Tuesday 15 May 2012

HALF TIME IN TIE

To overcome Cheltenham Town in this year's League Two Play Off Semi-Finals, Torquay United will need to do something that they haven't done since 1989, which is to overturn a first leg deficit to reach Wembley.

In 1989, the Gulls faced Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Sherpa Van Trophy Southern Area Final over two legs.

Following a 2-1 defeat in the first leg at Plainmoor, which saw Torquay take the lead through Dean Edwards, who is now the club's Commercial Manager, before Steve Bull bagged a brace for Wolves to seemingly put them one step away from Wembley.

However, Wolves, who were then managed by current Shrewsbury Town boss Graham Turner, were dealt a massive shock in the second leg at Molineux.

After eight minutes, Edwards, who incidentally hails from Wolverhampton and had had a spell at Molineux earlier in his career, latched on to a pass from Mark Loram to slot home a chance that would level the tie on aggregate.

Two minutes before half-time the Gulls were in dreamland when Loram curled a 25-yard free-kick past Wolves keeper Roger Hansbury into the back of the net, which put Torquay in front.

The second half saw Torquay produce a stunning defensive displays, aided by a top notch performance from Kenny Allen, who had been called out of retirement following an injury suffered by Kenny Veysey to book their first ever appearance at Wembley.