Sunday Review

Southend United did not play as scheduled this weekend.

The reason from the Portsmouth website:

READ MORE: Kenny Jackett defends Portsmouth cancellation against struggling Southend

With Pompey set to be missing three players due to international call-ups as well as injuries to key members of the squad, the decision was made to suspend the fixture. 

The Blues would have been without keeper Craig MacGillivray, who has been called up to the Scotland squad, as well as Ronan Curtis, who is away with Republic of Ireland, and Rangers loanee Ross McCrorie, who is on international duty with the Scotland U21 squad. 

The new date has been set for Tuesday, November 5 (7.45pm kick-off). 

So we start with the long trip to Carlisle by my home town club Exeter City.

From the BBC website:

Second-half goals from Aaron Martin and Nicky Law proved decisive as League Two pacesetters Exeter maintained their unbeaten record with a 3-1 win at Carlisle.

Lee Martin had given Exeter a half-time lead which was cancelled out when Olufela Olomola equalised for Carlisle in the 61st minute.

Exeter began with a confidence befitting their league position and Lee Martin could easily have put them two goals ahead inside the first eight minutes when the game turned into a contest between the Exeter forward and Carlisle goalkeeper Adam Collin.

Collin parried Martin's first effort and then used his legs to keep out a low shot that looked bound for the bottom corner.

• 'More to come' from Exeter

After Law himself had flashed a shot across the face of goal, Jake Taylor went even closer with a low shot through a crowd of players that struck the bottom of Collin's left-hand post.

It was no surprise when Exeter took a 36th-minute lead. Randell Williams fed a ball across to Lee Martin, whose curling shot from the edge of the box left Collin diving in vain.

Saves by Collin from Williams and Ryan Bowman kept Carlisle in it after the break and the Cumbrians' equaliser came when Nathan Thomas' shot was blocked and the rebound fell for Olomola to head just inside the right-hand post.

Exeter were back in the lead six minutes later when, from the corner on the left, Aaron Martin thumped home a header from six yards and Law made certain in stoppage time, breaking on the left to fire an angled drive past Collin.

Report supplied by PA Media

Torquay United entertained Harrogate Town in the National League. From their website:

TUFC 4
(Andrews 51′, Lumbombo-Kalala 70′, Reid 73′, 80′)

Harrogate Town 2
(Stead 33′ pen, 58′)

United came from behind twice to secure victory, thanks to a marvellous last half-hour against Harrogate Town at Plainmoor.

Jon Stead’s goals, either side of Jake Andrews’ early second-half leveller, left Torquay with work to do with 30 minutes remaining. However a red card for Stead, coupled with a stunner from Kalvin Lumbombo-Kalala, set up Jamie Reid’s double to seal all three points for Gary Johnson’s men.

Johnson was forced into a number of changes to the side that secured a 1-1 draw at Woking in midweek, with injured midfield trio Asa Hall, Armani Little and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans being replaced by Andrews, Robbie Cundy, for his full debut, and Ben Whitfield, who was making his home bow following his goalscoring debut in Surrey.

United began the game on top, with Whitfield carrying on where he left off on Tuesday by posing a constant threat for the Town backline. One left-foot cross on five minutes found Reid at the near-post, who fired wide.

Torquay’s other new boy, Cundy went agonisingly close later, with his 21st minute from a corner thudding against the post.

The game though, took a twist in the visitor’s favour on the 32 minutes, as Stead went down in the box under a challenge from Cundy, to win his side a penalty. The same player stepped up to send Lucas Covolan Cavagnari the wrong way and give Harrogate the lead.

goal celebrations for Jonathan Stead of Harrogate Town from the spot, during the Vanarama National League match between Torquay United and Harrogate Town on Saturday 7 Sep 2019, Plainmoor, Torquay, Devon -PHOTO: Sean Hernon/PPAUK

United’s frustration at falling behind was evident up until the interval, with Johnson having to do some fine-tuning during the break.

Just as happened last week against Hartlepool, The Gulls levelled things up in the opening stage of the second period, following a fine right-wing move.

Lumbombo-Kalala, on as a substitute, ran at the Town backline to free up Ben Wynter. The right-back delivered a fine cross into the path of Andrews, who fired home with ease to make it 1-1.

goal celebrations for Jake Andrews of Torquay United, during the Vanarama National League match between Torquay United and Harrogate Town on Saturday 7 Sep 2019, Plainmoor, Torquay, Devon -PHOTO: Sean Hernon/PPAUK

After looking to build on this, it was a real sucker-punch when United fell behind again just seven minutes later.

A deep cross into the box from the left from George Smith found Stead jostling for position at the back post, and the experienced striker edged away from his marker to fire home from the angle of the six-yard box.

Just when the former England-U21 striker might have fancied himself for a hat-trick chance, his afternoon took a turn for the worse on 63 minutes.

Having been booked earlier in the match, the referee took a dim view of a handball offence inside the centre-circle, and gave the towering front man his marching orders.

Seizing the initiative on Town’s main outlet disappearing down the tunnel, Johnson’s men started to press Harrogate back against the Babbacombe End, and a moment of real class set United on their way.

