Gulls should have had game wrapped up by half time - but lost 1-0

Torquay United fell at the final hurdle in their bid to reach the first round proper of the FA Cup when they lost 1-0 to visitors Oxford City this afternoon – in a fourth qualifying round game they maybe should have had wrapped up by half time.

The Gulls were the better side for the first 45 minutes but couldn’t make their domination count and a goal 10 minutes into the second half by Scott Pollock proved too difficult to overturn. Even the referee was against them - denying the Gulls an obvious penalty shout shortly after the goal.

They had more chances and manager Jimmy Ball had half a team of forwards on the field by the end – but there was no way through. The most disappointing thing is – Oxford were no great shakes, but it will be the National League South side in the hat for the first round this week, not the National League South one.

Ball made two changes to the team that started the 5-1 National League South win against Slough Town with Munashe Sundire and Deon Moore coming in. Cody Cooke was on the bench with Jake Wannell, but the other player, like Wannell nursing an injury in midweek, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, didn’t make the squad.

The first shot on target was in the 29th second when a Matt Worthington grasscutter was easy for Jonny Maxted in the Oxford goal to stop. Torquay started the game well. For the opening minutes, Oxford looked panicky there for the taking. They had a good spell just before 10 minutes when Pollock shot wide. Moore had the ball in the back of the net in the 11th minute after a great cross by Kian Jenkins – but the striker was offside.

Torquay remained on top but the referee was making himself unpopular with Gulls fans for ignoring fouls on Moore up front but then giving Oxford some soft ones. Toby Savin was quick to deny Pollock at his feet in the 21st minute. A cross by Harry Shield had to be palmed away by Maxted before it crept in. A Jenkins header was held well by the goalkeeper.

Oxford won a free kick on the left side of the Torquay box in the 33rd minute but John Ashby floated the ball over the top. Oxford were improving though, getting more and more of the ball. Tyrone Marsh missed his header from a really good cross. Caleb Roberts swept a shot wide from the edge of the area in the 42nd minute. The referee blew up for the half on exactly 45 minutes.

Oxford went long in the second half and scored in the 52nd minute when a ball from the back found Pollock and he hit it past Savin from acres of space. It was a soft goal. Cody Cooke and Matt Jay came on for Jacob Beaumont-Clare and Sundire in the 56th minute. They added some fresh energy – but there were some dodgy moments, too. Torquay should have had a penalty in the 60th minute when there was a blatant handball in the box – but, inexplicably, the referee waved it away.

Former Oxford man Isaac Westendorf came on for Morton in the 65th minute. It was becoming a bit scrappy as Torquay threw bodies forward to try and get back into the game. Torquay were getting the ball into the box and Oxford were doing some desperate defending - a lovely Cooke header from a cross by Shield was tipped over the bar by Maxted in the 79th minute.

Angelo Cappello came on for Worthington with eight minutes to go. Moore was pulled back and it was a free kick from the right. Shield sent the ball in but it headed away. A Jay shot was blocked. Cooke headed over from a Jay cross in the 86th minute.

But it wasn’t happening for the Gulls, who should have made more of an impact in the first half when they were on top. Oxford used up some more time by bringing on Dillon De Silva, formerly of Torquay. Four minutes were added on. Maxted caught a late ball into the box by Shield, and that was the final throw of the dice used up.