Date: Sunday 17th May, 2009
Competition: Blue Square Premier Play-off Final
Weather at kick-off: overcast, breezy
Goals:
Torquay: Hargreaves 35', Sills 75'

Cambridge United:
Adam Bartlett, Dan Gleeson, Phil Bolland, Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin; Robbie Willmott (Chris Holroyd 81'), Jai Reason, Paul Carden (Jon Challinor 79'), Courtney Pitt (Andy Parkinson 62'); Lee Phillips, Scott Rendell.
Subs not used: Darren McMahon, Danny Crow.

Booked: Hatswell foul 21', Bolland fouls 52' and 70'
Sent off: Bolland 70'

Torquay United:
Michael Poke, Lee Mansell, Chris Todd, Chris Robertson, Kevin Nicholson; Wayne Carlisle (Mustapha Carayol 90'), Nicky Wroe, Chris Hargreaves (c), Danny Stevens (Lee Hodges 85'); Tim Sills, Elliot Benyon (Tyrone Thompson 87').
Subs not used: Matt Green, Martin Rice.

Booked: Carlisle foul 11', Sills foul 18'

10-man Cambridge United made their second fruitless trip to Wembley in two seasons, as goals from Chris Hargreaves and Tim Sills either side of half-time ensured Torquay United would be the side to join Burton Albion in the football league for next season.

Gary Brabin made one key change to the starting 11 from the win against Stevenage, with on-loan goalkeeper Adam Bartlett stepping in to cover for Danny Potter, who injured a knee in training on Friday.

Paul Buckle also made one change, with forward Elliot Benyon replacing the injured Blair Sturrock.

United's fans outnumbered and outsang the Gulls fans by a considerable proportion, filling the lower two tiers almost completely while the Torquay support was concentrated in the lower blocks behind the goal and near the halfway line, and United responded with all the early possession.

Jai Reason and Robbie Willmott both had crosses cleared while Courtney Pitt drew the first save from Michael Poke, but the game was yet to settle into a rhythm when the United fans were infuriated by Tim Sills leading with his forearm when challenging Hatswell for an aerial ball. The U's defender was prone on the ground for a few nervy moments while Sills escaped any punishment and United's players and manager protested to the officials.

Torquay collected the first booking of the game on 10 when Wayne Carlisle brought down the flying Pitt from behind as the United man led a break through the middle, and Reason's resulting free-kick flashed wide following a deflection off the wall.

Stand-in goalkeeper Adam Bartlett was called into action for the first time on 13 as he reacted smartly to collect a glancing header from Elliot Benyon at the near post. The U's continued their positive start to the match as Reason fired a curling shot from outside the area, which Poke collected at the second attempt.

Sills was eventually booked on 18 - much to the approval of the United support - for another foul on Wayne Hatswell, a minute later Rendell had a shot turned behind for a corner but Pitt floated the ball too close to Poke, and Hatswell joined Sills in the book for a late challenge on the striker in the 21st minute.

Cambridge piled on the pressure as Rendell played Willmott into space, but it summed up much of United's attacking play so far when the youngster was unable to find a team-mate with his cross and Torquay scrambled the ball clear. Moments later, Lee Phillips was unlucky with a left-footed shot on the turn that flew just wide from 20 yards out.

Bolland made a typically well timed challenge in the area to deny Benyon a shot at goal in the 24th minute, and from the resulting corner Gleeson did well to head behind again. Bartlett continued his strong performance with a brave catch from the next corner to relieve the pressure on his defence.

The U's stood strong to the Torquay pressure as Robertson volleyed wide after 27 minutes, and as the game passed the half hour mark, Poke produced an impressive save to deny Robbie Willmott after he cut in from the right.

But against the run of play, it was Torquay who took the lead after 34 minutes as veteran skipper Chris Hargreaves made a surging run from midfield, received the ball from Benyon on the edge of the box, and fired beyond Bartlett into the top corner with the assistance of a deflection off Bolland.

As United looked to make an instant reply, Phillips linked well with Rendell into the area but headed the return ball wide of the post.

Dan Gleeson brilliantly denied Torquay a second goal, as he slid in to block a cross from Tim Sills to Danny Stevens before hooking the loose ball clear.

After an closely contested first half, it was the Gulls who went in with a one goal advantage at half time, courtesy of their 37-year-old captain Chris Hargreaves.

Second Half:
United enjoyed a strong start to the second half and Pitt floated a ball behind the defence to Rendell, who won a corner off Robertson, but United's delivery from set pieces and generally in the final third was too often lacking and the flag kick was wasted.

Torquay broke away towards their supporters in the 51st minute and Bolland received a costly booking for a clumsy challenge on Benyon, and Bartlett was relieved to see Robertson's deflected long-range drive flash past his post.

Another good spell of pressure for United saw Gleeson's low drive from a tight angle deflect wide off Robertson on the line. After 55 minutes, Rendell had a penalty claim turned down after Michael Poke clawed the ball from his feet, bringing the striker down in the process, which allowed the Torquay 'keeper to collect the loose ball.

Courtney Pitt made another promising run but delivered a cross that bisected the area and eluded his team-mates, and he was replaced in the first first substitution of the game, when Andy Parkinson trotted on in his place in the 61st minute.

Just before the change Torquay had a penalty shout of their own, following Hatswell's challenge on Benyon, and the Gulls broke once away again on 64 when Stevens crossed to Sills, who was unable to keep his glancing header underneath the bar.

Already trailing by a goal and chasing the game, United suffered a further blow on 70 when Bolland raced across to challenge Benyon on the left wing and brought him down with a clumsy challenge.

There was little doubt about what would follow, and referee Gary Sutton duly showed the big defender his second yellow card and the red. The U's were lucky not to go 2-0 down when Gleeson diverted the resultant free-kick against his own post, and Todd lashed the loose ball over the bar.

With United stretched at the back as they battled desperately for the equaliser, Torquay took full advantage in the 75th minute when leading scorer Tim Sills found space in the box to head home Carlisle's cross to finish a clinical counter attack.

Reshuffling his side in an attempt to get back into the game, Brabin sent Jon Challinor into the fray to replace Paul Carden in midfield while Willmott received treatment after a clattering challenge, but it became apparent that the teenager had taken too much punishment and he hobbled off to be replaced by Chris Holroyd.

Torquay made their first change six minutes from time when Lee Hodges came on for Stevens, and Tyrone Thompson came on two minutes later in place of Elliot Benyon as the Torquay fans began to celebrate their promotion and United fans headed for the exits in growing numbers.

There was a further call for a United penalty in the second minute of stoppage time when Rendell went down under a shove from Chris Todd, but the claims were once again ignored. Rendell was then denied as Poke plucked his header out of the air under pressure from Jon Challinor, who also fired an effort wide from distance with the last kick of the game.

The U's fans were forced to watch the other end of Wembley celebrate promotion for the second successive season as the referee brought the game to a close, with United finding no end product to reply to Torquay's two goals.

Man of the Match: Wayne Hatswell

Referee: Mr Gary Sutton

Attendance: 35,089

Adam Thrussell

AT090517 web@cambridge-united.co.uk