Lumbombo-Kalala, clearly in the mood to turn the game on its head, initially looked to be sizing up his options when the ball reached him on the edge of the box, before unleashing a high drive over the ‘keeper’s head and into the roof of the net to drag his side level.

goal celebrations for Kalvin Kalala of Torquay United during the Vanarama National League match between Torquay United and Harrogate Town on Saturday 7 Sep 2019, Plainmoor, Torquay, Devon -PHOTO: Sean Hernon/PPAUK

The French winger instantly signalled for the ball to be collected from the back of the net, as United set about pressing home their advantage.

In the 73rd minute, Andrews, outstanding all afternoon, drove deep into the area before being brought down. The referee wasted no time in pointing to the spot, with Jamie Reid grabbing the ball.

Reid’s penalty was well saved by  James Belshaw in the Harrogate goal, but in true poacher fashion, Reid followed up to send the loose ball into the net to put Torquay in front for the first time.

Penalty for Jamie Reid of Torquay United on the rebound, during the Vanarama National League match between Torquay United and Harrogate Town on Saturday 7 Sep 2019, Plainmoor, Torquay, Devon -PHOTO: Sean Hernon/PPAUK

United weren’t in the mood to let the game slip away now and with ten minutes to go, the points were made safe.

A delightful move across the box ended with Lumbombo-Kalala threading the ball through to Reid, who made space before belting home a left-footed effort high into the net to make it four.

goal celebrations for Jamie Reid of Torquay United during the Vanarama National League match between Torquay United and Harrogate Town on Saturday 7 Sep 2019, Plainmoor, Torquay, Devon -PHOTO: Sean Hernon/PPAUK

With depleted resources and in the face of adversity, United had emerged victorious, in what could prove to be a pivotal game for their ambitions this season.

Next up is a trip to the Proact Stadium next Saturday, as Johnson’s men take on bottom-of-the-table Chesterfield.

TUFC: 28. Lucas Covolan Cavagnari, 2. Ben Wynter, 3. Liam Davis, 4. Kyle Cameron (c), 6. Joe Lewis (16. Ryan Dickson, 66′), 9. Manny Duku (20. Kalvin Lumbombo-Kalala, HT) 11. Jake Andrews (15. Matt Buse, 86′), 14. Frank Vincent, 19. Jamie Reid, 25. Robbie Cundy, 34. Ben Whitfield. SUBS NOT USED: 1. Shaun MacDonald, 23. Louie Slough.

Yellow Card: Davis (18′), Vincent (44′)

Harrogate Town: 1. James Belshaw, 2. Ryan Fallowfield, 3. George Smith, 6. Warren Burrell (c), 8. Jack Emmett (9. Mark Beck, 65′), 14. Brendan Kiernan (10. Sam Jones, 75′), 16. Jon Stead, 18. Jack Muldoon, 20. Connor Hall, 21. Scott Brown, 22. William Smith. SUBS NOT USED: 7. George Thomson, 13. Joe Cracknell, 23. Jack Diamond.

Yellow Card: Stead (40′, 63′)

Red Card: Stead (63′)

Attendance: 2,527 (59 away)

  

Weymouth Town were also at home. They took on Welling United.

From their website:

It took a late strike from substitute Brett Williams for Weymouth to finally get over the line against a highly organised, ten-man Welling outfit, a result that slides them straight back up to seventh place in the standings after ten games.

Exmouth Town could not capitalise on their victory over Yate Town as they travelled to Highworth Town in the First Qualifying Round of the F.A.Cup and went down 4-2. The match against a Football League team must wait for at least another season.

Elmore took on Plymouth Marjon at home and came out 2-0 winners. This puts Elmore onto 3 points and just above the two relegation places. Plymouth Marjon are in one of those relegation places.

In the Devon League North & East my home village team travelled all the way to the village next door. Bovey Tracey may actually be a town but I walked through the village green to get to the ground and then they made me pay. Most Level 11 matches are free but I was asked for £2 as an OAP and I am glad I paid. The facilities are in good condition although the seat next to me had been unscrewed by some bored youth in a previous match. My team then produced their performance of the season thanks to the new players signed after that 8-1 defeat.

The first half was an even contest and Liverton took the lead. This had happened before but now the defence looked organised rather than ramshackle. Liverton continued to create chances but so did Bovey Tracey. I felt that the Bovey shots were better as they wizzed past the base of the uprights whereas many Liverton shots cleared the crossbar by several feet. Nomatter, I am almost a Liverton supporter now and my team had some fight at last. ... Bovey Tracey equalised. I had seen this before. My team were about to fall apart.

I heard several shouts in support of Liverton and we seemed to have more support than the home team. Two coaches (or ex coaches more accurately) shouted at the blue shirts to get themselves organised and challenge for the ball. This shouting was what had been missing at the start of the season. Some of the players responded.

With five minutes to go the score was 2-2 and there were plenty of chances at both ends. This match was entertainment at its best, the result was always in doubt. One of the blue shirts that I gave top marks to shot at goal but it was straight at the keeper. Oh well. Hang on. The keeper got both hands to the ball and still let it slip over his shoulder and into the net. Clearly our striker had put spin on the ball and the keeper was not up to it.

If you have ever supported a team that loses every week you know that special feeling when you win. It may be a one off and I had made my mind up not to bother with the next home match but now I have to consider very hard whether to watch the newly manned team or pursue my selections at other levels of the pyramid. Maybe my bank balance will keep me in Liverton. That is certainly a possibility.

Now let me see how my selections from Level 12 to 20 did. Those results are nothing to do with you though.