Torquay United 4 Weston-super-Mare 2 - Gulls beat leaders in Plainmoor thriller

Torquay United spent most of the second half with 10 men and still beat the National League South leaders Weston-super-Mare 4-2 in the game of the season at Plainmoor so far.

After some disappointing draws in the league, it was important that Torquay turned up today against a team who were three points clear at the top of the table.

And turn up they did. It was 2-2 at half time with Lirak Hasani and Will Jenkins Davies scoring two good goals before Cody Cody had a late first-half penalty saved.

Hasani was then red-carded three minutes into the second half, and it looked like Torquay were in trouble. But no chance, not in this mood, They defended superbly and two goals for Cooke made up for his stopped spot kick.

It was backs-to-the-wall stuff after that, but in the pouring rain the 10 men defended so well that despite having much of the late possession, Weston never looked like getting back into the game. The result pushed Torquay up to third, while Weston dropped off the top, to be replaced by Truro City.

Wotton made one change to the team that started the goalless draw at Boreham Wood on Saturday - with Hasani coming in for Oscar Threlkeld. It was another wet day for the players - but not quite what it was on Saturday. Still, a couple of big downpours before kick-off softened up the pitch even further.

In the 11th minute, Jordan Young dinked his way to goal with the ball at his feet and his shot came off the goalkeeper Max Harris and went wide. An Omar Mussa shot skidded wide after a deflection. Torquay had started well but Weston also looked dangerous. Hasani shot wide in the 16th minute.

Weston went 1-0 ahead in the 17th minute when Sam Dreyer missed a tackle and Luke Coulston was free and shot past James Hamon with confidence. Sam Pearson shot wide three minutes later. Hasani equalised in the 29th minute after some good work by the Gulls, who were playing the ball around well. From a short corner, Jenkins Davies shot was blocked but the ball popped out to Hasani and he struck it sweetly, right into the corner of the net.

It was Jenkins Davies who made it 2-1 in the 35th minute when Reuben Reid played a back pass too short. The Torquay midfielder ran on to the ball, and actually looked like he had taken it too far to the right - but his strike past Harris was good and the ball found the far corner.

Weston's second goal to make it 2-2 came in the 41st minute when a corner came down in the six-yard area, Hamon couldn't get a grip on the ball, and it hit Sam Avery before crossing the line. It was a soft goal to concede.

The first-half action wasn't over yet. In injury time Hasani was brought down as he ran on to a through ball. From the penalty spot, Cooke struck the ball well, to the goalkeeper's right, but Harris got a strong hand to the ball to stop the shot. The rain had stopped late on in the first half and the second half starting with Torquay kicking towards the Family Stand.

Hasani was sent off in the 48th minute after a poorly-timed tackle on Reid. It didn't look like a bad enough challenge for a red, but the referee pulled the card out of his pocket instantly. Wotton brought on Oscar Threlkeld to plug the gap with Mussa, who wasn't having a good game, making way.

Pearson shot wide in the 53rd minute and Kieran Thomas shot wide as Weston went at Torquay. Hamon parried a Reid shot wide in the 60th minute. He shot wide soon after. A Threlkeld strike from the edge of the area went a long way wide.
It was 3-2 in the 69th minute after some great work by Jenkins Davies, who cut inside from the right and found Cooke on the edge of the six-yard box, who diverted the ball past Harris.

Ed Palmer came on for Young after the goal - a defender for a forward. Hamon stopped a good low cross from Nick McCootle. It felt like it might be a long 20-plus-whatever minutes. And the rain was heavy again.

But Cooke made it 4-2 in the 79th minute when Weston made a horrible mistake in midfield - gifting the ball to Dan Hayfield, who was quick to claim his prize and pass it to the Torquay striker for his second goal.

There was a lot of hard work and commitment as Torquay ran themselves into the ground to protect the lead. Six minutes were added on - and still Weston came at the 10 men. A Hamon punch cleared a dangerous cross clear and caught another two. But in the end, they didn't have enough to break through - and the 10 men held out for the three points. Such an important three points, too.