United produced a superb performance in destroying Stevenage Borough in front of their own supporters this afternoon with a 3-1 scoreline that didn't do justice to Torquay's dominance.
Paul Buckle was forced into one change from the Gulls line-up that started against Oxford; Steve Adams hadn't recovered from his calf injury and was replaced by Matt Hockley who did well when he came on for Adams last week. Elliot Benyon made a return to the bench.
United started well and were looking very positive from the off. The first chance of the game went to the Gulls; after good work from Lee Mansell who hooked the ball back into the penalty area Chris Zebroski took a touch and from an angle hit a strong shot that was very well saved by Julian in the Stevenage goal. United continued to press and forced successive corners as the home side were put on the back foot.
Chris Hargreaves put a header into the side netting from a Kevin Nicholson free kick from the right as United were looking the more likely to break the deadlock. Simon Rayner wasn't called into action until the 18th minute when he collected a weak shot from Willock. The match was proving an open encounter and both sides were clearly looking for the win.
The best chance of the match so far came in the 28th minute after good work from Roscoe Dsane when he cut in from the right and beat two defenders before finding Lee Phillips whose shot was cleared off the line by Westwood leaving Phillips wondering how he didn't score! Straight after that moment Stevenage almost took the lead when a goal bound shot from Vincenti was deflected for a corner as the game became an end to end contest. Matt Hockley had to leave the pitch temporarily for a blood injury but returned to the fray soon after. Stevenage were happy to shoot from long range but were not troubling Rayner at all from such distances while at the other end United were stacking up the corners as they pushed for the opening goal. From a Lee Mansell corner in the 36th minute Chris Todd thought he had fired United into a lead but the referee adjudged he had fouled his marker much to the distain of the Torquay centre back.
Chris Robertson had to be alert on 38 minutes to clear away after Simon Rayner was troubled by a cross and the United 'keeper was called into action when Smith directed his header into his arms. Right at the end of the first period Zebroski was put clear down the left hand side and centred for Dsane who seemed to leave the ball when he looked to have a clear shooting opportunity and the chance went.
United certainly had the better of the first half but with the scores level it doesn't count for much unless they could build on it during the second period.
The second half was one of the best 45 minutes that United have produced this season. Even after going a goal down five minutes in after Simon Rayner tripped Willock which was followed by a successful spot kick by Grant, United didn't relent for a moment and took the game by the scruff of the neck. Chris Todd headed over from 12 yards and Roscoe Dsane had a goal disallowed after being given offside at the far post from a Zebroski shot that he touched in but it was only a respite for the home side and it was United's skipper who brought the Gulls level with a typical piece of whole hearted play; Chris Hargreaves got himself on the end of a cross to connect with a header that was superbly saved by Julian but Chris reacted first and hit home from 12 yards, it was the least that United's performance deserved.
The Gulls were far from finished and with both sides going for it, it was United who hit the decisive third goal; a breakaway from Roscoe Dsane and Lee Mansell finished with the United right back crossing to the far post where Chris Zebroski finished the move in style with a firm header from 6 yards, you could feel the confidence draining out of the home side.
Kevin Hill came on to replace Dsane and move tantalisingly close to the all-time appearance record for United and there was a booking for Matt Hockley but after a short spell of pressure for the home side United finished things off; good work down the right by Phillips and Zebroski finished with Phillips having a shot blocked but reacting first before being brought down by Oliver. Tim Sills stuck his 20th goal of the season from the spot with a well taken penalty low down to Julian's left and seal a comprehensive win for Paul Buckle's side. This result sends out a message to all prospective play-off opposition and if Stevenage make the end of season lottery they will certainly want to avoid United at all costs.
