United 0 Notts County 0
Match Sponsor: TORQUAY POSTIES
Matchball Sponsor: SHERWELL VALLEY GARAGE
Executive Sponsor: INSIDELAND LTD & SWAN HOMES
Man of the Match: Mark EllisUnited finished their season with yet another clean sheet, setting a club record in the process, and also gave the League 2 Champions a tougher match than they would have expected with nothing but pride resting on the result. In front of United's highest crowd of the season (5,124) the Gulls produced another hard fought result and stretched their new club record for not conceding a goal to a massive 691 minutes.
Before the match the end of season awards were presented by Frank O'Farrell with Elliot Benyon picking up the Supporter's award and top goalscorer and Lee Mansell collected the Junior Gulls and Player's Player gongs.
There were two changes for United with Steve Collis making his debut in goal as he replaced the injured Michael Poke and Danny Stevens coming in for Mustapha Carayol on the wing. Bucks explained after the match that Mustapha had been left out as he was still considering a contract offer from United and Paul thought it would be positive for Muzzie to have some time to consider his future.
The first chance of the match went to the visitors after Facey shook off a challenge down the left and crossed to the far post where Hughes headed over from six yards. It was a sign of what County could do on the break but as things turned out it was a rare foray into United's penalty area.
Lee Mansell was shown a yellow card for a late tackle on Lee Hughes as the match heated up a couple of notches although with the game being played out at a hundred miles an hour decent chances were few and far between.
United did create a good chance in the 22nd minute when a throw-in from Kevin Nicholson was flicked on toward the near post by Chris Zebroski and Elliot Benyon guided a header toward the target but it was straight at Schmeichel in the County goal. Moments later and the Gulls set a new club record for time without conceding a goal when the 22nd minute ticked by and a running total of 623 minutes was achieved.
Edwards was booked for a foul on Elliot Benyon and from the resultant free-kick Chris Robertson flicked the ball on but there was no United player coming in at the far post to guide the ball into what would have been an empty net.
Lee Mansell tested Schmeichel with a left foot effort from twenty yards but it was straight at the visitor's 'keeper. As the match passed the half hour mark United had more than matched their opponents and for a dead rubber there was plenty of effort and application on show.
Steve Collis was called into action by Facey when he palmed a low right shot away for a corner as Notts County pressed but United had just shaded the first period.
Half-Time: United 0 Notts County 0
United began the second half very positively and pressed County back for the first five minutes but failed to test Schmeichel. Nicky Wroe struck the wall with a 25 yard free-kick as United tried to break the deadlock with some up tempo football but County aren't the best team in the division without good reason and were soaking up most of what the Gulls were throwing at them.
Elliot Benyon forced a good block from Schmeichel after being slipped in by Nicky Wroe down the channel and moments later Scott Rendell had a header cleared off the line as United looked far more likely to score the opening goal.
When County eventually created an opening Lee Hughes hit an air shot from ten yards on the angle that just about crept over the dead ball line five yards wide of Collis' left hand post. Steve Collis then had to be alert to deflect a Hughes header, this time on target, and gather at the second attempt.
Kevin Nicholson forced another save from Schmeichel when he struck a powerful left foot shot after a back heel from Nicky Wroe on a free-kick 25 yards out.
There was a flash point in the 79th minute when Bishop committed a late foul on Nicky Wroe which was followed immediately by Mark Ellis and County sub Luke Rodgers squaring up on the halfway line which ended with both players being booked along with Bishop.
United were perhaps a guilty of leaving Elliot Benyon stranded on his own up front at times but they clearly had an understandable respect for their visitors and were never likely to piling forward and leaving things too thin at the back. The current defensive record backs up the fact that United are far from reckless when it comes to protecting their own goal.
At the death Schmeichel was again called into action, this time it was a low strike by Elliot Benyon from 18 yards which was well held by the County 'keeper. The final whistle brought the usual half hearted pitch invasion from both sets of supporters and the season was at an end.
Final Score: United 0 Notts County 0
There have been one or two dips and troughs since August and some mighty big decisions have been made when the final outcomes were uncertain but Bucks and his squad have put together a set of results that have vindicated most if not all of what came earlier. There is now a pressure of sorts to continue this marvellous run at the beginning of next season but for now we can look back and relax and congratulate the management and the squad on a successful first season back in the Football League.
