Lineup: WestallM, Quintrell, Carter, WhiteJ, Hussey, Cotter, Payn, Pacey, Ferguson, WestallC, Easterbrook.

Subs: Northcott, WhiteS, Blair. Unused: Bartolini, Rowe.

Scorer: Hussey (pen)

Another lengthy break between fixtures for us but it wasn't visible on the day from our performance, just not the scoreline. My first visit to Gunnislake in years and their new pitch is far better than the one in the valley. A big pitch which yesterday was slick throughout.

The game didn't take long for meaningful action. Torpoint moved the ball well in the early stages, but on 15mins an indirect free kick was excellently smashed into the top corner by Kev McAllion for a Gunni lead. Torpoint weren't disheartened and equalised around 10mins later. The lively Ferguson found himself in good possession inside the box and was brought down when trying to beat his man. Easy decision and Hussey put into the bottom corner. The next goal was again for the home side, with a quick passing move found the forward inside the box who finished very well low into the left corner. A great finish and team move.

Torpoint pushed forward again looking for the equaliser. Cotter and Pacey in particular looked confident in possession and WestallC did everything he could to get us into better positions. It was skipper WestallC who was instigator of the next event. He bundled through two defenders and was brought down inside the box. The official waved no offence to the away side's surprise. From my view it was a stone waller but I'm not the opinion that matters. Within 30secs there was a penalty, for Gunnislake. A huge swing against us which hurt even more when Ash Small scored his 2nd pen against us in 2 games to make it 3-1. I thought it was a penalty, but after the game McAllion was outspoken multiple times in his admittance that he'd dived. Our linesman/sub was warned for trying to "assist" in the decision but I respect that it's not the place of a team provided volunteer. 3-1 HT.

HT was a positive changing room despite the score line. We could only control our own mindset and performance and not let negativity or frustration take over. But despite lots of good possession in the middle 1/3 of the pitch, we huffed and puffed in terms of creating chances. Late on, it was all Torpoint, but robust defending from both Gunni centre halves were both brave and impressive in the timing of their tackles and last ditch blocks. The keeper also made two good saves in the last 5 to prevent us from any hope, one in particular making himself big, low to the ground to save. Against the momentum, Gunni secured victory. A counter down the right ended up in the net with WestallM wrong-footed. Didn't see why but have to assume the cross took a big deflection.

Credit to Gunni, they're a strong side, with their core of keeper, Southcott, centre half? Coton and McAllion good players. Coton was handled well yesterday though, being outshone by 2 players on the losing side. Apart from my difference of opinion on two monumental key decisions from the official, his handling of the game as a whole was very good. Calm throughout and the game didn't have a single bad tackle or look close to ever boiling over, which it did in the previous fixture in August. Though playing well and still losing hurts more than most losses, it sets up the Semi Final in March for an interesting one.