TORQUAY UNITED'S PLAY-OFF CAMPAIGNS PART TWO

 In the next part of this series, we look at more dramatic highs and lows for the Gull from the play-offs. 

1997-98

United’s next foray into the Play-offs came in the 1997-98 season when Kevin Hodges successfully made a silk purse out of a sow’s ear – just under two years after the Gulls had retained their league status by virtue of Stevenage’s Broadhall Way home not meeting league standards.

A club record winning run of eight matches from January to March 1998 had lifted Torquay towards automatic promotion. Unfortunately, a stuttering run of results which followed left United needing a point from their final day trip to Leyton Orient. Sadly, the Gulls fell to a 2-1 defeat – which also saw goalkeeper Kenny Veysey sent off.

This set up a two-legged Play-off semi-final with Scarborough, and a 3-1 win in the first leg at the Seadogs’ McCain Stadium home put United firmly in control of the tie. What followed in the return meeting proved to be one of the most memorable matches ever witnessed at Plainmoor.

Two virtuoso goals from Rodney Jack in the opening ten minutes saw United race into a two-goal lead. Jason Rockett then replied for Scarborough before player-coach Steve McCall to display the kind of ability that saw him win the UEFA Cup with Ipswich Town in 1981. McCall scored United’s third with a stunning left-footed strike from the edge of the penalty area to restore United’s two-goal cushion on the night. Paul Gibbs later added a fourth in the second half – which proved to be the final nail in Scarborough’s coffin as United headed to Wembley to face Colchester United.

However, a controversial penalty awarded for a ‘handball’ against Jon Gittens condemned the Gulls to a narrow defeat, which proved to be Hodges’ final game in charge before his departure to Plymouth Argyle.

2007-08

Ten years later, a new look Torquay United under Paul Buckle who were looking to bounce back to the Football League at the first attempt headed into the Conference play-offs, where local rivals Exeter City lay in wait.

After a 2-1 win in the first leg at St James Park, with Tim Sills and Chris Zebroski finding the target, the footballing gods appeared to be smiling on the Gulls in the return clash at Plainmoor.

Long-serving United midfielder Kevin Hill was recalled to the Torquay side for a match that would see him equal Dennis Lewis’ long-standing club appearance record of 473. When Hill struck from the edge of the penalty area in the 58th minute to put the Gulls 3-1 ahead on aggregate – the stage seemed set for a perfect ending.

However, the Grecians clearly didn’t read the script as they hit back through Ryan Harley, Ben Watson, a penalty from Richard Logan and an injury time effort from Wayne Carlisle, who would join the Gulls in the summer, saw them overturn their two-goal deficit to win 4-1 on the day and 5-3 on aggregate.

2008-09

Nevertheless, United would have a chance to go one better a year later as they reached the Play-offs again – this time Histon were their opponents. A 2-0 win in the first leg with goals from Tim Sills and Nicky Wroe was followed by a 1-0 defeat at Histon’s Glassworld Stadium home and set a final clash with Cambridge United.

United headed into the final with a goalkeeper with a broken jaw in Michael Poke, a centre back in Chris Todd who was still in remission following a diagnosis from Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia earlier in the season and a centre forward in Tim Sills who was nursing a fractured cheekbone, which saw him take to the field in a ‘Zorro’ mask.

On 35 minutes, the Gulls were in front when skipper Chris Hargreaves lashed home a shot from the edge of the penalty area after being teed up by Elliot Benyon. In the second half, Cambridge were reduced to ten men when Phil Bolland was dismissed for a second yellow card in the 70th minute.

Then, four minutes later, came the pivotal moment in the match. Following some good build-up play between Nicky Wroe and Benyon, Wayne Carlisle raced down the right hand side and picked out Sills, who headed home United’s second and decisive goal which will be forever immortalised by the commentary of Setanta Sport’s Steve Bower: ‘Carlisle, he checks instead, he’s looking for Benyon…Sills!’

2010-11

The Gulls’ return to the Football League was complete and two years later, they would be involved in the League Two Play-offs, following a seventh place finish during the 2010-11 league campaign.

