United grabbed a dramatic equaliser with time running out tonight at Plainmoor. Phil Trainer notched from a corner to perfectly match a first half strike from Chris Robertson.

With James Constable back in the starting line up and Barry Quinn fit after an ankle scare United's first task was to quieten the boisterous home crowd and take the tempo away from the fast starting Gulls. A frantic fifteen minutes saw Wayne Carlisle head the first  chance of the night over the bar on ten minutes before United started to get a few touches in midfield and start to ease their way into the game with Lewis Haldane getting in a couple of shots from long range.

Having weathered that early storm United looked to be getting a foothold but on 21 minutes their achilles heel, the set piece against, cost them dear. Swung in from the right to the near post past sentries Constable and Trainer,  the ball ran straight into the path of the thunderous run of centre half Chris Robertson, who converted from five yards out, making enough contact to put the ball through the despairing and helpless Turley..

 Another goal from the home side would have opened the floodgates at that stage but United hung on, stayed resolute and kept plugging away, almost finding their reward on 35 as Phil Trainer cut in from the left and forced home keeper Scott Bevan to dive to his left to palm away his powerful right footed drive. Jamie Guy's fine run and shot from 25 yards on 38 again emphasised that United were still in the game, and although there was no denying that Torquay had edged the first half the U's were far from finished at the break.

Two shots from Trainer in the 49th minute, the first blocked the second flashing into the side netting, set The U's stall out early in the second half and on 52 they should have levelled as Haldane's hanging cross found Trainer at the far post. Trainer unselfishly headed back across goal but Constable was unable to get enough on his left footed shot on the turn and the Gulls were gratefully able to clear.

With Murray and Burnell able to get on the ball far more the boys in blue started to play far more in the final third of the pitch and had another chance on 61 as Guy just let the ball get away from him ten yards from goal, but were grateful to James Clarke for a superb slithering challenge a minute later as Wayne Carlisle raced clear and seemed to be in with a free run at goal.

The hard working Constable made way for Yemi Odubade just after the hour and with Torquay dropping deeper and deeper The U's were looking more likely to score with every attack. They came agonisingly close on 67 minutes as another fine cross from the excellent Chris Carruthers found Haldane at the far post but his effort was crucially touched on to the frame of the goal and away from danger.

Torquay were far from finished and it was a good game to watch. All that was missing was that final ball from wide, and for the last ten minutes Sam Deering was asked to provide it...

No shortage of effort once again, and for long periods The U's had dominated the division's form team, but could they find that goal they deserved? The answer came right at the end as Deering did just what he'd been asked to do, send in a great corner. Keeper Bevan was dumbfounded and in steamed Trainer to smash home his second goal in two games. Marvellous.

There was still time for Odubade to be denied a clear penalty, the second controversial decision from ref Sainsbury from Wiltshire, but a draw was probably a fair result over the 90 minutes after a fine game in which United fully deserved a share having dominated the second half

Att: 1,955

Report: Chris Williams

Stats by PA Sports

See it all in GALLERY

Hear the reaction in Yellow World