Salisbury 0 Torquay United 1 - Gulls late winner sends them fourth

The fireworks were few and far between on the pitch at Salisbury this evening but in a fog of November 5 smoke, torquay-united-fc>Torquay United held on for 1-0 win to take them fourth n the National League South table.

It wasn't pretty but it was good enough by Torquay with the goal coming in the 85th minute when Finley Craske was brought down in the area and Cody Cooke smashed the ball home from 12 yards.

There were two changes to the team that started the home game against Chelmsford City with Finn Tonks and Ed Palmer coming in for Craske and Jordan Dyer, who were both on the bench. Omar Mussa got a shot away in the seven minute but it was an easy stop for goalkeeper Dan Lincoln. It was difficult to see if the shot was from the edge of the area with the lines on each side of the park barely visible. Salisbury's first shot, which went wide, was by Josh Hedges in the 11th minute. Matt Carson made a good block from a John Thomas strike.

Both teams were passing the ball around well, and in the19th minute the Gulls forced a corner, which Sam Dreyer headed wide when running onto Jordan Young's cross. Noah Coppin put the ball over Torquay's goal with an overhead kick following a long throw-in. Coppin shot wide across the face of the goal in the 35th minute. Young pulled a shot wide after a good ball to the edge of the box by Carson.

Salisbury had the better of the possession for the remainder of the first half - but there were no real chances in the 46-minute stalemate. Torquay started the second half brighter than Salisbury. Mussa was injured when challenging for the ball with the Salisbury captain Canice Carroll and it was a free kick out on the right in the 55th minute. Dan Hayfield's strike hit the wall. Young was nudged off the ball for another free kick in the 60th minute and from 22 yards Young drove the ball into another wall. Cooke sent a shot wide just moments later as the ball was pumped back into the box. Hamon got a strong hand to a good cross as back came Salisbury.

Wotton made two changes in midfield in the 67th minute with Will Jenkins Davies and Lirak Hasani coming on for Threlkeld and Mussa - and the two new players made a real impact.

A brilliant ball forward by Hasani immediately found Young, who burst forward, cut inside, and hit the post with a good strike. Another shot by Young was curled straight into the goalkeeper's hands. Dyer came on for Palmer in the 73rd minute. Lincoln came out and narrowed the angle to deny Jenkins Davies in the 75th minute as the Gulls continued to look dangerous. A Jenkins-Davies shot at the near post was held by Lincoln. A Callum Watts shot was saved by Hamon.

Craske came on for Tonks next just before the 80th minute. And it was Craske who was fouled in the box for the penalty in the 84th minute. Cooke took his time before striking the ball but when he did it flew into the back of the net with Lincoln trailing in its wake.

Brad Ash replaced Young for the final minutes - and Dreyer made a great block. Incredibly, nine minutes were added on, which was a surprise for everyone. Coppin shot wide and Hasani was brought down in the area but there was no second penalty. In the end, it wasn't needed.