City failed to gain maximum points from their festive games after losing a tense, tight derby 1-0 to Torquay. Exeter couldn't quite fashion a clear cut chance as they matched Torquay's attacking intent and it was Boxing Day villain of the piece, Tim Sills, who was the eventual matchwinner fifteen minutes from time.
In a tactical change from the previous game George Friend was dropped to the bench and lee Elam started, with Moxey moving to left back. City's line up was Jones, Tully, M. Taylor, Edwards, Moxey, Carlisle, A. Taylor, Gill, Elam, Mackie, Basham. On the bench for the Grecians Marriott, Richardson, Friend, Logan and Stansfield.
Tisdale's prophecy that a mistake could be crucial almost came true in the very first minute. As Torquay attacked down the left from kick off Tully slipped in the area and allowed Hargreaves to get round him. His cross couldn't find an attacker and Moxey cleared upfield. The ball was held up and worked eventually to Mackie whose tame effort was easily saved by Rice, in goal for Torquay. A frantic opening passage of play saw Jones make an easy save after Sills latched on to Edwards' misplaced header and Matt Taylor and Gill combine to clear a dangerously whipped in free kick. At the other end Mackie twisted two defenders inside out and played the ball across goal but no City player could get to it and the danger cleared.
Mackie was clearly seen as a threat to Torquay and within 10 minutes had been cynically fouled three times. Philips was the first transgressor as he slid in one footed but leading with his studs. Remarkably the referee did not even award a free kick. Zebroski then caught Mackie's shin and then after Woods had fouled him near the halfway line, and Mackie needed treatment for the second time, a booking ensued.
City were trying to use their wingers to build up play and Torquay's greatest threat looked as if it would come from their left hand side where the energetic Stevens and dangerous left foot of Nicholson were loitering. But City's defence stood firm. Matt Taylor was looking very strong, commanding in the air and showing great positional sense to cut out crosses but as the half wore on no-one was able to dominate possession or chances as they swayed from end to end. After a Nicholson free kick was flicked well wide Hargreaves missed a far post header from an inswinging corner. On 20 minutes Basham had City's first sniff of goal as Tully and Mackie combined with him on the right and Mackie's return ball found him in the area. As he shot Rice blocked and City won a corner which came to nothing. Ex-City striker Philips then headed wide from a good position. After another foul on Mackie Gill found Elam in space on the left but he sliced his cross behind before the danger could build. A 50 yard cross field free kick from Gill picked out Carlisle who worked the ball into Mackie. As before though the defence was alert and blocked his shot at source.
The final 10 minutes of the half saw several chances again, and City forced to make a change. Zebroski had a shot blocked after Jones failed to claim a corner. From the resulting kick though Jones rose highest to catch cleanly. Stephens then made Jones backpedal as his half volley threatened to loop over him from 25 yards. Then came City's change. Matt Taylor landed awkwardly as he won a header and was immediately signalled as unable to continue. Before Richardson could be readied Torquay had shot wide.
The work rate City were prepared to put in was exemplified by Carlisle tracking 40 yards back to win possession and set up another Mackie chance through Elam and Moxey. Rice again proved his equal and turned his effort aside for a corner. Andy Taylor's kick was flicked to the far post where Elam controlled then struck but could not get the ball through the body of defenders in the area. As the half entered added time Rice tipped a corner only as far as Carlisle. His shot was blocked and Torquay broke. Elam failed to cut the ball out as they came forward but Zebroski's cross lacked danger. But as Moxey and Jones dallied the latter could only clear to the edge of the area. Fortunately Andy Taylor was alert and was quick to close down and block the resulting shot. So, half time, even stephens and, if truth be told, a fairly scrappy affair.
The opening exchanges in the second half proved little different, if a little more open. On 50 minutes Philips fizzed a shot a whisker wide of Jones' left hand post after creating space himself. Carlisle then tested Rice from 30 yards with a stinging, swinging free kick that looked for a split second as if it might just squirm through his fingertips. Shortly after Elam found himself with the freedom of Plainmoor as he broke down the middle. His first attempt to lay the ball off to a well placed Carlisle was poor but a second bite saw him find Mackie. The ball was rolled to Gill but he did not get hold of his shot and Rice was untroubled from a promising position. Within another minute Taylor's shot, after the ball dropped to him from a poor clearance, was deflected wide. As City pressed Mackie picked up the ball near the corner flag and managed to turn through two markers. Mackie motored into the area along the byline but could not pick out a City shirt. A quick City throw followed but again, Elam's cross only found Rice and not a blue shirted colleague.
On the hour Jones was forced into his first real save. As a long throw dropped to the edge of the area Hockley pounced and a well struck shot was well saved. Torquay began to find a bit of rhythm from here and started to push City back. Hargreaves latched onto a loose ball but could only fire wide and after a Sills knockdown was cleared for a corner City cleared off the line and Jones saved the follow up shot. Hargreaves then headed onto the top of the net on 66 minutes as Sills released Stevens into acres of space down the left. Luckily his ball was too heavy and instead of a straight run and shot Stevens had to be content with crossing. City fashioned some half chances in this period but again nothing of note and as it seemed that a further change was necessary to try and wrestle the momentum Torquay were gathering the goal came.
A bouncing ball was played back to Jones. He half sliced his clearance towards the left hand touch line. It looked as if Richardson would be able to clear it fully but as it swirled in the wind above the stand he hesitated. This allowed Stevens to pick up and control the ball and turn inside. He delivered a perfect cross and Sill timed his run across Edwards to flick into the far corner.
As soon as events allowed Logan and Stansfield were introduced for Elam and Basham as City went to 4-3-3 This momentarily led to some disorganisation at the back but Jones handling was assured and any danger dealt with. The final 10 minutes saw City again get the ball into dangerous areas but without penetrating and making any clear cut chances. Logan narrowly failed to get enough purchase on a header from 15 yards and Stansfield was blocked well at the near post after more jinking from Mackie on the right. Moxey then drove a cross straight at Rice and after Gill had been booked for a foul in midfield Carlisle's left foot cross eluded everyone but found Rice still alert to push away for a corner as the ball arrowed towards the far corner. As three minutes of added time expired Torquay ran the clock down and City were beaten.
A disappointing scoreline but City showed they can compete with the best sides in the league and, but for a better run of the ball in the area, could easily have come away with a draw. More worrying will be the health of Matt Taylor who had looked impenetrable in the 35 minutes he was on but with no league action until January 20th he can hopefully regain fitness. As for the others Jones did most things well but must take some responsibility for the goal. The back four worked well as a unit and limited a free scoring side to few clear chances. Carlisle, Gill and Taylor worked hard and got forward but it wasn't a game for flowing football and their pushing forward was limited. Elam looked to be City's danger man for a while but faded as the game wore on and too often seemed to lose the ball as he tried to make things happen. Basham and Mackie were kept fairly quiet too, except, largely, for opportunities they fashioned themselves.
So, with no game this Saturday City have 10 days to regroup before heading to Rushden and Diamonds for some F.A. Trophy action before returning to the park for Sunday night football and the visit of Oxford. January is shaping to be a crucial month with City playing four teams above them in the league so keep that New Year's resolution and come to the Park to cheer on the boys.
