Torquay went down 2-1 at Rushden tonight with a much changed line-up taking the field, Elliot Benyon scored United's goal and Kevin Hill moved another game closer to the Gulls appearance record.
Paul Buckle made six changes to his starting eleven giving some first choice players a much deserved rest. Paul Hinshelwood came in at right back with Lee Mansell moving to a midfield berth as captain, Mark Ellis returned at centre half to partner Chris Robertson and Darren Mullings and Kevin Hill joined Matt Hockley in midfield with Jody Banim and Elliot Benyon forming the front pairing.
Jody Banim hit the ground running right from the start and almost put Benyon through in the second minute but the ball hit a defenders leg and deflected away. United were much the brighter side and took the lead in the sixth minute; good work down United's left involving Kevin Hill gave Kevin Nicholson the chance to cross and Elliot Benyon was on hand six yards out to head the ball home giving ex-Gull Mikkel Andersen no chance in the Rushden goal.
A great start and clearly the Gulls were enjoying the chance many of them had been given. Banim and Benyon were looking very bright with Elliot playing off the shoulders of the home defence and Banim perfectly capable of slotting the ball into the channels.
Platt had Rushden's first shot on 15 minutes but he couldn't find the target as the home side struggled to find any rhythm.
Banim was at it again after 18 minutes when produced a lovely turn and then released Matt Hockley but his 25 yard shot was deflected wide for a corner. Rushden had their best spell of the first half midway through the period and felt they should have had a penalty when Simon Rayner misjudged a high ball and collided with Rankine when trying to collect the ball but the referee was having none of it. Just after the half hour mark Banim produced a fifty yard run after picking up the ball on the edge of his own area and finished with a neat pass to Benyon but the United forwards control let him down for once and the chance passed. Benyon did get a shot away two minutes later after good work from Hill but his effort was too weak to trouble Andersen.
United's defence had coped well with the little threat that Rushden had caused but were caught with a sucker punch right at the end of the first half; Mark Ellis didn't deal with a high ball and Rankine was quickly on the ball to slot it past a surprised Rayner. All square at half -time but plenty of positives for Paul Buckle to look back on.
The second half began in a scrappy fashion although the home side were having the better of the possession with Rankine breaking through and being denied by a combination of Chris Robertson and Simon Rayner. United were finding it slightly more difficult to get their passing game going although Matt Hockley did release Benyon at one point but Hope did well to recover and clear the ball. United didn't really cause Andersen any real problems until the hour mark when Banim produced something out of nothing; Kevin Nicholson aimed a throw-in toward Banim who let the ball run across him and from 25 yards out hit a right foot volley that dipped and hit the top of the crossbar and out for a goalkick with Andersen beaten.
Simon Rayner was by far the busier 'keeper during the second half and he saved well from Shaw when a goal looked odds on to be scored after a cross from Osano was collected by the Rushden midfielder but the Rayner was up to the challenge and the ball was cleared. There was nothing that the Gulls 'keeper could do about what turned out to be the winning goal; a long ball toward the far post wasn't dealt with and Challinor was on hand 12 yards out to shoot home and give Rushden a deserved lead on the second half play.
Paul Buckle made a double substitution to freshen things up with both front men coming off to be replaced by Lee Phillips and Chris Zebroski but it was Rankine for Rushden who nearly stretched their lead but Simon Rayner saved to keep United in the match. Roscoe Dsane replaced Darren Mullings on 84 minutes and got straight into the action with a 20 yard shot but it went wide of Andersen's goal. The match started to fizzle out with Rushden happy to hold on to their lead and United not being able to create another clear cut chance. A disappointing result but the performance of a number of players would have satisfied the coaching staff. Two points are still needed to clinch second place and attention now moves to Plainmoor for Saturday's home game with York City.
On the subject of Saturday's match don't forget it is Kids For A Quid entry and Senior Citizens will only have to pay £10 to get in!
