Torquay United 3  Oxford United 2

Torquay returned to winning ways tonight with a fine 3-2 win over a decent Oxford United side at Plainmoor. Man of the Match Chris Zebroski scored twice with Tim Sills netting a penalty as United moved a step close to a place in the Blue Square Premier play-offs.

Paul Buckle made two changes to the side that lost against Farsley; Lee Phillips replaced the injured Tony Bedeau while Chris Todd returned to action in place of Mark Ellis who dropped to the bench.

Torquay got off to the worst possible start as they watched Oxford take the lead after only 51 seconds! Michael Green on Oxford's right got free and crossed low and Craig McAllister did the rest with a low shot from 8 yards that gave Simon Rayner no chance. United were up against it and Oxford were looking for a second goal with Green having a shot saved by Rayner and Adam Murray making the wrong decision on the edge of the United area when he took a shot instead of passing the ball on.

United's wide players this evening were Chris Zebroski on the left and Roscoe Dsane on the right and it was Zebroski who made himself United's first chance when he shot over after dribbling his way in from the left wing. Lee Phillips was full of direct running and tested Turley with a shot from 20 yards which was followed soon after by a header from a corner by Tim Sills but the ball went harmlessly wide. Oxford were still posing problems for United and Anaclet had a goal bound shot well blocked by Chris Todd while at the other end another jinking run by Zebroski ended with a shot from 20 yards but it was too weak to trouble Turley. United's equalizer came from the best move of the half; Lee Mansell and Lee Phillips worked the ball to Tim Sills who looked up and fed Zebroski the ball on the left hand side of the visitors area, Zebroski's shot was slightly deflected and although the shot was weak it was enough to beat Turley at his near post.

The goal came on 40 minutes but there was time enough for another injury scare for the Gulls; Steve Adams came off two minutes before the break looking in some discomfort and was replaced by Matt Hockley. Steve felt a twinge in his calf and so was taken off as a precaution - the last thing we need now is another long term absentee. All square at the break and the match was developing into a decent contest.

The second half nearly started with a bang when Lee Phillips made a strong run into the Oxford area and looked to have been tripped but the referee decided otherwise and booked the Gulls forward for diving. This was the start of a decent spell by Torquay as they gradually took hold of the game and were restricting the visitors to breakaways rather than long periods of possession and pressure. Chris Zebroski was showing all the form from earlier in the season and tested Turley yet again just after the hour with a shot from the angle while Chris Todd was doing his bit at the other end to deny a Green header with a timely deflection to concede a corner.

United were looking more dangerous as the match reached it's closing stages and it was no surprise when they scored a second goal; Lee Mansell swung a good cross in from the right which was flicked on by Lee Phillips and collected by Zebroski who took a touch before beating the on rushing Turley with a shot inside his far post-a great finish. Things got a lot worse for Oxford just a minute later when Foster was adjudged to have handled a header from Dsane inside his own penalty area and a spot kick was awarded, Zebroski was denied the chance for a hat-trick as regular penalty taker Tim Sills stepped up and sent Turley the wrong way for United's third and surely winning goal?

With just 3 minutes of normal time left Oxford were awarded a penalty of their own when Chris Robertson brought down Richards. Adam Murray stepped up and sent Rayner the wrong way in a similar fashion to Tim Sills' spot kick to give the visitors some hope for the closing moments. Three minutes of added time were played out but Oxford could not trouble Simon Rayner's goal and the Gulls supporters were delighted with the three points and a back to form performance.