Round 1
Torquay United 0 Reading 1
Att: 2,832
United: Bevan; Robertson, Ellis, Branston, Nicholson, Zebroski, Wroe (c), Mansell, Stevens (Lathrope 112), Kee (O'Kane 97), Benyon. Subs: Rowe-Turner, Macklin, Halpin, Potter, Charnock.
Reading: Hamer; Griffin (c), Williams, Gunnarsson, Tabb, Kebe, Aontonio (Obita 113), Howard, Rasiak, Pearce, Bignall (Karacan 91). Subs: Cummings, Davies, Bell-Baggie, D'Ath, McCarthy.
Goals: Rasiak 120+1
United played out another sterling defensive performance but just as they thought they had battled their way to a penalty shoot out after extra time, Reading scored a last gasp scrambled goal to go through to the second round. It was harsh on the Gulls but there was plenty of positives to take into the weekend match away at Lincoln.
Bucks made one enforced change to the United team that beat Northampton last weekend with Billy Kee coming in to replace the injured Martin Gritton. The Gulls took to the pitch wearing black armbands as a sign of respect for Exeter striker Adam Stansfield who sadly lost his battle with cancer yesterday.
United started the match attacking the Ellacombe End and created the first chance when a mistake by Gunnarsson was jumped on by Billy Kee who had his shot blocked, the ball fell to Chris Zebroski but his right foot effort was always rising and was no threat to Hamer in the Reading goal.
In the 10th minute Hamer was forced into a smart save low down to his right after a good move from the Gulls ended with Nicky Wroe slipping the ball in to Elliot Benyon 8 yards out but the visitor's 'keeper was up to the challenge and conceded a corner from which the ball was cleared to safety.
Reading's first attempt at goal came from a Brian Howard free-kick 22 yards out on the right but his effort curled too much and passed safely by Scott Bevan's left hand post. The first fifteen minutes flew by as both teams were on the front foot and the match was being played at a brisk tempo.
Reading had a spell of pressure during which they couldn't test Scott Bevan despite having at least two sight s at goal and it was United who had the best chance of the match to date when a mistake in midfield gave Chris Zebroski the chance to slot the ball into the path of Billy Kee. The Gulls striker jinked past a couple of tackles but was forced slightly wide although he still had the mindset to strike a powerful right foot shot that Hamer could only parry but the ball fell kindly for Reading and they cleared their lines.
Chris Zebroski produced a marvellous block to deny Tabb after some neat football down Reading's right and with over half an hour gone it was surprising the score was still goalless. United thought they had scored in the 36th minute when Chris Zebroski headed a throw-in toward goal and in a goalmouth scramble inches from the line Elliot Benyon couldn't quite get a touch ahead of Hamer who gathered the ball in amongst a crowd of players.
United had the tales up now and only a superb last ditch tackle by Williams denied Billy Kee his opening goal for the Gulls. Moments later Chris Zebroski produced some superb skill down the right to bamboozle two Reading players before whipping in an excellent cross which just evaded both Elliot Benyon and Billy Kee.
An entertaining first half came to an end with United just a whisker away from scoring on more than one occasion. A little bit more quality from either team at the right time seemed all that was missing.
No changes at the break and Reading were out of the traps straight away forcing a corner after Guy Branston did well to beat Bignall to a dangerous looking near post cross by Aontonio.
Howard forced a good tip over from Scott Bevan in the 51st minute with a 25 yard left foot free kick and from the resultant corner Scott claimed comfortably high above his head. Bevan was called into action again shortly after when Griffin forced the United 'keeper into a double handed parry out into open play.
Both teams were still looking dangerous but a clear cut chance eluded them as the match ticked past the hour mark. United's best opportunities were coming from the right side with Chris Zebroski having a particularly good evening.
Grzegorz Rasiak beat Scott Bevan with a left foot shot but also beat the far post while almost immediately after Kevin Nicholson tested Hamer with a left foot free-kick from 22 yards which the Reading 'keeper saw all the way before gathering.
Chris Zebroski beat Williams, not for the first time down the right and fired a right foot cross that Danny Stevens couldn't quite a full touch on and the ball span wide. In the 70th minute Chris Zebroskiwas shown a yellow card for a crunching foul on Howard in a match that was being played in a very fair manner.
Billy Kee gave Hamer a fright with a 25 yard dipping volley as United threatened again to open the scoring but extra-time was looming on the horizon. With eleven minutes remaining Danny Stevens tested Hamer with a left foot shot but it was too weak to really cause the Reading 'keeper a problem.
United were looking a good defensive unit again but they conceded a free kick in a dangerous position with 4 minutes remaining and Howard forced Bevan into another tip over for a corner. From the set-piece Scott claimed a high ball with some comfort. The Plainmoor faithful were giving their team all the encouragement they could and the team were doing their best to respond.
The final whistle brought to an end ninety entertaining minutes and took us into a further half hour of extra time.
The first substitution came during the break before extra time with Reading bringing off Bignall and replacing him with Karacan.
In the 92nd minute a corner from United's left by Kevin Nicholson eventually fell at the feet of Guy Branston but his right foot shot went wide of the target.
Bucks made his first change in the 97th minute when billy Kee was replaced by Eunan O'Kane and he slotted in behind Elliot Benyon.
Eunan was straight into the action when he received a crisp pass from Kevin Nicholson and then turned on a sixpence and slipped a great ball down the left channel for Elliot Benyon but he was beaten to the ball by Hamer.
The first period of extra time passed and the spectre of a penalty shoot began to form.
Danny Stevens was still looking bright as we began the second period of extra time and a pacey run down the centre finished with a low shot that Hamer gathered. Eunan O'Kane showed his marker a clean pair of heels down the left and curled an almost inch perfect pass that just gave Hamer a chance to get enough of the ball ahead of Elliot Benyon but United were knocking on the door.
Elliot Benyon did everything but score in the 109th minute when he chased down a loose ball stepped inside the area on the left and curled a superb right foot shot that hits the inside of the far post and back out.
Moments later Hamer committed a handball when he took the ball out of the penalty area from an open play goal kick. From the free kick 20 yards out Kevin Nicholson forced a save from Hamer. Damon Lathrope was introduced as a replacement for Danny Stevens in the 112th minute as Bucks introduced some fresh legs.
Gunnarsson was booked for a foul on Benyon as the match began to stretch out and it was still anyone's game for the taking.Benyon was then booked for a tackle on tab as tempers began to rise.
In added-on time at the end of extra time United's hearts were broken when a goalmouth scramble from a Reading free kick was eventually headed home by Rasiak. United didn't deserve to lose this late in the match and although penalties may not be everyone's favourite way to end a cup tie it was a chance that the Gulls had earned.
