Play-off history needed

Last update on play-off info.

1987-8
Scunthorpe (H) 2-1 May 15
Match report.
Torquay: Caldwell/Dobson replaced Loram/Nardiello?
Scunthorpe: Line-up - subs/unused.

Scunthorpe (A) 1-1 May 18
Match report.
Scunthorpe: Line-up - subs/unused.


Swansea (A) 1-2 May 25
Match report.
Swansea: Line-up - subs/unused.
Torquay: Loram/Gibbins replaced Caldwell/Gardiner?

Swansea (H) 3-3 May 28
Match report.
Torquay: Unused sub.
Swansea: Line-up - subs/unused.


1990-1
Burnley (H) 2-0 May 19
Match report.
Torquay: Unused sub.


Burnley (A) 0-1 May 22
Match report.
Burnley: Line-up - subs/unused.
Torquay: Unused sub.

Blackpool (N) 2-2 May 31
Match report.
Blackpool: Line-up - subs/unused.
Torquay: Evans/Edwards replaced by Hall/Rowland?


1993-4
Preston (A) 1-4 May 18
Match report.
Preston: Line-up - subs/unused.
Torquay: Hodges/O'Riordan replaced by Hodges/Hathaway?

Thanks for your replies so far.
DF

Football: Kelly hero in revival by Walsall
Times, The (London, England) - Monday, May 16, 1988
Torquay United won 2-1 at home to Scunthorpe United but threw away the chance of killing off their opponents's challenge in a bad-tempered third division play-off semi-final. Scunthorpe, reduced to 10 men ater the dismissal of Nichol, regained some hope for the second leg when Kevin Taylor scored in the 71st minute after Caldwell and Dobson had given Torquay a two-goal first-half lead.

The Swansea City forward, Sean McCarthy, scored an 85th-minute goal to give the home side a 1-0 victory over Rotherham United in the other third division play-off match.


Football: County made to suffer by Christie's winner
Times, The (London, England) - Thursday, May 19, 1988
McCarthy, who scored in the first leg, also did so in the second, helping Swansea keep alive their hopes of promotion to the third division, with a 1-1 draw at Rotherham.

His goal, from a volley after 19 minutes, gave Swansea a 2-1 aggregate win. Rotherham kept their hopes alive a minute before the break through Johnson, but despite intense second-half pressure, the home side returned to the fourth division for the first time since 1975.

A goal scored against the run of play gave Torquay a 1-1 draw against Scunthorpe and a place in the play-off final against Swansea. Loram scored the decisive goal from Dobson's pass. Scunthorpe's only reward was a penalty goal by Lister after 81 minutes but Torquay went through 3-2 on aggregate - a far cry from last season when they were just minutes away from being relegated from the League.


Swansea on first rung after tense struggle - Football
Times, The (London, England) - Thursday, May 26, 1988
Author: NICHOLAS HARLING
Swansea City 2 Torquay United 1

A frantic conclusion that brought a last-minute goal for Torquay United and an undignified fracas involving players on both sides, illustrated the best and worst aspects of the play-offs at the Vetch Field last night.

The drama, which included two goals from Swansea City in the previous 25 minutes, was heady enough, but the tension was betrayed not only in the ugly skirmish, but also in a late, off-the-ball, incident involving Hutchison and McNichol.

Until the last-minute goal, scrambled in by McNichol, it looked as if Swansea had done enough to begin their long haul back through the divisions. Headed goals by McCarthy, his sixth in six games, and Love, the substitute, had given the Welshmen a 2-0 lead.

Now they will have to endorse their reputation as one of the fourth division's best away teams if they are to survive what is bound to be another bruising examination.

It was not for nothing that Terry Yorath had wanted a strong referee. Within four minutes, the Swansea manager saw Hutchison scythed down by McNichol's cynical challenge. It was for a similarly crude lunge from behind that Lloyd was later booked for bringing down Raynor, who had just had a goal disallowed for offside.

Although the experience of Hutchison and James eventually helped Swansea weather the storm, they were indebted to Guthrie for showing, with one fingertip reflex save from Dawkins, form worthy of a goalkeeper who had cost a record fee, £100,000, from non-League football.

It was as well for Swansea that the Football League had granted them an extension of his loan from Tottenham Hotspur to include the play-offs. Even so the goalkeeper can hardly have seen the fierce drive from Dobson that almost splintered his crossbar soon after the interval.

Raynor was booked soon after for dissent but with their largest crowd of the season exhorting them to get forward, Swansea, belatedly, did just that and to crucial effect. James started the moves that led to the fine headed goals from McCarthy and Love, although Swansea's celebrations were tempered somewhat by McNichol's late intervention.

