ON THIS DAY

2021 – Torquay win a thrilling NL play-off semi-final at Plainmoor

The 2020-21 season had ended with the Gulls in second place after being displaced at the top of the table by a consistent Sutton team, which left them needing to win the play-offs to recapture their place in the EFL. Their opposition would be Notts County, who were starting to become a force in the division, and had top marksmen Ruben Rodrigues in the line-up.

On a glorious sunny day United started the game with a bang, with Danny Wright scoring the first goal after only 35 seconds. This set the scene for an end to end classic, unfortunately only seen in person by 1,709 supporters due to COVID restrictions. Ruben Rodriques popped up with an excellent header before half time to send the teams into the interval level.

Soon after the break Danny Wright struck again with a calm finish, but Adam Chicksen rifled in to make it 2-2. The teams could not be separated, and heading into extra time the nerves jangled inside Plainmoor. As so often that season (and in his United career) Asa Hall stepped up with a big goal, scoring a glancing header on 102 minutes to give the Gulls the lead. Then at the end of first half of extra time, ex-Gull Mark Ellis was adjudged to have fouled Connor Lemonheigh-Evans in the area, and Dean Moxey scored a penalty to make it 4-2 to clinch the tie.

Gary Johnson’s United team had shown their character to bounce back from the disappointment of losing out on the title, with the elder statesmen scoring the goals in an afternoon of high drama and excitement at Plainmoor. A play-off final clash with Hartlepool United at Ashton Gate was next….