Sponsor: MANDERWOOD TIMBER ENGINEERING
Man of the Match: STEVE WOODS
A powerful display by United was too much for Stevenage to withstand at Plainmoor this afternoon. Three second half goals were no less than Torquay deserved as they stretched their unbeaten run and closed up on the leading teams in the Blue Square Premier.
Paul Buckle made two changes to the team that started the match with Wrexham last weekend: Roscoe Dsane replaced the injured Elliot Benyon, as he did against Wrexham, while the fit again Wayne Carlisle regained his place at the expense of Throne Thompson.
The match began in swirling conditions and drizzle with the wind behind United in the first half. The first shot of note came from Roscoe Dsane who controlled a pass from Nicholson and cut in from the left before hitting a low shot from twenty yards which Day held at the second attempt. After a quarter of an hour United provided the best move of the match so far: Wroe won the ball and Hargreaves headed toward Carlisle out on the right wing, Wayne's first touch was too much for his marker and after earning himself a couple of free yards he crossed for Matt Green who had taken up a position at the far post, but the Torquay strikers header was to high to trouble Day and looped wide.
Chris Robertson isn't noted for his prowess in front of goal but he tested Day in the 20th minute after cutting inside and, from a fair distance out, made the Stevenage 'keeper save low down at his feet. Torquay were playing the more precise football and Stevenage were a little too direct in their play considering the windy conditions. United came close to scoring in the 23rd minute when, after another good cross from Carlisle, Green found himself with the ball at his feet and unmarked six yards out but his shot on the turn was saved by Day. In reality though, Green should have scored and the save was basically the ball hitting Day rather than an example of great goalkeeping.
It was Green who was again denied by Day two minutes later; this time, ten yards out, Green got himself on the end of a Nicholson corner and hit is shot into the ground but the ball was still heading for the top right corner until Day palmed the shot out to safety when it looked as though United were going to take the lead.
The conditions weren't conducive to a flowing game of football but United were creating chances and good chances at that. Roscoe Dsane was next to test Day's defences and his shot from the edge of the area beat Day but also slipped narrowly past the left hand post. As the half reached its climax Stevenage had their best spell forcing a number of corners and creating situations that caused United some discomfort but Steve Woods was outstanding during this spell marshalling the defence.
No goals at half-time but the scoreline didn't reflect the amount of good chances United had created and even with the wind against in the second period Paul Buckle's team must have been confident of finding the net.
Second Half
Torquay started the second half in a very positive fashion, forcing two corners straight from the kick-off. The ball was holding up in the wind and causing the Stevenage defence problems in clearing their lines. Five minutes after the re-start and Morison had Stevenage's best chance of the match; Steve Woods' clearance hit Cole and fell to the Stevenage stiker who bore down on Bevan's goal and from 12 yards somehow managed to miss the target completely. Moments later and the United 'keeper had to be at his best to deny Vicenti who had his shot from ten yards tipped wide by Bevan who saw the ball late through a crowd of bodies.
United responded well to this period of pressure and created the next decent chance of the match; Roscoe Dsane whipped a cross in from the right and Matt Green flicked the ball on to the far post where Chris Hargreaves had made a trademark run but his header, whilst brave, was directed back across goal and wide of Day's right hand post. Green had another opportunity to open the scoring shortly afterwards but Albrighton made an excellent block just as the United striker was about to pull the trigger. At the other end Steve Woods was at it again, keeping the scores level with a goal line clearance from a Morison shot that bounced up and had Bevan beaten.
Torquay were looking far more likely to open the scoring but couldn't find the killer touch in front of goal. Nicky Wroe was the next player to try his luck and from the edge of the Stevenage area he hit a decent left footed drive but it was rising all the way and didn't test Day. From the resultant goal kick United were straight back at the throats of the visitors and this time the pressure told. A corner was floated to the far post where Hargreaves did well to direct his header back across the six yard box where Chris Robertson found himself unmarked and powerfully headed home, this time giving Day no chance.
Chris Robertson scores the opener
It was all Torquay now, Dsane was denied at the far post by a block from Henry and Hargreaves headed narrowly wide from a corner but United weren't finished just yet; Wayne Carlisle crossed from the right and Tim Sills' header was blocked and went straight up in the air but the Gull's striker was aware of his own position and calmly waited for the ball to come back down before looping a well directed header toward the far post with Day only able to get fingertips to the ball which weren't enough to stop its flight into the net. A devastating passage of play from United which blasted Stevenage out of the water and left the Plainmoor crowd screaming for more.
The visitors used up all of their allotted substitutions in a bid to make a comeback but it was looking highly unlikely as the game headed toward its finale. In the last few weeks Nicky Wroe has been one of United's standout performers and it was fitting that he should score the third goal of the match. The midfielder collected the ball just inside the Stevenage area and hit a right foot volley from 15 yards to score his first goal in United's colours and top off what had become a very professional performance by Paul Buckle's team.
Tim Sills' header beats the Stevenage 'keeper
Stevenage were unable to live with United, especially during the second half, and there will be a number of Blue Square Premier teams who will be looking over their shoulders at the position and current form of the side from South Devon. Oxford next up at Plainmoor for what has the makings of another cracking game. Let's hope our good form continues in front of the Setanta cameras.
United boss Paul Buckle was understandably delighted with the performance-'I was disappointed we came in at half-time level because we dominated the half. The weather may have played a part but we coped very well. They had a spell ten minutes into the second half but after that it was all us and we deserved to win comfortably. I'm really delighted with three points and the manner of the win.'
