Torquay were denied a win tonight by an excellent Onome Sodje equaliser after they looked to have done enough to claim the three points with a Danny Stevens goal in a hard fought BSP match at Plainmoor.
United were unchanged from the match against Salisbury which was no surprise considering the improved performance. The match was played in perfect weather conditions and both teams started the match confidently without either one creating any chances. The first half chance of the match fell to York when Mark Ellis was penalised for a tackle out on United's left and Greaves headed over from the free kick. A minute later and York came even closer with a decent right foot strike by Brodie whipping past Poke's right hand post. United forced the first corner of the match in the 18th minute but the left footed cross by Lee Hodges was comfortably cleared. Two minutes later and Wayne Carlisle shimmied his was past a couple of York defenders before playing a wall pass with Sills but he was eventually closed down, Torquay were starting to apply a little pressure to the visitors in what had up to this point been a very even match. Chris Robertson saved United in the 24th minute when a clearance by Woods looped back toward goal and the Gulls right back swept up to head clear in front of an on rushing McBreen.
The best chance of the match so far fell to Roscoe Dsane who was put clear after an excellent interception by Lee Mansell, the United forward took his time and hit his shot low inside Ingam's left hand post but the York keeper was up to the challenge and palmed the ball clear, from the resultant play Dsane was given offside from a Mansell centre but the signs were looking positive. United were just lacking some quality in the final third, crosses weren't quite finding their man although in the 40th minute a great move involving some one touch play between Robertson, Carlisle and Dsane finished with ball being laid into the path of Lee Mansell with his shot just missing the far post by a couple of feet. Right on 45 minutes Mustapha Carayol let fly from 25 yards but the shot was always going wide although it made Ingam dive to cover his near post. A first half that never really got going but the support was there for United's team, it may have lower than everyone would have liked but those present were making themselves heard in a very positive manner.
No changes at half-time but Torquay started the brighter without causing the York 'keeper any nightmares. Steve Woods was on hand to deny Farrell a clear strike at goal when the York player was clean through and bearing down on Poke's goal but the United defender timed his covering run and tackle to perfection to win the ball and complete the clearance. United were trying hard to impress themselves and after some good build-up play the ball fell to Chris Hargreaves 25 yards out, his shot looked to be on target but was blocked by two York defenders and the following corner was safely dealt with by the visitors. York were having moments of their own with the latest chance falling to McGurk but he headed wide from a good position from a wide free kick. Paul Buckle made his first change of the match on 69 minutes when Danny Stevens replaced Carayol on the left of midfield. What a substitution that turned out to be! Within a minute a good cross field ball by Hargreaves was controlled by Carlisle who sent in a superb cross which caused the visitors defence to panic, after a couple of attempted clearances the ball clipped off Tim Sills to the feet of Danny Stevens who right footed with his first touch cracked the ball low past Ingam from eight yards. The relief was palpable around Plainmoor and the singing continued. United were completely on top now and another goal would seal the match and calm the obvious nerves in the crowd. A superb tackle by Mark Ellis forced the ball infield to Wayne Carlisle who took a touch and hit a 25 yard shot which was hit with force and bend but ended up two feet over the bar with Ingam beaten. Torquay United were now playing with more freedom and purpose with tackle flying in and some neat football leaving the York players chasing shadows at times.
Matt Green was introduced in place of Roscoe Dsane with ten minutes left but it was the visitors who were having a good spell forcing a corner after Hargreaves had tracked back to block a left wing cross. York were having their fair share of the ball but weren't really threatening an equaliser, and then guess what: McBreen flicked on a route one high ball which Sodje latched on to and hit a fine right foot volley which gave Poke not a sniff of getting a hand to hit. Three minutes of time added on and could United snatch a winner? No, and again a game that should have been wasn't. United are denied again by a cracking goal and have to settle for a point.
