We will now take a closer look at that achievement, which was completed
with a 2-1 win on the final day of the campaign against Southend United as they
pipped Huddersfield Town to Division Three's third and final automatic
promotion slot.
Going into the game, the Gulls’ brief was simple; they knew that a win at Roots Hall would be enough to wrap up their first automatic promotion since Frank O’Farrell’s team had done so in 1966 – providing the Terriers failed to beat Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road.
United went
into the game on 78 points, whereas Huddersfield were on 80 points. However,
the Gulls had a superior goal difference - so if the two sides were to both
finish on 81 points United would claim third place and the Terriers would be
condemned to the Play-offs.
Manager Leroy Rosenior named an unchanged starting
line-up as he kept faith with the side that drew 1-1 with Kidderminster
Harriers, as Reuben Hazell retained his place at right-back at the expense of
the fit again Lee Canoville.
More than 2,500 Gulls’ fans made the journey to
Essex and they saw the Gulls get off to a flying start, as they took the lead
on three minutes when Steve Woods volleyed home an Alex Russell corner to ease
any nerves that they may have had. Eight minutes later, United doubled their advantage when David Graham connected with a cross from Jo Kuffour to nod home into an empty net to score his 23rd goal of the campaign.
Whilst United were basking in the glory of a two-goal cushion, the news coming through from Whaddon Road wasn’t good as Huddersfield had taken the lead against the Robins through Andy Booth.
In the 17th minute, Gulls’ keeper Arjan Van Heusden was forced into his first save of the afternoon when he blocked an effort from Tes Bramble, but the rebound fell into the path of his strike partner Lawrie Dudfield, who slotted home to pull a goal back for the Shrimpers.
A minute later, Van Heusden made another stop to
deny Bramble and, moments later, United survived a penalty appeal as Hazell
appeared to have felled Bramble in the area – but referee Tony Leake waved play
on.
On 26 minutes, Kuffour volleyed over for the Gulls
and shortly afterwards Matt Hockley and Liam Rosenior both missed the target.Despite having nothing to play for, Southend continued to make a game of it as top scorer Leon Constantine – who would later join United – asked a lot of questions of the Torquay backline.
Early in the second half, the Shrimpers continued
to apply pressure on the Gulls as Constantine and midfielder Nicky Nicolau both
tested Van Heusden.
In the 64th minute, Kuffour went close
for United when he headed a cross from Russell wide. Moments later, Van Heusden spilled a shot from Jimmy Corbett which landed in the path of Lawrie Dudfield who turned home the rebound, only to see his effort ruled out for offside.
On 70 minutes, Dudfield went close again when he
blasted over with a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area.
With 15 minutes to go, news came through from
Cheltenham that the Robins had equalised against Huddersfield through Shane
Duff. The Robins had also been reduced to ten men following the dismissal of
Damien Spencer. The players could sense a change of fortune at Whaddon Road judging by the fans’ reactions, as Graham shot wide from the edge of the area in the 77th minute after being set up by Russell.
Martin Gritton entered the fray in place of a
tiring Kuffour on 84 minutes, in a bid to help the Gulls hold on to their lead.
Then in the final minute of normal time United
survived a penalty shout for a challenge by Reuben Hazell on Drewe Broughton.
Instead referee Leake waved ‘play on’, as three minutes of stoppage time were
added on.
During those three minutes, the result of Cheltenham’s
1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town had been confirmed which served to send the
away end at Roots Hall into raptures once Leake blew his whistle for full time.
The Gulls had done it. Their 38-year wait for
automatic promotion was over thanks to their fourth win in five matches, and
they had achieved it by sticking to the footballing principles of manager
Rosenior.
Unfortunately, they had no champagne to celebrate
with on the coach back to South Devon and had to make do with beer and soft
drinks instead.
Torquay (4-4-2): Arjan Van Heusden; Reuben Hazell,
Steve Woods, Craig Taylor, Brian McGlinchey; Liam Rosenior (Tony Bedeau 90),
Matt Hockley, Alex Russell, Kevin Hill; David Graham (David Woozley 90), Jo
Kuffour (Martin Gritton 85)A full account of his match can be found in Torquay United : A History in 50 Matches at https://torquayunitedahistoryin50.bigcartel.com/
