First blood to Torquay United after convincing first-leg win over Shrewsbury

The Gulls are one step closer to play-off final after sweeping Shrewsbury aside

Torquay United have one foot in the play-off final after two first half goals from Chris Zebroski and Eunan O’Kane sealed a convincing 2-0 victory over Shrewsbury at Plainmoor.

A man-of-the-match performance from Dagenham & Redbridge loanee Gavin Tomlin was instrumental in United’s first-leg victory in front of a sell-out crowd on the English Riviera.

The Gulls went into this game as slight underdogs after stuttering in recent weeks, but once the whistle blew there were no signs of United lacking in confidence.

A bright start to this game by both sides saw tackles flying in and Shrewsbury Town loanee Jake Robinson had to endure the boos from his parent club’s travelling supporters.

Tomlin’s trickery and strength was showcased early on and it took him just 10 minutes to wriggle behind the Shrews’ defence and set up a goal-scoring opportunity for Billy Kee. The 20-year-old clipped the ball up into heading range but his effort looped past Shrewsbury’s far-right post.

The skill upfront was not just evident in Torquay’s team; Town’s 6ft 1in frontman, Matt Harrold, turned cleverly outside United’s box and got a shot away in the 18th minute but his attempt dribbled past Scott Bevan’s right-hand post.

The Yellows began to pile on the pressure as the first half went on and Robinson almost netted his eighth goal in a Torquay shirt after 20 minutes. A neat passing move on the left between Tomlin, O’Kane, and Robinson ended with the 24-year-old starlet sending his right-foot shot over Ben Smith’s crossbar at the Babbacombe end.

If the Shrews weren’t feeling the pressure already, an injury to captain Ian Sharps on 25 minutes forced manager Graham Turner to bring on less-experienced Niall Canavan in the heart of defence.

Tomlin gave Canavan little time to settle in to this crucial game and four minutes after the substitution, the experienced striker forced the new arrival to make a mistake and again Tomlin was behind the Town back four. Skills from the 28-year-old created the opportunity for him to square a ball to Zebroski who arrived on the edge of the six-yard box and, after correcting his footing, managed to compose himself and rifle a right-footed shot past the helpless goalkeeper…1-0.

Confidence was high after the first goal and Robinson had his shooting boots on. He continued to cut inside from the left and send long-range efforts flying at Town’s goal.

United keeper Scott Bevan narrowly avoided embarrassment in front of the Sky Sports cameras after he miskicked a Lee Mansell back-pass in the 39th minute and gifted a glorious opportunity to David Davis who managed to send his effort high into the Family Stand.

Tomlin was a constant thorn in the side of the Shrews and on 44 minutes he was threaded an exquisite pass from Robinson but his one-on-one chance was cut short by the linesman’s flag.

A lacklustre Shrewsbury were praying for half-time but the Gulls were determined to pile more misery on the Shropshire men before the break.

United doubled their lead in the third minute of added time and took the Plainmoor faithful within touching distance of a trip to Old Trafford in two weeks time. An excellent turn from Robinson on the left-wing left Town’s right-back stranded as the winger raced clear. Robinson cut back inside and teed up O’Kane who arrived just outside the box to fire a bobbling drive past a poorly positioned Smith into the bottom left-hand corner…2-0.

Turner sent his men in blue out early for the second half as the Shrews looked to rescue their play-off chances.

Paul Buckle continued with his attacking philosophy and the Gulls were on the front foot again after the interval.

Robinson kept trying to find the back of the net with ambitious long-range efforts and showed a real hunger to get on the scoresheet in front of the Ellacombe End.

Fan favourite Kevin Nicholson almost made it 3-0 on 59 minutes after he stung the fingers of Davis with a hard-hit free kick from 25 yards awarded for a foul on Zebroski.

Tomlin showed his best form since making the move from east London in March and on 74 minutes his right-footed effort by the left-hand post was cleared off the line by Tom Bradshaw.

Shrewsbury probed but failed to show the form that got them to within a point of automatic promotion. Their dreams of League One football are dangling by a thread after an impressive display from the team who finished 11 points below them.

Torquay travel to Gay Meadow with a two-goal advantage on Friday 20 May and despite an inevitable improved performance expected from Town, Buckle promises to go there with the same attacking intent that he hopes will cement his team’s place at the Theatre of Dreams on 28 May.