In the semi-finals, United faced a Shrewsbury Town side who they had beaten 5-0 at Plainmoor a couple of months earlier in which Jake Robinson had netted a brace for the Gulls while on loan from the Shrews. Robinson lined up for United again in the first leg at home, but he wasn’t on target on this occasion as efforts from Chris Zebroski and Eunan O’Kane secured a 2-0 win for United. A goalless draw in the return fixture at the Greenhous Meadow set up a meeting with Stevenage at Old Trafford.

Due to Wembley hosting the 2011 UEFA Champions League between Manchester United and Barcelona, both the League Two final between the Gulls and Stevenage and the League One final between Peterborough United and Huddersfield Town were switched to Old Trafford. 20 years beforehand, Manchester United had beaten Barcelona in the 1991 European Cup Winner’s Cup final and Torquay had beaten Blackpool in the Fourth Division Play-off final – the question was could lightning strike twice?

Sadly, both the United’s of Torquay and Manchester lost their respective finals 1-0 and 3-1 – and the Gulls’ defeat proved to be Paul Buckle’s final game as manager as he departed Plainmoor for Bristol Rovers.

2011-12

Despite Buckle’s move to the Memorial Stadium, the Gulls regrouped and rebuilt under his successor Martin Ling as they reached the Play-offs again in the 2011-12 season, after missing out on automatic promotion on the final day of the campaign. However, United fell short in the semi-final with Cheltenham Town as they lost 2-0 at Whaddon Road in the first leg before slipping to a 2-1 defeat in the second leg at Plainmoor, with Taiwo Atieno netting what proved to be a mere consolation goal.

2020-21

After missing out on the National League title at the expense of Sutton United, a new play-off format awaited the Gulls in the Covid-19 impacted 2020-21 campaign.

A one-off home tie with Notts County awaited United after the Magpies won their 5^th versus 6^th play-off eliminator with Chesterfield.

 Returning striker Danny Wright gave Torquay a dream start with just 30 seconds on the clock as Dean Moxey throw to Joe Lewis, and his curling cross found Wright eight yards out. The header was helped in by a deflection off County's Adam Chicksen, but it sent a sun-soaked Plainmoor crowd into raptures.

Wright's return was a closely-guarded secret in the run-up to the game, and he couldn't have hoped for a greater impact.

Torquay continued on the front foot and pushed forward at every opportunity and visiting keeper Sam Slocombe needed to be quick off his line to deny the impressive Lemonheigh-Evans as Torquay pushed on in search of a second goal.

However, County levelled matters before the break when Ruben Rodrigues headed home at the near post.

Wright restored the Gulls’ lead in the opening minutes of the second half, sweeping in a Randell cross, but Adam Chicksen quickly levelled the scores again.

With no further score in the 90 minutes, the game went into extra time.

United skipper Asa Hall gave the home side the lead for the third time with a stooping header in the 100th minute, and in stoppage time at the end of the first period Dean Moxey scored United's fourth from the penalty spot to seal the Gulls’ passage to the final at Ashton Gate against Hartlepool United.

Torquay were livid when they controversially had a seventh-minute goal ruled out for a push after Cameron had got his head on the end of Adam Randell's floated free-kick, with replays not immediately picking up the infringement that referee Simon Mather spotted.

That seemed to galvanise Pools as Armstrong had two chances to put his side ahead soon after, first seeing his close-range effort deflected over by Joe Lewis before he had a header pushed wide by a diving Covolan.

It was Armstrong - who was a thorn in Torquay's side for much of the first half - who provided the breakthrough as the forward excellently controlled Rhys Oates' shot on the edge of the six-yard box and had the strength to turn Sam Sherring and blast in off the underside of the crossbar.

The Gulls were lucky not to be two goals down in the final seconds of the half as Oates found himself unmarked from a corner and saw a powerful header parried over the bar by Covolan.

Cameron had another goal chalked off after an hour, this time being adjudged to have fouled goalkeeper James as he went for the ball, and it seemed as though it would not be Torquay's day as Hartlepool almost scored a second in the final five minutes as Mark Shelton and Gavan Holohan had shots blocked.

