Match Sponsor - PLAY NIGHTCLUB
Man of the Match - Chris Zebroski
The Gulls secured their place in the play-offs with a 1-0 win over a spirited Northwich Victoria thanks to a superb goal from Chris Zebroski at Plainmoor.
Paul Buckle fielded an unchanged line-up, including the same bench, for tonight's game after Saturday's excellent result at Stevenage.
The match started brightly with Mullen standing out for the visitors although it was a United player who almost gave Northwich the lead; in the 4th minute Chris Robertson headed a long clearance back toward Simon Rayner but he got too much on it, Rayner reacted well to tip the ball over his crossbar for a corner.
Tim Sills was up to his usual trick of hassling opposition defenders by closing them down and he forced an error in the 10th minute which led to the ball ending up at the feet of Chris Zebroski but his shot was easily gathered by Tynan in the Northwich goal. The visitors were not without chances of their own with Steele and Brown looking sharp and it was Steele who had their best opportunity with a right foot volley from 16 yards but he struck it wide when he would have expected to do better.
Chris Zebroski was continuing with his current run of fine form and he had a snap shot in the 19th minute that forced a save from Tynan and it was Zebroski who was involved in United's best chance so far which came in the 34th minute; Zebs forced the ball down United's left into space and gave the Northwich defender a couple of yards before outpacing him as he reached the edge of the area, he squared the ball to Roscoe Dsane who found himself on the penalty spot with the goal at his mercy but Tynan was quick off his line and blocked the first shot. Dsane got to the ball for a second go but his shot was deflected to Zebroski and his effort was blocked and then cleared and the chance was lost.
As the half wore on United were starting to create the better chances and Dsane had another shot that was blocked but the resultant passage of play ended with United taking the lead. The ball was headed clear and fell to Zebroski on the left edge of the visitors area, he cut inside and then hit a superb curling right foot shot into the top right hand corner of the goal giving Tynan no chance, it was a goal worthy of a higher level than this.
Northwich were looking dangerous on the break and with a little more quality and luck the scoreline at half-time could have been different but the United defence was looking resilient.
No changes for United at half-time and a solid start with Roscoe Dsane switching over to the left of midfield and making a good impression. The first moment of danger for the Gulls came 5 minutes after the restart when Matt Hockley was caught in possession near the halfway line and Lee Steele broke forward for Northwich. Steel's strong run finished with him trying to slip the ball square but the onrushing Chris Hargreaves got in the way of the ball which cannoned off his foot and shot narrowly wide of Rayner's right hand post, it would have been a cruel own goal to concede but United escaped with nothing worse than a corner against.
Northwich sub Byrne had a good shot on 53 minutes that went just wide of Rayner's goal as the visitors pushed for the equaliser. The best moment for Torquay in the second half came from Dsane; Lee Mansell cut in from the right and floated a cross toward Zebroski who dummied the ball which fell to Roscoe, he cut back and from the edge of the area let fly with a thunderous shot which hit the crossbar before going out for a goalkick. Both sides were creating shooting opportunities but nothing that was causing either goalkeeper too many problems.
It was Dsane who came closest again with 11 minutes left when he cut inside Mullen and hit a low shot that Tynan did well to fingertip wide and concede a corner. The last chance of the match went to Northwich and in all honesty they should have scored; after a mix up by United the visiting captain Michael Welch found himself clear through on goal, he kept his composure well to avoid one challenge and was on the edge of the 6 yard box when he finally pulled the trigger, Simon Rayner could only pick a side to dive for and go with it and the United 'keeper did himself proud when he blocked superbly and the clearance was completed to give away a corner.
Job done tonight and with Burton having to play both Stevenage and Exeter that means Torquay cannot be overhauled by all of them and the play-off place is guaranteed. The task is by no means complete and the hardest part may yet be to come but we should stop tonight and pat Paul Buckle and his staff on the back for coming so far so well and give our congratulations to Aldershot on securing the league title this evening.
