United bowed out of the Fa Cup sponsored by E-on at Planmoor as two goals from sub Elliott Benyon sent Torquay through. Early chances went begging and Torquay were reduced to ten men before the break but United could not find a way through to get their name in the hat against the big boys in Round Three.
The resurgent Eddie Hutchinson had the first shot of the afternoon, sending a left footer over the bar from the edge of the box after three minutes after the first of several strong runs from Lewis Haldane on the left. On the other wing a storming run from man of the match Sam Deering set up a Constable shot deflected wide on six minutes, and with home keeper Scott Bevan only just beating his former Kidderminster teammate in a race for the ball on eight minutes United had certainly settled the better of the two teams.
Bevan made a spectacular save from a twenty-five yard free kick from Chris Carruthers, and having anticipated having to withstand early pressure from the home side it was the boys all in blue who had asked most of the questions, with Deering fizzing a low shot wide on 24 after a speedy break from Yemi Odubade. Torquay looked a threat from set pieces and long throws but were otherwise well marshalled by Matt Day and Luke Foster despite Foster playing with a heavy cold which meant he had hardly trained all week. However, The Gulls kept pecking away and manager Paul Buckle found the ideal way to get his team ahead. Tyrone Thompson had been quiet up front so off he came after half an hour or so. Two minutes from the break and replacement Benyon justified the decision with the opener. A long throw from Nicholson on the right was flicked on by Tim Sills and Benyon nipped in at the near post to touch the ball past the stranded Turley.
Hard done by United nearly equalised as Chris Hargreaves nearly headed into his own net but were then thrown a real lifeline thanks to a moment of stupidity. As everyone waited for a corner to come in Roscoe D'Sane lost patience and inexplicably slapped Turley across the face. Turley was booked for his angry reaction before D'Sane departed for a straight red card. Not the first slapper to cause trouble on a Saturday in Torquay.
A goal, a sending off and tempers flairing: classic cup fare with players hurtling into challenges, but could United pull it round against the ten men? Sadly no.
A low drive from Matt Day on 48 forced Bevan into his first save of the second half and with Torquay now 4-4-1 and struggling to support lone striker Sills The U's just needed to stay patient and to concentrate at set pieces. Shots from Constable and Haldane went well wide of either post before ref Reid made another big decision. Clarke fouled Benyon on the edge of the area and as Rowe's rasper hit the bar it came down, hit Turley on the heel and went in. Fortunately the foul had been given, the goal was not counted, and Sills sent the free kick over the bar from the edge of the area.
It was frantic fun on the English Riviera, rain pouring down and both teams going at it for all they were worth; great to watch if your nerves could stand it. United now switched to the diamond formation that had changed the game in the previous round at Dorchester, with Deering in the hole behind the strikers, but the home side were keeping the ball well and United were struggling to break them down. The ne4t goal was going to win it, and sadly it was Torquay who found it.
A Deering daisy cutter forced Bevan into a save on 80 but then the inevitable happened as Torquay broke away, Mansell crossed and Benyon buried a bouncing ball high into the roof of the net from fifteen yards.
United had had plenty of possession but failed to make it count, and can only dream of what might have been as Torquay watch the draw for the next round.
Att: 2,647
Report by Chris Williams
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