynsham netted what turned out to be the winner.
Next up are AFC Bournemouth at Coach Road on Sunday. TUST has two tickets available - first come, first served. You can contact: fanszone.tu@gmail.com or Twitter/X: @FanszoneT to get your tickets.
United’s Under-18s had a comfortable 3-1 win at Hamworthy preparing them for their FA Youth Cup match at Bovey Tracey on Thursday with ex-Gull Kevin Wills taking over as boss after Ryan Dickson had left.
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Answers to last week’s question? Whilst a cup run would be welcome, getting out of this league has to be the priority.
On Saturday it’s back to the league and a trip to Hertfordshire to face Hemel Hempstead. Will Aaron Jarvis be available? If not Luke Pearce could get his first start.
Safe trip to the Yellow Army.
COYY
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