SWANSEA CITY: P Guthrie; C Harrison, C Coleman, A Melville, A Knill, R James, A Davies, T Hutchison, S McCarthy, P Raynor, P Bodak (sub: I Love).

TORQUAY UNITED: K Allen; J McNichol, T Kelly, S Haslegrave, D Cole, J Impey, D Dawkins, P Lloyd, m Loram (sub: D Caldwell), P Dobson, R Gibbins (sub: m Gardiner).

Referee: R Milford.


Swansea's vintage veterans - Football
Times, The (London, England) - Monday, May 30, 1988
Author: NICHOLAS HARLING
Torquay United 3 Swansea City 3

(Swansea win 5-4 on aggregate)

The champagne flowed for Swansea City on Saturday as it has not flowed for a long time. Their achievement, promotion to the third division, represents one giant step upwards for the club which, of all those in the play-offs, has come closest to going out of existence.

The euphoria was hardly surprising. Torquay had twice been allowed to claw their way back into contention, only to stand the test each time by playing possession football.

Belying their years, Tommy Hutchison, the assistant manager, and Robbie James, the captain, had combined sweetly for the first goal, cross being charged down and retrieved by Hutchison for Raynor to shoot in.

McCarthy had given Swansea breathing space with a penalty before McNichol scored twice, only for Davis to restore some of Swansea's composure by half-time with a low shot. Caldwell's majestic header gave Torquay renewed hope over in the last 23 minutes, only for Guthrie to make two magnificent saves.

'It will be a bit slower this time, ' Terry Yorath, the Swansea manager, replied to suggestions that he might now emulate John Toshack's feat in taking the Welsh club up to the first division in four seasons.

TORQUAY UNITED: K Allen; J McNichol, T Kelly, D Dawkins, D Cole, J Impey (sub: L Sharpe), D Caldwell, P Lloyd, m Loram, P Dobson, R Gibbins.

SWANSEA CITY: P Guthrie; C Harrison, C Coleman, A Melville, A Knill, R James, A Davis, I Love, S McCarthy, P Raynor, T Hutchison (sub: J Lewis).

Referee: J Martin.

Dismissals betray a fear of failure - Football
Times, The (London, England) - Monday, May 20, 1991
IF PLAY-OFFS were intended to bring a festival feeling to the annual end-of-season struggles for promotion, they failed in the fourth division yesterday. Two players were sent off one in each game as Torquay beat Burnley 2-0 and Blackpool drew 1-1 at Scunthorpe United in overheated semi-final first legs.

Critics of the play-off system could have had a field day at Plainmoor, in particular. The desperation to escape from the division led to a rugged match of little good football, one dismissal and eight bookings nine, if you include that of the Burnley manager, Frank Casper. There were also Torquay's two goals, which may be enough to enable them to survive what could be another fractious night at Turf Moor for Wednesday's second leg.

It took 78 minutes of the first leg for the patience of the veteran referee, John Martin, to finally snap. Then, after a challenge on Holmes that was as bad, but no worse, than those which had earlier brought bookings for four players from either side, the Burnley midfield player, Hamilton, was the man to see red. Casper's name was taken after he had allowed his substitute, Sonner, to warm up without a tracksuit top over his shirt.

The referee let few dubious challenges pass unpunished, but he seemed to miss one in the fourth minute when the Burnley goalkeeper, Pearce, toppled backwards after going to meet Curran's long throw. Edwards promptly swept in his eighteenth goal of the season to put Torquay ahead.

Burnley had created nothing, apart from a half-chance squandered by Roger Eli, when Matthew Elliott, the Torquay centre half, scored the second with a low shot in the 83rd minute.

Scunthorpe were left with ten men when Lister, their midfield player, was sent off in the nineteenth minute for using foul and abusive language after disputing an offside decision. The clubs' stalemate leaves Blackpool as favourites to progress to the play-off final: they have not lost at home since January.

Rodwell gave Blackpool a 57th-minute lead after being put through by Garner, but Lillis deservedly equalised for Scunthorpe 13 minutes from the end.

Walsall have given all their players free transfers.


Blackpool back at Wembley - Football
Times, The (London, England) - Thursday, May 23, 1991
Author: Maritn Searby
A MUCH improved second-half performance took Blackpool to a place in the fourth division play-off final.

Their 2-1 victory over Scunthorpe meant tha t they will be returning to Wembley for the first time since their famous FA Cup final victory in 1953.

Scunthorpe faced an uphill task from the start after losing Lister, their midfield player, who was sent off on Sunday and consequently suspended, against a side who last lost at home in January, when Tottenham beat them by the only goal in the third round of the FA Cup.

