The game had started badly for the home side too, with four newcomers on show. New signings Craig Farrell and John Sutton came in up front with on-loan Leon Osman in central midfield and Mark Magennis on the right side. But it was home debutant Michael Taylor who was the first to get a significant slice of the action, losing out to Gritton who ran past him and saw his shot blocked at point-blank range by Peter Keen. But the shaky start was not over and in the third minute lively David Graham ran straight through a square defence, cut back inside on to his right foot and fired home a deflected shot past a stranded Keen. Shortly after this Graham was again in goal, stroking the ball narrowly wide of the far post after accepting a pass on the edge of the six-yard box. United took a while to come to life with new boy Farrell having a couple of poor touches before he got up well to head a Magennis cross straight at away keeper Kevin Dearden. The impressive Osman then fired in a low daisy cutter that went just wide of the upright as the home team began to call the tune. United pulled level on the half-hour, with the goal a result of a mammoth gaffe by Dearden. He came out to collect an innocuous looking ball across the box but somehow took his eye off the ball and spooned it straight to Farrell who composed himself before turning the ball into the unguarded net with his left foot. It was what the Cumbrians deserved for their improved midfield build-up play, with Osman at the heart of it and Magennis an effective outlet and Summerbell soaking up everything else with some crunching tackles. It was Farrell who almost added a second on the stroke of half-time when his shot from the edge of the box was palmed away by Dearden at full-stretch. Roddy's half-time team talk would have been simply to tell the players to keep it going. Osman did his best to keep the momentum going 12 minutes into the second period with a dipping shot from distance that just cleared Dearden's cross-bar. But after this United rather lost their way as the game became a bit more stretched. Summerbell was still getting through a lot of work but the home defence still looked vulnerable with Taylor making a couple of mistakes. Gritton beat him to a through ball before setting up substitute Marvin Brown whose shot was blocked by Darren Kelly. Collins made two changes, David Freeman replacing a hobbling Brendan McGill and Taylor going off to be replaced by Lee Andrews. However Andrews was also exposed down the right side as Brown again went close with a lob which went past both Keen and the far post. As the game moved into injury time and a point each looking the certain outcome, Torquay got a massive stroke of luck when Salisbury got in the way of the ball. Gritton collected on the edge of the box and firing in another deflected effort beyond Keen. Al's verdict: A totally gut-wrenching finish after a muxh improved display. Some of our first half link play was a delight. Osman looks a useful loan acquistion with some fine dribbling skills while Magennis produced some lovely long floated passes rather in the style of the current England captain. However defensively we looked extremely edgy and we made too many mistakes. Taylor and Andrews guilty of a few too many brainstorms. It would be wrong to blame the ref really because these things happen and he can't blow up and give a drop ball. It was a crying shame that it happened when it did and in that area of the pitch. However the improved performance, quality of many of the attacks and extra 400 supporters gives cause for cautious optimism. |
