Torquay Lose It Late
Torquay United 1 Lincoln City 2

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13th August 2006

Prior to this game, Lincoln were warned to be careful of Torquay's habit of scoring last gasp winning goals. However, today it was the turn of Torquay to concede two injury time goals that saw Lincoln snatch all three points.

Lincoln City's Head Coach John Schofield elected to name the same 4-4-2 formation and starting eleven as per Lincoln's match at Hereford last Tuesday. However, there was one change on the substitutes' bench where Jamie Sherlock took the place of Gary Birch, who has been loaned to Tamworth.

It was a cagey start to the match by both teams although Lincoln did win two corners in quick succession in the 3rd minute. Alas, both were easily cleared by the Torquay defence. This was repeated in the 13th, and again, Torquay cleared.

Jeff Hughes' 14th minute cross was cleared behind for Lincoln's fifth corner. This time, the delivery was improved as Lee Frecklington's inswinger was met by Mark Stallard, who saw his shot blocked en route to goal.

Torquay won their first corner in the 17th minute, which resulted in open play. Lincoln then attacked with the move ending with Torquay goalkeeper Nathan Abbey gathering Jamie Forrester's shot.

Torquay, despite creating few opportunities, almost scored in the 20th minute. Stevland Agnus' cross was met by Lee Thorpe's header, but the Imps' goalkeeper Alan Marriott made a fine save from his former Lincoln City teammate.

Four minutes later, Martin Phillips' cross reached Kevin Hill who volleyed over the crossbar from 25-yards out. Having lost possession in the 28th minute, Torquay were grateful to Abbey who saved Hughes' shot.

One of the best chances of the first half fell to Micky Evans in the 30th minute when he headed Phillips' cross wide from 6-yards out. Lincoln's best chance came in the 34th minute when Forrester met Frecklington's corner. Alas, Abbey made the save to keep out Forrester's header.

The first half then descended into a serious of throw-ins and harmless free-kicks.

There were no team alterations at the start of the second half but two minutes into play, and the score was almost changed when Stallard's shot was blocked by Agnus. Torquay responded with Thorpe volleying a shot wide in the 49th minute.

Unfortunately, the 51st minute saw Lincoln City go behind in a game for the first time this season. Agnus was the provider when he passed to Garner, who let fly with a 25-yard shot straight past Marriott for 1-0 to Torquay.

A couple of corners for both sides immediately followed the goal but Lincoln could have equalised just four minutes later. Lee Andrews' foul on Hughes allowed Kerr to pass the subsequent free-kick to Frecklington, whose shot went wide.

A 59th minute injury to Agnus forced the game's first substitution when he was replaced by Matt Villis.

A minute later, Kerr saw his shot blocked by the hand of Steve Woods inside the Torquay penalty area. The referee spotted the infringement and awarded the penalty but unfortunately, Abbey made a superb save to prevent Mayo's powerful penalty from entering the goal.

Lincoln regained possession with Stallard firing another shot at goal, only to see Abbey made yet another save to palm the ball around the post. Once again though, another of Lincoln's numerous corners was poorly delivered.

In the 69th minute, Torquay opted to make their second substitution when Phillips was replaced by Jamie Ward. Two minutes later, Lincoln made a double substitution with Lee Beevers and Hughes making way for Martin Gritton and Ryan Semple respectively.

As the match wore on, it became easy to see why Torquay's two previous matches of the 2006/07 season have ended as 1-0 victories. Torquay professionally tried to kill of the game by keeping possession. However, there were to regret their caution in the 91st minute, when Lincoln won a corner. The ball found its way to Mayo, whose cross was headed into the top-left of the net by Paul Morgan for 1-1 to Lincoln. This was certainly a happier game for Morgan than the corresponding fixture of last season when he was sent-off.

To Lincoln's credit they continued to attack during the seven minutes of stoppage time that was played. They required just five minutes of that time to score the winning goal, when Ryan Amoo's corner created panic in the Torquay defence. Several defenders had the chance to clear the ball but they just pumped it into the air. Eventually, Gritton gambled by making a dart to the far post where he volleyed the ball into the net for 2-1 to Lincoln. Torquay's defenders only have themselves to blame for both of Lincoln's goals.

Still though, Lincoln had to be on their guard, as one last ditch Torquay attack brought out a decent save from Marriott as he saved Hill's volley.

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Torquay: N Abbey, L Andrews, S Woods, C Taylor, S Angus(60 M Villis), M Phillips(69 J Ward), L Mansell, D Garner, K Hill, L Thorpe, M Evans
Unused subs: M Hockley, C Motteram, C McPhee

Lincoln City: A Marriott, L Beevers(72 M Gritton), P Mayo, P Morgan, A Moses, R Amoo, S Kerr, L Frecklington, J Hughes(73 R Semple), M Stallard, J Forrester
Unused subs: S Rayner, C Cryan, J Sherlock