Torquay manager Paul Buckle was pleased with his team's performance despite their 2-0 defeat at the Abbey Stadium on Tuesday night.

The visitors started brightly and also had a good spell during the second half, but Mark Beesley's two goals before half-time settled the game and secured United's place alongside the Gulls in the play-offs.

"Despite the result, I'm very, very positive, especially after the second half performance," said Buckle.

"We were the better side from the start. You've got a big crowd and good support here but after twenty minutes they were turning on you and as a manager you are always happy to hear that; it's the best thing you can hear when you come to clubs like this.

"Then we found ourselves two goals down - I thought against the run of play - and the fear was there that you could go on to get three or four as we tried to score ourselves. But credit to my players; we kept on stretching your defence and asked a lot of questions of them. We moved the ball really well and looked solid and strong."

Praising Mark Beesley for his finish for the first goal, Buckle continued, "You took the goals well. When your lad got in from the right I couldn't see how he was going to score but it squeezed in on the near post.

"The second came right on the 45, which is a killer, and I thought there could have been a foul in the build up but I'm really proud of the team.

"You saw our fans' reaction at the end, clapping us off. It's not easy when you're 2-0 down against the run of play but we went out in the second half and showed all the fighting spirit and qualities we have shown all season."

Buckle also revealed that he picked his team and formation specially for the game and explained, "We played 4-4-2 to stretch you with the wide play using pace to create chances, as you do with Courtney Pitt. If you can get quality balls out wide you will create chances to upset whichever opposition you are playing.

"I felt you looked dangerous that way as well, but I'm equally pleased with our fitness levels tonight and I felt we finished the game really powerfully. Jimmy will know how much of a game you've been in tonight, especially in the last 45 minutes.

"You had a packed stand behind our keeper in the second half and I'm delighted how we defended that in the second half as well."

It is mathematically impossible for the sides to meet in the play-off semi-finals, and after two wins for United in the league meetings this season Buckle admitted he hopes for a different outcome should we meet again at Wembley in the final.

"If we get to meet again in the play-offs I'm sure it will be another great game like the two we've already had against you this season, but hopefully for us with a different end result!"

Interview by David Gray

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