Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: Overcast
Goals:
Torquay: Benyon 41'
United: Boylan 40', Wolleaston 86'

Rob Wolleaston grabbed a sensational winner four minutes from the end as Torquay lost at home for the first time this season. Earlier, two goals in the space of thirty seconds just before half time created an early firework display as the U's took the lead then conceded thirty seconds later. Lee Boylan's looping header opened the scoring but before United could catch breath, Elliott Benyon levelled for the home side.

Jimmy Quinn named an unchanged side following Tuesday's 5-1 FA Cup win against Stafford and the U's got things under way, but Torquay were soon on the attack with Ishmael Welsh threatening but Mark Albrighton clearing the danger. Hargreaves sent Welsh clear and his shot cannoned off a defender and away for a corner, which United cleared, but Torquay forced another before U's keeper Luke McShane was nudged and won a free kick.

It was Courtney Pitt who created the first Cambridge attack, but his cross was too near Simon Rayner in the Torquay goal, and he snatched it from Lee Boylan's head. Then Rob Wolleaston tested Rayner with a long range shot which was on target but lacked power.

United went close when Boylan steered a shot goalwards, with United appealing that Simon Rayner had fouled the United man on his way to goal, and Boylan's shot inched just wide. Loanee Darryl Knights was having a lively game once again, trying to prise open the home side's defence, but the best chance of the game fell to Torquay in the 14th minute. Mansell's cross was met by Tim Sills with a glancing header, which just sailed wide of McShane's right hand post.

At this stage in the game, although both sides were very evenly matched, United had a clear advantage territorially but couldn't create many clear chances. However, at the other end, Michael Morrison's error almost let in Tim Sills, but McShane spared his blushes.

The lively Welsh tried his luck with a jinking run, going past Albrighton then taking on Gleeson, but having done the donkey work, he couldn't get off a decent shot on goal. Pitt was called into defensive duties when Zebroski threatened, but Pitt was there first and conceded the throw. On 31 minutes, Rob Wolleaston did well to open things up for Stephen Reed, but the flag went up for offside.

The game continued in an end-to end fashion but neither keeper was seriously threatened. Chris Robertson conceded a corner after good work from Knights, but Torquay cleared their lines with the home side appealing for a free kick against Wolleaston

Courtney Pitt was booked in the 38th minute after an unnecessary challenge in the centre-circle, but he was soon the hero when he floated a cross into the box and little Lee Boylan looped a header over Rayner's head to put the U's in front.

The lead lasted less than 30 seconds, however. United failed to clear the ball after Welsh launched it into the box, Pitt missed it, Bedeau's shot cannoned off a defender and Elliott Benyon poked it home from close range.

Straight from the kick-off, the U's nearly scored again when Boylan burst into the box and picked out Darryl Knights, whose shot was saved on the line by Simon Rayner.

Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A humdinger of a half with a sting in the tail as Lee Boylan gave United the lead in the 40th minute. But there was an instant riposte, with Benyon seizing on a rebound to level for the Gulls."

Second half:
The second half began with United immediately on the back foot as the home side went in search of another goal. During that spell Tim Sills tried his luck from long range but Mark Peters was on hand to make the clearance, and United took a breather as Tony Bedeau was booked for unsporting behaviour following a foul on Michael Morrison.

Stephen Reed took a corner for United - the visitors' first attack of the half - but Albrighton couldn't get onto the end of it. At the other end, Benyon went clear for Torquay and found Sills, who shrugged off a challenge from Albrighton, but the referee gave Torquay the free kick. Kevin Nicholson unleashed a vicious free kick, but it cannoned back off a five-man wall. United couldn't clear though, and Zebroski found himself in space. His shot almost foxed McShane but the United keeper claimed it at the second attempt after it bounced off his chest.

There was a flash point after 61 minutes when Albrighton fouled Tim Sills, who reacted angrily, and both players ended up in Mr Linnington's book.

Torquay should have gone in front after 63 minutes when Nicholson crossed superbly, and Mark Ellis had a free header, but it went over the bar. Knights charged forward for United and won a corner, which Reed took, the home side cleared only as far as Reed who crossed for Rendell but his effort from just six yards was off target.

Meanwhile the travelling U's fans held their collective breath as Benyon went close before McShane could snatch the ball from his feet. United added more firepower, bringing on Leo Fortune West for Knights, and Michael Hyem came on after 74 minutes for the luckless Stephen Smith - himself a substitute for Pitt just eight minutes earlier - who was injured in a challenge.

Boylan tried to put Hyem free, but Torquay hoofed it away, towards Sills, who was desperate to give the home side a lead. It remained end-to-end stuff, with both sides getting nervous, ands with nine minutes remaining Nicholson launched another free-kick into the danger area, but McShane made a great catch.

Torquay were searching hard for the winner but it was the Cambridge fans who were soon celebrating. Leo Fortune-West created havoc near the edge of the box and fed the ball to Hyem, who couldn't find a way through but picked out Rob Wolleaston's surging run, and the midfielder stepped over the ball once, then twice, before sliding home a tremendous finish that gave Rayner no chance, and put United back in front.

The United fans groaned as the fourth official held up the board indicating five minutes of stoppage time, and there was more defending for United as Torquay tried to protect their unbeaten home record, but the U's held on for a famous victory, which sees them move up to fourth in the table, five points behind Aldershot at the top.

Torquay United:
Simon Rayner, Tony Bedeau (Kevin Hill 59'), Chris Robertson, Mark Ellis, Kevin Nicholson, Chris Zebrowski, Chris Hargreaves, Lee Mansell, Ishmael Welsh (Danny Wring 72'), Tim Sills, Elliott Benyon (Danny Stevens 72')
Subs not used: Matt Hockley, Martin Rice

Booked: Bedeau foul 50', Sills retaliation 61'

Cambridge United:
Luke McShane, Mark Albrighton, Mark Peters, Michael Morrison, Dan Gleeson, Rob Wolleaston, Stephen Reed, Darryl Knights (Leo Fortune-West 71'), Courtney Pitt (Stephen Smith 65', Michael Hyem 74'), Scott Rendell, Lee Boylan
Subs not used: Gavin Hoyte, Josh Coulson

Booked: Pitt foul 38', Albrighton unsporting behaviour 61'

Referee: Mr James Linnington

Att: 3,368 (away 146)

Mark Johnson's Match Summary:
"A famous victory for United, as Rob Wolleaston's late strike inflicted Torquay United's first home defeat of the season. It wasn't a pretty game, but it was always hard fought . There were fireworks at the end of the first half when Lee Boylan put United ahead four minutes from the break, but Benyon's instant riposte brought Torquay level. A nervous end to end encounter was settled in the second half by Wolleaston's brilliance, and a goal fit to win any match.."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Mark Peters - a colossal performance from a colossus at the back."

Ref: Mr Linnington was put under pressure by a boisterous home crowd, but he rarely put a foot wrong, despite an unhelpful assistant. 9/10."

Steve Greenall

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