We will begin the series with the Gulls’ 2-0 away over
Bromley, which sae United complete their first ‘great escape’ under Kevin
Nicholson in the 2015-16 season.
The history of the Gulls has been littered with late season
dramas in the South East, and this game proved to be no different. The previous year had seen United undergo major changes after the club’s major benefactor Thea Bristow – who had joined the board in 2010 following the death of her husband Paul – stood down from her role as chairman. A new board – made up of local fans – led by new chairman David Phillips took control of the club. A leading figure in the establishment of the new consortium was former striker Dean Edwards, who was installed as Director of Football.
Further changes also saw manager Chris Hargreaves and his
assistant Lee Hodges both placed on gardening leave and former Mansfield Town
manager Paul Cox, who led the Stags to the Conference title in the 2012-13
season, being named as Hargreaves’ successor. After a promising start, which
saw the Gulls pick up ten points in their opening ten games of the season, Cox
– who had been working for the Gulls on an expenses only basis – resigned.
Edwards and Cox’s assistant John Ramshaw both had brief caretaker
spells in charge before the club turned to popular former left-back Kevin
Nicholson who became Cox’s permanent successor. Progress under Nicholson was gradual, but a thumping 4-1 win over title chasing Forest Green Rovers on Boxing Day gave the Gulls a much needed lift, as well as a late Christmas present. Even so, by mid-February United were 12 points adrift at the bottom of the National League table.
However in the new year, after Nicholson had made several
new additions to the squad that he had inherited, the tide began to turn as a
1-0 away win over Boreham Wood in early February proved to be the start of an
eight-match unbeaten run. Further wins over Gateshead, Chester FC and Altrincham
followed which meant United headed into their penultimate away game of the
season against Bromley knowing that a win would see them retain their National
League status.
United got off to a strong start at Hayes Lane and forced a
corner on 10 minutes when a shot from Josh Rees – who had joined on loan from
Nottingham Forest towards the end of the January transfer window – was turned
behind for a corner. Luke Young, a player who returned to the Gulls’ side at the end of March after missing the entire season until that point with a cruciate ligament injury, stepped up to take the resulting corner. The one-time Plymouth Argyle starlet Young had scored United’s opening goal on the preceding Tuesday in their fixture against Altrincham, but on this occasion he would turn provider as his flag kick picked out Gulls’ skipper Angus MacDonald, who headed home to put Torquay one goal up. This served to ease the nerves of the 500 United fans watching from the Hayes Road away end.
During the remainder of the half, Joe Anderson forced a save from Torquay’s American keeper Brendan Moore, on loan from Fleetwood Town, but the Gulls dominated the opening 45 minutes as they went into the half-time break ahead.
Early in the second half, Bromley were reduced to ten men when Ali Fusieni was dismissed by referee Craig Hicks, who issued him with a second yellow card on 49 minutes. Despite their numerical disadvantage – the hosts continued to look dangerous as Moore denied Bradley Goldberg in a one-on-one situation.
Shortly afterwards, Goldberg again threatened for Bromley with
a 20-yard effort that had the beating of Moore, but not the upright as his shot
crashed against the bar.
On 81 minutes, MacDonald made a timely clearance to deny the
host’s Adam Cunnington, who had seemed destined to head into an empty net.
Four minutes later, Gulls’ winger Iffy Allen was tripped on
the edge of the penalty area and United were awarded a free-kick. Courtney
Richards stepped up to take the kick and he drilled it into the top corner to
end the match as a contest. For Nicholson it was a case of mission accomplished
– not to mention avenging their 7-3 defeat against the Ravens earlier in the
season.
After the game, he said: “I never had any doubts that we’d
do it and I’m delighted for everyone involved at Torquay, from the hierarchy
that took over at a time when we could have gone out of business all the way
down to the people who work in the offices.”
“The players have been magnificent for me, for themselves,
for each other and their attitude has been an absolute pleasure to be around.”
A 2-2 draw against a Barrow managed by Cox in their final
home game and a 4-3 defeat against a Guiseley, who the Gulls had trailed by 15
points in late February, ultimately proved to be academic, as United pulled off
another ‘great escape’ that ranked very favourably alongside their previous
ones of 1987, 1993, 2001 and 2006.
Torquay (4-1-2-1-2): Brendan Moore; Aman Verma, Angus
MacDonald, Ben Gerring, Dan Butler; Luke Young (Toby Ajala 46); Courtney Richards,
Josh Rees; Iffy Allen (Andre Wright 86); Shaun Harrad (Sam Chaney 68), Nathan Blissett
Subs not used: Exodus Geohaghon, Grant Fisher
Attendance: 2,080