Twelve fourth division games since have brought maximum points, and Scunthorpe were themselves victims when Blackpool beat them 3-1. Since the Lincolnshire side had only wo three times away from Glanford Park they could not be optimistic, although Bill Green, the manager, forecast they would play better than they did in the first leg, which was drawn 1-1.

When Blackpool moved forward the talented Rodwell, scorer of the goal on Sunday, was a constant source of threat on the right flank. However, the home side suffered a setback when Briggs had to retire with knee trouble after 22 minutes and, taking advantage of the re-shuffle, Hill hit a 30-yard free kick in off the left hand post to give Scunthorpe the lead in the 38th minute.

The equaliser came when Garner held off defenders in the penalty area before squaring for Eyres to score after 56 minutes, and Eyres settled the issue whn he converted a headed through pass from Garner 11 inutes later.

Blackpool will meet Torquay United, who were beaten 1-0 by Burnley at Turf Moor but went through on a 2-1 aggregate.

Burnley attacked constantly, but had to wait until the last minute for their reward, gained when Evans, the Torquay defender, put through his own net.

Evans's blunder was the only reward for Burnley after they had attacked from start to finish in an attempt to salvage something from a season which had promised so much.

Burnley's best chances were created on the rare occasions they attacked on the ground, and Francis and Sonner both put shots fly over of the bar.


Torquay land the prize on penalties - Football
Times, The (London, England) - Saturday, June 1, 1991
Author: Keith Blackmore
Blackpool 2 - Torquay United 2

TORQUAY gained promotion last night in the least desirable way, winning the fourth division play-off final at Wembley on penalty kicks against opponents who had finished seven points above them in the League.

When Dave Bamber, whose 17 goals had carried Blackpool into contention, missed from the spot, Torquay completed a success that seemed more likely in October, when they led the division by eight points, than it did two weeks ago, when they squeezed into the play-offs.

Such an outcome hardly seemed likely last night either, after Blackpool took the lead within seven minutes. Taylor's pass found Groves in space eight yards out and his low shot rolled beyond Howells. Eight minutes later, Torquay equalised when Loram crossed from the left and Saunders directed a fine header past McIlhargey.

Blackpool fell behind nine minutes later. Paul Holmes again crossed from the left, and Bamber was judged to have handled. Edwards dispatched the penalty.

When the teams returned after the interval, it was Blackpool who made most of the running. They equalised when an overhead kick by Garner was flicked onto the bar by Howells for Curran to turn it into his own net. The game swung from end to end and into extra time. The gloomy prospect of having a season's endeavours finished by penalty kicks kept both sides going forward, but neither could avert that sad conclusion.

BLACKPOOL: S McIlhargey; m Davis (sub: T Sinclair), A Wright, P Groves, P Horner, I Gore, A Rodwell, m Taylor, D Bamber, A Garner, D Eyres.

TORQUAY UNITED: G Howells; C Curran, P Holmes, W Saunders, m Elliott, S Joyce, C Myers, m Holmes, S Evans (sub: A Rowland), D Edwards, m Loram (sub: P Hall).

Referee: G Courtney.

Hayles on target as Rovers take control - Football
Times, The (London, England) - Monday, May 11, 1998
In the third division play-off first leg at Scarborough, Torquay United gained the upper hand with a 3-1 victory. Rodney Jack, the Jamaica striker, gave the visitors a 22nd-minute lead, only for Jason Rockett to equalise five minutes before half-time.

Jon Gittens restored the lead for Torquay five minutes after the restart and Andy McFarlane's 72nd-minute goal gave them a commanding advantage for the second leg in Devon.

Greg Heald scored the only goal as Barnet beat Colchester United in their third division semi-final first leg at Underhill, in which Sean Devine, of the home side, and Guy Branston, of Colchester, were dismissed for violent conduct eight minutes from time.


Torquay lifted by trusty Jack - Football
Times, The (London, England) - Thursday, May 14, 1998
Author: David Powell
Torquay United 4. Scarborough 1. (Torquay win 7-2 on agg). Nationwide League play-offs

TWO months ago, when Rodney Jack heard that Torquay United had rejected a £300,000 offer from Crewe Alexandra for his services, the player shook the hand of Kevin Hodges, his manager, to thank him, because he was enjoying himself so much at Plainmoor. Last night, Hodges returned the handshake.

Jack scored two exquisite goals in the first seven minutes of this Nationwide League third division play-off semi-final to ensure that Torquay follow the trail from Devon to Wembley laid by Tiverton Town, the FA Vase-winners, last Saturday. Torquay will play Colchester United a fortnight tomorrow.

There was never a dull moment in the first half, with one player sent off, five more booked and four goals. The second half, in which another player was sent off, one more was booked and one goal scored, was dull by comparison. Scarborough finished the game with nine men.