Torquay threw everything at their opponents in the final minutes and Billy Waters missed a close-range effort in the 89th minute before Covolan came up in the fifth minute of stoppage time for Torquay's final corner.

Although it was initially cleared, Covolan stayed up field and when the ball was played back in, he rose highest to head past James and send the game into an extra 30 minutes.

Waters had a couple of efforts blocked in the first period of extra time as his Torquay team-mate Jake Andrews was stretchered off with a serious-looking leg injury, but with both sides tiring chances were few and far between before Danny Elliott had a shot blocked for Pools in the final minute as the game went to penalties.

Johnson’s men were hoping to emulate the Class of 1990-91 who won promotion to Division Three at Wembley on penalties. Sadly, this time though, the shoot-out went against them.

Neither side started the penalty kick contest well.

Nicky Featherstone saw his saved by Covolan, before Waters slipped and saw his effort go wide.

Armstrong, a scorer in normal time, also saw his effort palmed away by Covolan, before Wright struck the upright.

Mark Shelton was the first to succeed, and Hall followed suit. Jamie Sterry scored, then Lewis matched him.

Luke Molyneux put his away, as did Little, so we moved to sudden death. Danny Elliot sent Covolan the wrong way, and Lemonheigh-Evans coolly slotted his in to draw level again.

Hartlepool had the advantage of going first, and when Ryan Donaldson scored, the pressure on Matt Buse was immense. Sadly he missed, hitting the bar, leaving Hartlepool to celebrate.

TORQUAY UNITED'S PLAY-OFF CAMPAIGNS PART ONE

 As Torquay United prepare for the National League South play-offs, we will now look back at the Gulls' previous campaigns in two parts.

1987-88

United’s first involvement in the end of season showdown came in the 1987-88 season when - after missing out on automatic promotion from the Fourth Division under the late Cyril Knowles - the Gulls were paired with Scunthorpe United, who they had lost out to on the final day of the campaign.

The first leg went well for Torquay as they won 2-1 with goals from Paul Dobson and Dave Caldwell in what proved to be an ill-tempered affair. Scunthorpe were reduced to ten men in a game that was most notable for Knowles walking away from his dugout to avoid being sent off himself.

There was no quarter given in the contest between Caldwell and the Iron defence – such was the ill-feeling for the return leg – which was also Scunthorpe’s last ever match at their Old Showground prior to their move to Glanford Park – that Caldwell was left on the bench by Knowles and he required a Police escort for the warm-up!

The return leg ended 1-1, which set up a final between United and Swansea City over two legs – Wembley finals for the Play-offs didn’t start until 1990. After losing 2-1 at the Vetch Field, Torquay could only manage a 3-3 draw in the second leg – which saw them miss out on a return to the third tier for the first time since 1972.

United’s second leg against Swansea was also their record 62nd competitive match of the campaign which restored a lot of pride to the club following their Bryn the Police Dog inspired ‘great escape’ of a year earlier.

1990-91

Three years later in the 1990-91 season, United reached the Play-offs again - after flirting with automatic promotion under Dave Smith before he was replaced by youth team coach John Impey. Impey had been a player in Knowles’ 1987-88 Play-off side and the Gulls secured a Play-off place on the final day with a 2-1 win over York City, which set up a semi-final with Burnley.

Goals from Dean Edwards and Matt Elliott gave Torquay a win over the Clarets at Plainmoor in the first leg, which proved to be enough to seal a return to Wembley for the Gulls – despite Burnley winning the return leg 1-0 at Turf Moor.

United's win also ended any hopes of an all-Lancashire final, as the Gulls’ opponents at Wembley would be Blackpool. Before the match, a minute’s silence was held in the memory of former Tangerines’ striker Stan Mortensen, who famously scored a hat-trick in the ‘Matthews final’ against Bolton Wanderers in 1953, who had recently passed away.

Blackpool soon had their noses in front through Paul Groves – but the Gulls struck back to equalise as Wes Saunders headed home a cross from Mark Loram. Shortly afterwards edged ahead when Dean Edwards converted from the penalty spot. An own goal in the second half from Chris Curran levelled matters on the night, and that was how it finished after 90 minutes, and even after 30 minutes extra time as the final head to penalties.

