If you are going to score a goal in a football match the 90th minute isn't a bad time to do it. For the second game in a week Torquay left it late to secure a win against an opponent who on paper shoud not trouble the high flying Gulls. Paul Buckle has been at pains all season to stress to players and supporters that regardless of league position no game is won before the kick off and this afternoon was proof positive of that. A Droylsden team that had only one point to show from their travels this season put up a performance of grit and determination and a little muscle that would put better sides to shame. The fact they didn't leave Plainmoor with anything is a sign of the battling spirit and superior fitness of a Torquay side that received the half time hair dryer from their Boss.

The match never really got going and there was a muted atmosphere at Plainmoor, it was almost as if the crowd were waiting for the onslaught but it never came. The visitors started with three up front and should be applauded for their attempts to play some football with an attacking approach. United had a returning Lee Mansell back in midfield and Chris Todd was partnering Mark Ellis in defence and they were slightly the busier during hte opening exchanges. United seemed a little off the boil and were second best around the pitch much to the annoyance of Lee Mansell who repeatedly tried to raise his fellow Gulls out of their slumber. Steve Daly was looking sharp up front for Droylsden along with a slightly rotund but, in fairness, impressive Jody Banim who ran himself into the ground in the second half. It wasn't that United players were performing badly as individuals but as a team things just wern't clicking. It was no surprise when Droylsden took the lead, a good run from Tandy where he jinked past a couple of United defenders before a low cross could only find the boot of an unlucky Mark Ellis gave the visitors a just lead. Ellis could not have done much else, he had to make a lunge for the ball to stop giving Daly an open sight at goal and his second half substitution was purely tactical.

1-0 at half time and the home dressing room was not going to be a place for the easily offended. There were bound to be changes for the second half and sure enough Danny Stevens replaced Paul Hinshelwood in an attacking move to try and regain the initiative. United started brightly and Stevens was involved in most of it as the visitors were slowly pushed back and reduced to attacking on the break. Ishmael Welsh and Danny Wring were not long in following Stevens onto the Plainmoor turf as Paul Buckle made moves to claw the game back. All the substitutions played their part but nothing was falling United's way, good attacking positions were followed by decent delivery into the box but a bit of bad luck and some good defending kept Torquay out. It really was looking like one of those days for the Gulls but this team are made of stern stuff and when a corner was won 12 minutes from time the seeds of hope were about to be sown. Yet another quality Kevin Nicholson set peice delivery winged it's way toward the far post where Tim Sills met the ball 4 yards out with a firm header past a hapless Senior in goal. The Droylsden keeper tried to make out he had been fouled but the referee was having none of it and the scores were level.

Lighting rarely strikes twice but United were lining up for another injury time winner, the visitors had run themselves into the ground and probably did not deserve to lose this match but if you want to be promoted out of any division there is no place for sentimentality. Lee Phillips had been having fustrating day but in the 90th minute he watched a sublime cross field pass from Nicholson make it's way into his path and a well directed header took the ball over Senior into the bottom left corner of the goal. Bedlam followed both on and off the pitch and there was more drama to follow the final whistle. Sadly the Droyslden bench let their team on the pitch down somewhat at the final whistle, a fracas involving a dozen team officials and players from both sides was a sad way for a game that lacked a bit of quality but was full of passion and commitment to end.

Torquay Manager Paul Buckle gave his thoughts on the performance- 'I was livid at half time, absolutely livid. You should start any game with a certain fear in your stomach and you have got to earn the right to play. There was no snap or fight, we were getting knocked off the ball and were second best. It doesn't matter what your league position is you have to fight for everything. I didn't mix my words with the players, we just weren't doing it, it wasn't good enough. We aren't going to be happy drawing games we needed to be brave and we were in the end, the substitutes did it for us, they changed the tempo of the match.'