F.A. Trophy Final
Torquay United 0 Ebbsfleet United 1
Attendance - 40,186
TORQUAY UNITED
21 MARTIN RICE; 3 KEVIN NICHOLSON, 4 STEVE WOODS (c), 6 CHRIS TODD, 7 LEE MANSELL, 8 TIM SILLS (Hill 89), 10 LEE PHILLIPS (Stevens 46), 14 CHRIS HARGREAVES, 20 ROSCOE DSANE (Benyon 65), 24 STEVE ADAMS, 26 CHRIS ZEBROSKI subs; 5 CHRIS ROBERTSON, 16 MATT HOCKLEY
Sometimes you have to look back on a football match and wonder did we do enough? Were we a challenge for the opposition? Well today we were good enough and we certainly did pose a challenge to the opposition but chances weren't taken and a mistake cost us dearly in the end.
Roscoe Dsane returned to the United starting line-up in place of Chris Robertson and Lee Phillips came in for Kevin Hill in the only changes from the play-off semi-final against Exeter last week. Both Hilly and Robertson took a place on the bench alongside Elliot Benyon, Danny Stevens and Matt Hockley.
The first half chance of the match came in the second minute when Akinde broke through on the byline but a heavy touch gave Chris Todd the opportunity to clear for United. In the 5th minute United were awarded a central free kick 40 yards out after a handball, Steve Adams touched the ball to Kevin Nicholson who forced Cronin into a neat save low down to his left to concede a corner. From the resultant play United were given another free kick and this time Nicholson swung it in from wide right and Tim Sills headed agonisingly wide with Cronin beaten; just the start United wanted, upbeat and direct.A very positive start by Paul Buckle's side, all that was needed was a goal!
In the 11th minute a strong run by Lee Phillips was stopped in it's tracks by McCarthy who was shown a yellow card for his efforts, unfortunately United could not capitalize with the free kick. In the 13th minute United created another great chance; after some good build up play Kevin Nicholson fed the ball in from the left and Lee Phillips nodded the ball back to Roscoe Dsane who shot inches wide with Cronin beaten. Straight after that Ebbsfleet had their best chance of the half but Long shot well over from 20 yards.
Martin Rice hadn't had much to do but in the 21st minute he had to be at his best to save low down to his right from a Bostwick shot from the edge of the area and the United 'keeper was alert enough to react and gather the ball at the second attempt. Rice was United's saviour again in the 25th minute when he saved from Long who had found space again on the edge of United's area.
The big drama of the first half came in the 40th minute when Martin Rice was adjudged to have fouled Luke Moore in the area and the referee pointed to the spot before booking the United 'keeper. Ex-Gull Chris McPhee stepped up to take the kick but hit far too close to Rice who palmed the ball away one handed and keep the scores level; it was a fine save and who knew at the time how important it would be?
It all counted for nothing though in the 45th minute when Chris Todd was caught by Akinde on the by-line and the Ebbsfleet forward slid the ball across for McPhee to stab home. How United were behind at half-time is hard to fathom but behind they were. Clear cut chances were not taken and a mistake gifted Ebbsfleet the lead. A big, big effort was needed in the second half.
A change at half time for United; Danny Stevens replaced Lee Phillips with Roscoe Dsane moving up to partner Tim Sills and Stevens moving to the right of midfiled.
United started the second half on the front foot but were restricted to a couple of corners and crosses from wide areas but couldn't quite trouble Cronin enough in the early stages.
In the 57th minute Danny Stevens was put clear in a wide area but his cross was well cleared and Torquay couldn't press home another attacking position. United were doing all the pressing and Zebroski even had time to bamboozle James Smith on the edge of the area and stick him on his backside!
Rice was United's saviour again in the 63rd minute when he tipped a Long free-kick away and Akinde was denied by a combination of Chris Todd and the post. Roscoe Dsane picked up a shoulder injury on 65 minutes and was replaced by Elliot Benyon in a straight swap. Torquay's best chance so far in the second period came in the 68th minute when Tim Sills got on the end of a Kevin Nicholson cross but his header went into the arms of Cronin. The Gulls began to step things up, which they had to do, and the introduction of Stevens had a positive effect on United's right hand side. Elliot Benyon was too quick for Smith on 71 minutes and the Ebbsfleet defender was rightly booked for a last cynical tackle on the Gulls forward. Two minutes later and United nearly equalized; a corner from Danny Stevens was headed goalward by Sills but Hawkins cleared off the line at the far post. Ebbsfleet should have scored their second on 75 minutes but Smith headed over from a free-kick when he should have done a lot better.
The best chance yet that Torquay created fell to Benyon when he got beyond Smith and on the end of Nicholson's cross but he headed wide of the far post when most of the Gulls support were out of their seats to acclaim the goal. United were trying everything they could to drag themselves back into the match and as a last throw of the dice Kevin Hill was sent for his record breaking 474th appearance for Torquay United when he replaced Tim Sills and took his place up front with Benyon. Ebbsfleet were having plenty of the possession and United just couldn't get up a head of steam for one last attack.
The final whistle went after three minutes of added on time and United's dream was over. A game that could and probably should have been won on chances created slipped out of United's hands and unbelievably the season ends with nothing tangible to show.