Gareth Williams was shown the red card for a second bookable offence after 28 minutes, with his team 2-1 down, and Liam Robinson had been on for only 16 minutes after coming on as a sixtieth-minute substitute when he brought down Gibbs. He had to go.

Jack's first goal was rooted in an inadequate header from Brodie, directed at Atkin. It fell short and Jack ran at Elliott, the Scarborough goalkeeper, wrong-footed him and fired low into an unguarded net.

Atkin had to shoulder blame for the second goal, conceding possession to Jack wide on the right. Jack cut in and fired the ball past Elliott at his near post.

Briefly, Scarborough rallied and their endeavour was rewarded when Rockett headed in after 22 minutes. Six minutes later, though, Williams was dismissed. Making the most of their man advantage, Torquay added further goals just before the interval and soon after.

McCall spotted Elliott off his line and beat him from 25 yards. Gibbs added the fourth, firing in from 15 yards. Jack was denied a hat-trick, when, again unmarked, he went around Elliott only to delay his shot and allow Sutherland to make the tackle.

TORQUAY UNITED (3-5-2): K Veysey - J Gittens, A Watson, J Robinson - A Gurney, S McCall (sub: K Hill, 73min), G Clayton, C Leadbitter, P Gibbs - R Jack (sub: A Bedeau, 82), A McFarlane (sub: W Thomas, 87).

SCARBOROUGH (5-3-2): A Elliott - J Kay, J Rockett, P Atkin (sub: C Sutherland, 46), m McElhatton, G Williams - S Brodie, B Worral, T Bennett (sub: J Mitchell, 60) - N Campbell, C Tate (sub: L Robinson, 60).

Referee: R Harris.


Times, The (London, England) - Saturday, May 23, 1998
Author: Brian Glanville
Colchester United 1 Torquay United 0

FOOTBALL is full of ironies. Colchester United won this Nationwide League third division play-off final at Wembley last night thanks to a penalty which probably should not have been awarded, yet did not get what seemed to be a clear spot kick in the second half.

The decisive goal came after 21 minutes. Mark Sale nodded the ball across the box to the hefty Steve Forbes, whose boot met it, and the ball struck the hand of the experienced Torquay centre half, Jon Gittens. It hardly looked deliberate, but that was the way that the referee, Mike Fletcher, saw it. David Gregory expertly beat the 19-year-old Torquay reserve goalkeeper, Matthew Gregg, with a low shot in off the foot of the post.

The penalty that should have been awarded came after 59 minutes. Buckle's search ing pass sent David Gregory pelting through alone. Just as he was about to shoot, however, Gibbs, the Torquay left wing back, brought him down from behind. Gregg gratefully plunged on the ball and the referee allowed play to go on.

Kevin Hodges, the Torquay manager, later reflected that Gittens had given away a penalty in the last league game of the season, away to Leyton Orient, when victory would have earned Torquay automatic promotion. Steve Wignall, his opposite number, admitted that it had been a poor game. "We never really strung half a dozen passes together all night," he said, "but you can't be critical."

So much had been expected - too much, he himself had warned before the game - of Rodney Jack, Torquay's little centre forward from St Vincent. It was his goals in the play-off semi-final that had brought Torquay to Wembley, but now he was an ineffectual figure. One overelaborate run early in the first half promised better but, in the event, Colchester's central defenders played him out of the game.

Just before half-time, Gittens had an excellent chance to make up for the penalty. Gibbs took one of his inswinging free kicks from the right, the ball was headed out, Watson's shot was blocked and the ball flew across the goal to Gittens, who, from a few yards out, could do no better than put it high and wide.

Emberson, the Colchester goalkeeper, was made man of the match, though in truth he had less to do than his somewhat uneasy counterpart. After 71 minutes, however, Emberson certainly did well to turn round the post a low shot after a most enterprising run by Gurney.

Seven minutes later, the opposing right back, Dunne, capped a strong run with a fine long cross to Sale, who could do no better than head it straight at Gregg.

COLCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2): C Emberson - J Dunne, D Greene, R Wilkins, S Betts - S Forbes, P Buckle, D Gregory, A Skelton (sub: K Duguid, 83min) - m Sale, N Gregory (sub: A Lock, 71).

TORQUAY UNITED (3-5-2): m Gregg - J Robinson, J Gittens, A Watson - A Gurney, G Clayton, C Leadbitter, S McCall (sub: A Bedeau, 72), P Gibbs - R Jack, A McFarlane (sub: W Thomas, 84).

Referee: m Fletcher.

Many thanks for all your earlier help... Just one or two outstanding items required now..

1987-8
Division Three/Four
Swansea 2-1 Torquay - May 25
Love goal time.
Torquay 3-3 Swansea - May 28
Goal times for McNichol's first and Raynor.

Cheers all
DF