Monday 18 January 2016

GULLS FACE LOCAL DERBY POSSIBILITY IN TROPHY

Torquay United's reward for knocking Wrexham out of the FA Trophy is a home tie in the next round against either Macclesfield Town or Truro City.

Shepherd Murombedzi's 80th minute strike enabled the Gulls to avenge their exit to the Dragons in the semi-finals of last seasons' competition - and their reward for doing so is a tie against the team that they were due to face in the National League on that date, or the side that they are due to share a ground with next season.

United were set to face the Silkmen at the Moss Rose on February 6th, but that fixture would have needed to be re-arranged regardless of the draw due to their progress in the Trophy.

Truro, who are managed by former Gulls defender Steve Tully, have agreed a ground-share with United for the 2016-17 campaign, ensuring that the White Tigers' fans will have a 172-mile round to watch their team play next season, after selling their Treyew Road ground to property developers.

The two sides meet again tomorrow night at the Moss Rose for a replay - after drawing their first encounter 2-2 on Saturday at Treyew Road - to determine who will face the Gulls.

It won't be the first time that Torquay have faced either of the two sides this season; on the opening day of the campaign they beat Macclesfield 1-0 at Plainmoor and they also faced Truro in pre-season in a testimonial game for the White Tigers' long serving midfielder Jake Ash.