Torquay United 4-2 Notts County *aet (National League Playoff Semi Final) 12.06.21

It wasn’t to be for Notts County who went down to Torquay United in the National League playoffs after a thrilling game went into extra time at Plainmoor.

Gary Johnson’s men were 1-0 up inside a minute when Danny Wright’s header deflected in to give the hosts the perfect start but Notts replied through the magnificent Ruben Rodrigues who headered home six minutes before half time after a superb delivery by Dion Kelly-Evans from the right.

As badly as the first half started for Ian Burchnall’s side, the second half began the exact same way when the prolific striker Danny Wright put the Gulls 2-1 up just three minutes after the break.

Adam Chicksen however equalised almost immediately after, smashing home from a corner his first club goal and an open second half saw chances at both ends before the full time whistle went with the two teams somehow locked level.

Wootton went close for Notts in extra time but twelve minutes in, Asa Hall headed home to severely dent the Magpies chances with minutes left to play of the first period, as Notts chased and pushed it was a penalty decision awarded for a foul by Ellis on Lemonhaigh-Evans that would cement the certainty of defeat. Dean Moxey did the rest and it was the home teams day in the sun, Torquay will now play Hartlepool United for a return fight towards Football League status, Notts must suffer another year in the National League, a third season in English football’s fifth division.

Tough to take, Notts Head Coach Burchnall said after “I thought it was an open and entertaining game and I felt over the balance of 90 minutes, we were the better team without a doubt.”

Burchnall furthered “They pressed us well and defensively they were organised and very well drilled.”

“But really I felt the better quality chances were ours in the 90 minutes.”

Torquay United: Lucas, Wynter, Sherring, Moxey, Cameron (Andrews 79), Hall (Buse 105), Lewis, Little (Waters 95), Wright (Mbungu Kimpioka 90), Randell, Lemonhaigh-Evans.

Notts County: Slocombe, Brindley, Ellis, Chicksen (Rawlinson 90), Kelly-Evans, Reeves, Doyle, Rodrigues, Miller (Barnett 85), Boldewijn (Knowles 73), Wootton.

Venue: Plainmoor

*Main image @NCFC Kyle Wootton in action against Torquay.