Mark Loram stepped up to take United’s first spot-kick, which was saved by Blackpool keeper Steve McIlhargey. His opposite number Tony Rodwell then stepped up for the Tangerines, but his effort was saved by United keeper Gareth Howells. Mickey Holmes, Saunders, Paul Holmes and Chris Myers then successfully converted their respective penalties for United as the scores remained level after five spot-kicks – as the final went into sudden death.

Then came a moment of history as Howells took United’s sixth spot-kick, which he fired home to become the first goalkeeper both score and save a penalty at Wembley to put Torquay back in front. It was then down to Blackpool’s leading scorer David Bamber to keep them in it. However, Bamber fluffed his lines and missed the target – thus meaning United were returning to the ‘old’ Third Division for the first time in 19 years, as the first side to win a penalty shoot-out in a play-off final at Wembley. 

Nevertheless, the Gulls’ stay in the Third tier proved to be a brief one as they came straight back down again, and they then a second straight relegation under the caretaker manager spell of Neil Warnock in the 1992-93 season.

1993-94

In the following campaign – the 1993-94 season – under Don O’Riordan, Warnock’s successor, the Gulls made the Play-offs again after finishing sixth in the ‘new’ Third Division – following the formation of the Premier League in the 1992-93 campaign. This time they would be facing also Lancastrian opponent in the form of Preston North End.

Goals from Duane Darby and Darren Moore gave United a 2-0 lead heading into the return leg at Deepdale, which would also the last game played on Preston’s artificial surface.

Although Preston took an early lead, Gregory Goodridge’s kept United firmly in the driving seat before the game turned ten minutes before half-time when some theatrics from Paul Raynor got Darren Moore sent off – Raynor acted as though he had been struck by Moore, but the replays show that Moore hadn’t made contact with Raynor. The tie then ended up finishing 3-1, forcing the game into extra time. However, just as when it looked as though United had done enough to hold out for a win on away goals, Raynor popped up with the winner – sending Preston through to the final, which they would lose to a Wycombe Wanderers’ side managed by Martin O’Neill.

EPIC TITLE RACE ENDS WITH HISTORY BEING MADE BY TRURO

 The National League South has been described as the closest title race in Europe in some quarters, and it was decided by the narrowest of margins. 

A 5-2 win for Truro City at home to relegation threatened St Albans City saw them secure top spot on goal difference ahead of Westcountry rivals Torquay United, who won 4-1 away to Hemel Hempstead in which the Gulls' former Tinners' striker Cody Cooke netted a hat-trick. 

By winning the title, Truro City created two pieces of history. Not only did they become the first Cornish side to reach the National League, manager John Askey also becomes the first manager to promotions from the National League (Macclesfield Town 2017-18), National League North (York City 2021-22 and National League South (Truro City 2024-25). 

Trips to far flung locations such as Gateshead, Hartlepool United and recently relegated Carlisle United now await the Tinners.

For Torquay United and Paul Wotton, the man who Askey succeeded as Tturo manager, the play-offs now await, with Boreham Wood or Dorking Wanderers their opponents in the semi final stage. 

Promotion for the Gulls would be Wotton's second promotion in three seasons, after he guided Truro to play-off glory in the 2022-23 season from Southern League Premier South. It will also be United's second promotion from National League South, after winning the title themselves in the 2018-19 campaign.

TORQUAY UNITED FINAL DAY DECIDERS IN THE SOUTH EAST

 For Torquay United fans, all road and rail links will be leading to Hemel Hempstead, as the Gulls head into the final day of the 2024-25 National League South campaign knowing that a win could see them clinch the league title. 

United are second in the table and are one of six teams who could finish top of the division, but the Gulls , who are level on points on 86 points with Truro City with a slightly worse goal difference, could still win and finish second. This would ensure that they would have home advantage in the play-off semi-finals, and potentially the final. 

However, it isn't the first time that the Gulls have faced a final day decider in the South East of England, and there's a look at the selection of them. 

1. Crystal Palace 1 Torquay United 1, 1st May 1957 - Division Three South

United went into the final day of the 1956-57 season needing a win over Crystal Palace to secure the Division Three South title at the expense of a Ipswich Town side managed by Alf Ramsey. 

