Torquay vs Bury - Reported by Hannah Ingram at Plainmoor
Three wins in three games had transformed Bury's season as we knew it, and the team arrived in Torquay with high hopes of continuing their steady climb up the table. The confidence that seemed to be lacking was now back after losing their poor home record, and the team now seemed to be working together and for each other. Early injuries in the season and a play-off defeat hangover had slowed Bury's start to the season, but a string of good results had seen a drastic change in fortunes. Bury also boasted one of the best away records in the league, and hoped today's trip to the south coast would be no exception. Torquay occupied the second bottom spot in the table at the start of the game, and a run of three defeats and a draw leading up to this game left them gasping for some points to chalk onto the board.
After a reasonably slow start to the game, it was Torquay with the earliest chance on 6 minutes as Nicholson sent a curling free kick into the box after a foul from Sodje. The ball eventually fell at the feet of Carlisle whose curling shot was well wide of the left post. Moments later, Lowe claimed a loose ball in midfield and ran at the Torquay defence, crossing the ball to Eliiot inside the box, but his effort from the edge of the box was wide of the right post.
Lowe laid off a cheeky ball for Dawson on 12 minutes, only to be stopped in his tracks by the Torquay defence. Baker connected with the loose ball on the edge of the box, sending a looping shot wide. Moments later and Bury were back again, with Lowe making a confident stride into the box before the defence closed in; the resulting shot from Dawson was well wide!
Yellow card for Bury on 12 minutes - Ryan Cresswell
Yellow card for Torquay on 16 minutes - Mark Ellis
A nippy cross from Carlisle on 17 minutes tested Brown as Benyon tried a header from reasonably close range, only to see it go wide. Lowe made space well on the left on 22 minutes, passing to Newey who made a run at the right time, opening up the Torquay defence at the same time. He squared the ball to Elliot who somehow managed to miss the target, sending it wide of the right post.
Elliot teed up a confident shot on the half hour mark from just outside the box, which seemed to take Poke by surprise in the Torquay net. He blocked the initial shot, and Ellis cleared the loose ball for a corner. A corner from Jones on 36 minutes looked promising as it headed for a crowded penalty area; Sodje got up well but sent his header well wide of the right post.
GOAL! Michael Jones bagged himself a goal on 37 minutes after some organised attacking play from Bury. He received the ball on the right of the box from Lowe, and shot from the right after making space and teeing up his shot well, sending the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Torquay 0 Shakers 1
Torquay saw a close range headed goal disallowed on 40 minutes after a foul on Wayne Brown. A curling cross from Jones on 43 minutes had to be cleared by Ellis for a Bury corner as Lowe was closing in; the resulting corner was taken by BBM but cleared. One minute of additional time was indicated by the fourth official as Bury aimed to keep possession.
The referee soon called time on a first half that had seen Bury play a very organized game, pressuring Torquay to defend with Lowe and Elliot being a constant threat in the box. Torquay had a few chances themselves, but Brown was only properly challenged towards the end of the half, and that resulted in a foul and disallowed Torquay goal. Bury seemed comfortable and confident and deserved to be ahead at the break.
Half Time - Torquay 0 Shakers 1
Torquay had the best of the opening few minutes of the second half, resulting in a decent header from Robertson on 49 minutes. Following a corner from the left, Robertson rose well to head the ball goalbound only to see it cleared off the line. The linesman had his flag up for offside regardless, but it seemed a confident corner from Torquay. Jones made space for himself in the box on 51 minutes, eventually crossing from the right for Lowe who put his effort wide whilst the Torquay defence seemed at a standstill.
Robertson had a sterling chance to bring Torquay level on 57 minutes after a dangerous corner from Wroe; it was outswinging to the head of Robertson who headed over the bar.
GOAL! Torquay leveled things out on 59 minutes after Bury failed to deal with Elliot Benyon on his way into the box on the right hand side. He received a clever pass from Carlisle and finished his effort in similar fashion to Jones in the first half. Brown seemed to get a hand to it but couldn't stop it finding the net.
Torquay 1 Shakers 1
Yellow card for Torquay on 64 minutes - Chris Robertson
Hargreaves connected well to a poor clearance from Newey in the Bury box on 66 minutes, but his header was saved by Brown.
Substitution for Bury on 70 minutes - David Worrall on for Richie Baker
Yellow card for Bury on 70 minutes - Stephen Dawson
Yellow card for Bury on 76 minutes - Efe Sodje
Jones made a strong run forward on 80 minutes, travelling down the right wing and winning a corner in the process. Taken by BBM, it was cleared for another Bury corner. This time BBM aimed for Sodje at the far post but his header went well wide. The latter stages of the game had seen both sides pressing for a winner, but it was difficult to say who would take their chance.
Three minutes of added time were indicated by the fourth official as Torquay went forward. Bury had become increasingly frustrated in the second half as a few strong words at half time must've woken up the home side. A dangerous corner from BBM in stoppage time had to be sent over the bar by Torquay to give the Shakers another corner. This time BBM overpowered the ball, sending it past the goalmouth and out of play. The referee called time on the match as Worrall ran forwards down the left, leaving both sides with a point each.
Bury might rue the chances they had in the first half to extend their lead and keep a hold on the game, but it was obvious that Torquay had fighting spirit and performed much better in the second half. For a team sitting in the relegation places, every point makes a difference to Torquay, but just the one point for Bury sees them drop a place to 11th. The hope of gaining four successive wins was dashed by an improved Torquay side, and instead Bury look to extending their stay in the JPT cup in their next game at home to Tranmere.
Full Time - Torquay 1 Shakers 1
Attendance - 2524
Torquay United: Michael Poke, Kevin Nicholson, Mark Ellis, Chris Robertson, Lee Mansell, Elliot Benyon, Scott Rendell, Nicky Wroe, Chris Hargreaves, Wayne Carlisle, Danny Stevens
Subs: Scott Bevan, Chris Todd, Lee Hodges, Tyrone Thompson, Kieran Charnock, Danny Mills, Marvin Williams
Bury: Wayne Brown, David Buchanan, Ryan Cresswell, Stephen Dawson, Richie Baker, Brian Barry-Murphy, Michael Jones, Ryan Lowe, Efetobore Sodje, Tom Elliot, Tom Newey
Subs: Ben Futcher, Danny Racchi, David Worrall, Cameron Belford, Krishnan Patel
