United earned three important points with a hard fought win against Farsley Celtic in Yorkshire tonight. Chris Zebroski and Danny Stevens were the goal scorers in a result which pulls the gulls away from the chasing pack and within four points of leaders Aldershot.
Torquay started the match very brightly, the pitch was very hard but it had no effect on the way United went about their job. Good pressure from the Gulls after six minutes resulted in a corner which was taken by Kevin Nicholson. The ball was half cleared but Chris Robertson and Chris Hargreaves contrived to return the ball back in to the area wherenTim Sills flicked the ball on, Lee Phillips was first to react but his shot hit the bar, fortunately for United the ball ended up at the feet of Chris Zebroski who finished easily from close range to put the Gulls one up.
It was ten minutes before Farsley gave the United defence anything to worry about with both Reeves and Downes having shots at goal but not troubling Martin Rice in the United goal. Farsley had as many shots in the first half as United but the telling statistic was that none of Farsley's shots were on target. Chris Zebroski showed glimpses of what he is capable of, the best of which was in the 21st minute when a burst of pace took him away from three home defenders which was followed by a curling shot that just fizzed over the crossbar.
Farsley had chances, the best of which fell to the evergreen Steve Torpey but his header from a Stamer cross found the side netting when he should have equalised. Martin Rice saved bravely at the feet of Reeves for one of the few occasions he was called upon in the first 45 minutes. United had far more possession than Farsley during the first half and possibly should have had more than a one goal lead, the home side were reduced to small periods of dominance while trying to stem the tide against a confident Torquay team.
United started the second half strongly and were expecting the home team to come and try and battle their way back into the match. Kevin Nicholson started the half well and was involved in the first chance of the second period.
After a Nicholson corner was cleared the ball was worked to Chris Hargreaves but his shot drifted wide. Farsley created their best chance of the match so far when the impressive Stamer crossed for Knowles to flick a header onto the top of the crossbar and, fortunately for United, out for a goalkick. United were not dominating as much as they had in the first period but it was the Gulls who got the important second goal. Chris Zebroski was released down the wing as the Gulls broke out in attack, the ball was laid back and then centered into the penalty area where Lee Phillips and Tim Sills battled for control of the ball, eventually the ball broke to Danny Stevens on the edge of the area and he struck a neat shot past Morgan to put United 2-0 up.
Farsley didn't have an attempt on target in the first half and it took them until the 67th minute to finally press Martin Rice into a save; a corner was flicked on and Reeves managed to get a touch on the ball but it fell straight into Martin Rice's hands.
Lee Phillips almost increased the lead moments later but his shot crept wide with Morgan beaten. The result was put in doubt on 78 minutes when Farsley scored with a fine volley from Stamer that Rice did very well to get a hand to, but he couldn't keep the ball out. The goal left the United supporters with a nervy 10 minutes to watch as Farsley went in search of the equalizer. United's defence is made of stern stuff and the home side were unable to create another clear cut chance. Elliot Benyon and Tony Bedeau came on to replace Danny Stevens and Chris Zebroski and Matt Hockley had to replace Kevin Nicholson who was taken off with blurred vision after winning a brave header, Lee Mansell reverted to left back. After six minutes of added on time the final whistle went, it wasn't a classic, United will play much better and lose, but it was definitely a case of job done.