After being goalless at half-time, Barry Pierce gave Palace the lead before John 'Jimmy' James equalised for United. James was then denied a late winner by an off the line clearance by future Torquay manager Jack Edwards, as they were forced to settle for second place, as Ipswich beat Southampton 2-0. 

2. Leyton Orient 2    Torquay United 1, 2nd May 1998, Division Three

A club record run of eight wins between January and March 1998 lifted the Gulls into the automatic promotion contention, but a loss of form saw them stutter before they won 3-1 against Peterborough United in their final home game of the campaign. 

They needed a point in the final game of the season at Leyton Orient and they got off to a bad start as Craig Maskell gave Orient the lead after four minutes. The hosts then doubled their lead from the penalty spot through former Aston Villa and Leicester City manager Dean Smith. 

United fought back, despite seeing goalkeeper Kenny Veysey sent off, as Andy McFarlane pulled one back, but they couldn't find an equaliser, so Lincoln City clinched the third automatic promotion. The Gulls ended up finishing fifth and faced Scarborough, who they beat 7-2 on aggregate before losing 1-0 to Colchester United in the final at Wembley. 

3. Barnet 2    Torquay United 3, 5th May 2001, Division Three

It was billed as 'loser loses all' contest as Torquay United headed to Underhill to face Barnet with relegation from the Football League awaiting the loser. 

The Gulls started the game attacking down the slope at Underhill and took the lead on ten minutes with a 25 yard strike from Jason Rees. In the 25th minute, Kevin Hill connected with a Paul Holmes corner to head home his tenth goal of the season to give United a two-goal cushion. 

On 40 minutes, the Bees were awarded a penalty when Jimmy Aggrey was adjudged to have handled the ball. Darren Currie stepped to take it, but Gulls' keeper Stuart Jones guessed its direction correctly and saved it - it was his third spot-kick save of the campaign. 

Once Jones had saved the penalty, United got the ball forward to David Graham who slotted home the Gulls' third after being teed up by strike partner Eifion Williams. 

In the second half, an own goal from Ryan Green and a second from Wayne Purser reduced Barnet's arrears, but United dug deep to hang onto their lead and thus retained their Football League status. 

4. Southend United 1    Torquay United 2, 8th May 2004, Division Three

In their second season under Leroy Rosenior, the Gulls headed to Southend United's Roots Hall on 78 points needing a win to stand a chance of claiming the division's third and final automatic promotion spot ahead of Huddersfield Town, who were on 80 points and were travelling to Cheltenham Town. Victory for the Gulls and a draw for the Terriers would see United promoted at their expense on goal difference.

United got off to a flying start as Steve Woods volleyed home a corner from Alex Russell in the third minute. Eight minutes later, David Graham nodded home a Jo Kuffour cross to score his 23rd goal of the season to double the Gulls' lead. 

Lawrie Dudfield pulled one back for the Shrimpers in the 17th minute and news was also coming through from Cheltenham's Whaddon Road home that Huddersfield were winning 1-0. 

The Gulls managed to maintain their 2-1 lead and with 15 minutes to go, the Robins equalised through Shane Duff, which was how it stayed as United won automatic promotion for the first time in 38 years on goal difference. 

5. Colchester United 2        Torquay United 1, 7th May 2005, League One

Nearly a year to the day since their promotion success, the Gulls headed to Essex in very different circumstances as they needed a point to retain their League One status that they had won 12 months earlier. 

A run of four straight wins over MK Dons, Port Vale, Oldham Athletic and Blackpool had given United a chance of beating the drop, potentially at the expense of either MK Dons or Oldham (United were on 51 points, the Dons on 48 and Oldham on 49). 

The Gulls fell a goal down just before the break as Neil Danns gave the U's the lead and a minute before the end of normal time, Marino Keith doubled Colchester's advantage. 

Left back Craig Woodman pulled one back for Torquay in injury time, but it proved to be in vain as MK Dons beat Tranmere Rovers 2-1 and Oldham beat Bradford City 1-0, which saw the Gulls relegated on goal difference.