THE 3-3 thriller at Torquay was one of the best Conference games I have seen for years.

The crowd in the main stand rose as one to applaud the players of both sides, and rightly so. The game had been full of incident, with so many thrilling moments. Well refereed and played for the most part in good spirit it reminded all who saw it how good football can be. The beautiful game lived up to its name and so much more.

All started badly for Rovers. An unlucky bounce and the absence of an offside flag presented Torquay with a four minute lead. On 19 minutes wretched Forest Green defending led to a second home team goal.

Rovers were 2-0 down to a team that until that day had given away only five goals.

The worst was feared. Would it become a rout? The players had other ideas and urged forward by manager Ady they took the game to Torquay. There were heroes all over the pitch.

The team had lined up with captain David Pipe unlucky to be on the bench and Chris Stokes not in the squad and left at home. Chris has yet to return to full form and perhaps fitness and his defensive work this season has been fallible. Marcus Kelly remained at left back where he had an outstanding game, but so did so many others.

Special mention must be made of Kurtis Guthrie. Full-time training is suiting him and he is gaining in physical strength game by game. His pace, ability in the air and the willingness to chase everything made him a constant threat to the home team defence.

He looked just like the striker Rovers have been seeking and his partnership with Lee Hughes blossomed. He was our match winner. His first goal was a glanced header and his second came from a fine burst of speed as he anticipated Lee Hughes’ fine right wing cross.

James Norwood scored the other goal with a firmly given free-kick. Without the highlights to confirm what happened I thought the movement of Hughes behind the wall left James with just enough space to aim at.

Rob Sinclair epitomised Rovers’ spirit. Winning balls you never thought he could get to, he linked defence and attack with an inspired midfield performance, but essentially this was a whole team [performance. Sub Christian Jolley played his part having his most important 30 minutes in a Rovers shirt.

He came on with 30 minutes to go and played in his best - down the right, with Norwood playing on the left. Strong running and an altogether more forceful display than we have previously seen from him made his appearance both timely and valuable. Well done Chris – you surprised us all.

To score three goals at fortress Plainmoor indicated how good Rovers can be. It had all been so different against Eastleigh when Rovers threw away the chance of a much needed win by giving away a late goal, and with it the lead. In truth their display had been lack-lustre throughout the evening.

A despondent Ady Pennock was as honest as ever, stating he had made changes to the team “because I have faith in everyone of my squad”.

Of course he has but the seven changes he made were probably four too many. The players showed little understanding and we saw a very poor game.

Captain Pipe is absolved from criticism. Defensively he was outstanding and must have been choked to be on the bench at Torquay, but how can you leave dashing Dale Bennett out of the team? Mrs Light was delighted to obtain his ‘poppy day’ shirt in the auction after the game.

The remembrance service was outstanding. Everyone who planned and contributed to it deserves high praise.

The poignancy of the young players of both sides standing in total respect where the names of the seventy three who made the ultimate sacrifice were displayed on the scoreboard showed how true the line is ‘for our tomorrow we gave our today’. As the sounds of the bugle wafted down the valley I was not the only one with a tear in my eye.

Now to Dover. They are mean in defence having given away just seven goals this season. However it is the week before their second round FA Cup tie and their minds may be on other things. Ours should not be. The Torquay recovery has showed what we can do. A repeat performance please.