Salisbury stalemate for Torquay United

After two superb wins on the road, a 2-2 home draw with Salisbury might feel like an opportunity missed for Torquay United but, on the balance of play, it was a decent point against a lively opponent.

In a sprightly start to the game, United’s final midweek home fixture of the campaign, Sam Dreyer threw his body on the line to block an early effort from Ronan Silva, quickly followed by Noah Coppin failing to test James Hamon with a stooping header.

The Gulls were under the cosh and Hamon was in full-alert mode to prevent a Jordan Dyer header from nestling into the net for an own goal. Matt Jay finally got the momentum moving in the opposite direction, executing a delightful lob that had Salisbury stopper Rhys Byrne at full stretch to tip it over the bar.

Moments later, Byrne was beaten, Ozzy Zanzala adding another notch to his impressive start to life as a Gull, although United celebrations were almost immediately squashed by Salisbury hitting the net for an apparent equaliser. Thankfully, after a lengthy discussion between the officials, the goal was ruled out for an infringement.

Zanzala almost repeated his goal-scoring trick from another dangerous delivery by Jordan Young, but this effort skewed wide. Salisbury, however, remained a constant threat and they finally got some reward in first-half stoppage time, Callum Watts pouncing on a loose clearance to fizz a low drive through a sea of legs and beyond Hamon for the equaliser.

The frenetic pace continued into the second half, both sides asking questions from set-piece situations, but Salisbury were next to score, as a cross from Silva eluded everyone to find the back of the net.

United boss Paul Wotton introduced the fresh legs of Omar Mussa and Oscar Threlkeld to the midfield ranks, but it was the visitors continuing to worry the vast majority of more than 4,000 fans inside Plainmoor with a succession of corners.

The Gulls survived and pulled themselves level on 72 minutes. Young was again the architect with a fizzing cross headed on to the bar by Zanzala and Will Jenkins-Davies was in the right place to fire home the rebound.

Jay went close to giving United a late lead with a decent strike before Young fired over the bar. The Gulls were looking more likely to pinch a winner, Fin Craske and Jay both going close in the dying seconds, but it would end with honours even.