Torquay United snatch late equaliser against Exeter City

Torquay United 2 Exeter City 2

Torquay United finished with a flourish to share the spoils in their latest pre-season friendly.

Exeter City, who play their football three leagues above the Gulls these days, looked to be cruising to victory, having pulled into a 2-0 lead before the interval.

But Paul Wotton’s new-look Torquay team finally found their shape in the final quarter of the game, and finished the stronger side.

With new arrival Omar Mussa pulling the strings after coming on as a second half substitute, United levelled the scores in the sixth minute of stoppage time, denying a sizeable contingent of City fans their victory celebrations.

The evening could not have started better for the Grecians, who took the lead in the second minute. The home defence was caught flat-footed by a drilled cross from the left and Josh Magennis drove the ball home from close range at the second attempt.

Five minutes before the break came Exeter’s second goal, one that will give Wotton a sleepless night as defender Jack Fitzwater stood unmarked from a corner to guide home the simplest of headers at the back post.

Mussa’s arrival from the sub’s bench at half time began to turn things around for the home side, and it was his shot which gave City keeper Joe Whitworth his first real test.

Ten minutes from time Torquay finally unlocked the City defence, Mussa whipping in a curling free kick from right for Jordan Dyer to power a diving header into the net.

Suddenly the home fans were on song and so were their team. Mussa went close again with a free kick after Brad Ash had been fouled, and then in the 96th minute it was City defender Fitzwater who planted the ball into the net in front of the Family Stand for the second time in the game.

This time it was Ash who sent a free kick into the box, and Fitzwater mistimed his attempted clearance header and instead placed it beyond the reach of former Gulls keeper Shaun MacDonald, on as a second half sub for City.

Torquay go to Tiverton for their final friendly on Saturday while Exeter entertain Eastleigh.