Torquay United beat league leaders in Plainmoor goal deluge

Torquay United 4 Weston-super-Mare 2

Torquay United manager Paul Wotton paid tribute to his team’s never-say-die attitude as they overcame a second-half sending-off to beat league leaders Weston-super-Mare in torrential rain at Plainmoor.

Fans went home happy, having seen their team triumph in a game of six goals, a saved penalty and a red card.

United came from behind in the first half and finished the game as the stronger side. Visitors Weston had only conceded three goals away from home all season until they came up against a determined Gulls side.

“The boys deserve a lot of credit tonight,” said Wotton after the game. “It was a good night for us.

“It was a kick in the stomach when we conceded that first goal, but the boys reacted really well.

“The fans want to see us run and tackle and fight. We did all that tonight, but I also thought we played very, very well.”

Torquay controlled the early stages of the game but fell behind when Luke Coulson sprinted clear of the Gulls defence to score in the 17th minute. Lirak Hasani levelled the scores with a delightful curling shot from the edge of the box on the half-hour, and Will Jenkins Davies put United in front when he pounced on a defensive blunder five minutes later.

But an all-action first half still had some surprises in store, with Sam Avery prodding the ball over the line to equalise from close range for Weston as United struggled to deal with a corner.

Then in injury time Hasani was fouled in the Weston box and Cody Cooke had the chance to give the Gulls back their lead from the spot, only to see his kick saved by visiting keeper Max Harris.

The drama kept coming as the second half began, with heavy rain sweeping across Plainmoor.

Hasani was shown a straight red card for a foul on ex Gull Reuben Reid, and Torquay were forced to reorganise.

The 10-man Gulls held firm as Weston went in search of a winning goal, and as the game went on, it was the home side that grew stronger.

Cooke made it 3-2 when he turned the ball in from a cross whipped in from the right by Will Jenkins Davies, and it was Cooke who was in the right place again 10 minutes from time when Avery lost the ball to Dan Hayfield, who delivered a low cross into the Weston box for Cooke to score.