Frear strike secures narrow Torquay victory

City secured another vital 1-0 victory over relegation threatened Torquay United at Twerton Park this afternoon thanks to Elliott Frear’s 10th minute volley. Results elsewhere mean only a heavy defeat against Aveley next Saturday will threaten the Romans play-off place.

After a quiet opening to the game great work near the line touchline by Scott Wilson saw his cross thumped home at the far post by an unmarked Frear. The rest of the half was largely even with neither side able to create any clear cut openings. A Frear free-kick just evaded Jordan Dyer then Jack Batten met the same player’s corner but couldn’t keep his header down. The visitor’s only real sights of goal saw Jude-Boyd and Archer send long range shots in that Will Buse comfortable gathered.

The pattern of the game changed little after the break but just before the hour-mark Cody Cooke raced clear only to fire wide with just Halstead to beat. This would have calmed the nerves of the majority of the 2700+ crowd as the game headed into its closing stages. However, time and again the Gulls wasted their possession with a woeful final pass or cross. And when they did manage to get the ball into a dangerous area they found City’s defence in commanding form. A rare slip by Danny Greenslade in stoppage time allowed Ash to break into the box but his cross was tipped away by Buse. Moments after the corner was cleared the final whistle signalled the massive result for both clubs at opposite ends of the table.