Cooke serves up dramatic point for Torquay United

A confident stoppage-time penalty from Cody Cooke ensured Torquay United salvaged a determined 2-2 draw at promotion rivals Worthing in the National League South.

The Gulls had fallen behind early to a goal from Joe Partington but Jordan Young quickly replied with a free-kick, only for Worthing to restore their advantage through Liam Nash.

The second period became increasingly tense and fractious, both sides aware of the importance of three points in such a tight promotion race, as Worthing’s Sam Beard and United’s Sam Dreyer were dismissed in separate incidents just three minutes apart.

The Gulls were moments away from defeat when they were awarded a penalty and Cooke accepted the challenge to secure a vital point.   

Worthing were the side enjoying the bulk of possession in the early exchanges but United conjured the first opening, Dreyer, fresh from his crucial goal on the weekend, nodding wdie from a Young free-kick.

The home side responded in ominous fashion, the vastly experienced Partington finding space from a corner to head beyond James Hamon for the opening goal.

The Yellow Army could have been forgiven for casting a worrying glance back in the memory banks to the painful 5-1 FA Trophy defeat at Worthing last month, but United dispelled those fears by drawing level within five minutes.

The set-piece skill of Young was the familiar source, whipping the ball into the net for an instant riposte, and the Gulls were more than matching an opponent widely considered to be one of the best footballing sides in the division.

Hamon was given a minor reprieve just before the half-hour, when Liam Nash nipped in front of the United custodian but thankfully added too much juice to his lob, which sailed over.

Nash did find his radar on 38 minutes, expertly guiding a sublime cross from Nick Wheeler into the corner, giving Worthing a slender lead at the interval. Nash threatened to add another immediatelt after the restart, pinging the ball narrowly wide to keep United in the contest.

Manager Paul Wotton freshened up the Yellow ranks with the introduction of Omar Mussa and Matt Jay for Young and Dylan Morgan, and the Gulls found some renewed impetus on the hour, Mussa winning a corner with a deflected effort and the subsequent set-piece was headed over by Dreyer.

Jay was next to ask a question with the ball bouncing around the danger area before Matt Carson provided a vital block to thwart Worthing at the other end. United were given a brief numerical boost, with Sam Beard shown a straight red card for the hosts but the numbers were soon levelled up, Dreyer also sent off for a professional foul.

United had to pile forward in search of an equaliser and Cooke almost delivered with a well-directed header from Oscar Threlkeld’s cross but Chris Haigh was in the right place to dig out a top save for his team.

The drama was saved for the final minute, when the Gulls were awarded a penalty and Cooke held his nerve to convert a potentially massive goal in the promotion race.