Torquay eased past Shrewsbury in the first leg of the League Two play-off semi-final.

The Gulls dominated the first half and went ahead when Gavin Tomlin pulled the ball back and found Chris Zebroski who fired home through a sea of defenders.

They doubled their lead just before half-time when Eunan O'Kane's 20-yard strike fooled keeper Ben Smith.

The Shrews pushed to reduce the deficit but to no avail, leaving them with a mountain to climb in the second leg.

The visitors went into the game unbeaten in five, but were out-played from the off and struggled to cope with a confident Torquay side, who will now feel they have taken a significant step towards reaching the final at Old Trafford.

Shrews manager Graham Turner may be left to rue the 'oversight' which led to on-loan Torquay striker Jake Robinson being allowed to face his parent club, as the 24-year-old was instrumental in helping the Gulls seal a two-goal cushion.

The visitors had few goalscoring opportunities but their best came early on when James Collins' shot from 20 yards was easily saved by Scott Bevan.

Tomlin and Robinson started to menace the Shrews defence and both supplied crosses for Billy Kee, but he was unable to convert.

Matt Harrold then fired wide for Shrewsbury and when they lost defender Ian Sharps to injury, Torquay took hold.

They found the breakthrough on the half-hour mark when Tomlin turned his marker and laid it to Zebroski who blasted home from eight yards out.

By this point Robinson was running riot on the left flank and moments before the half-time whistle, he supplied O'Kane who drove the ball into the bottom corner and caught keeper Smith unaware.

Shrewsbury were unable to find a way back into the game in the second half and had youngster Tom Bradshaw to thank for not falling further behind after he cleared another Zebroski effort off the line.

Smith made smart saves from Kevin Nicholson and Tomlin to keep the score down but the Shrews know they have it all to do in the second leg next Friday.

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (5)

Torquay United

  • 01 Bevan
  • 03 Nicholson
  • 05 Robertson
  • 23 Branston
  • 07 Mansell
  • 10 O'Kane
  • 22 Lathrope
  • 08 Kee (Oastler - 82' )
  • 09 Robinson
  • 15 Tomlin (Stevens - 90' )
  • 26 Zebroski

Substitutes

  • 16 Potter
  • 02 Rowe-Turner
  • 18 Oastler
  • 04 Ellis
  • 17 Halpin
  • 19 Stevens
  • 14 Macklin

Shrewsbury Town

  • 25 Smith
  • 03 Sadler
  • 05 Sharps (Canavan - 25' )
  • 06 Cansdell-Sherriff
  • 18 Grandison
  • 07 Wright
  • 12 Wroe
  • 23 Taylor (Ainsworth - 73' )
  • 29 Davies
  • 09 Harrold
  • 14 Collins (Bradshaw - 67' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Neal
  • 15 Canavan
  • 19 Goldson
  • 08 McIntyre
  • 16 Ainsworth
  • 20 Disley
  • 34 Bradshaw
Ref: Mathieson
Att: 4,130

Match Stats

Shots

17 9

On target

9 3

Corners

9 4

Fouls

10 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:47 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +3:07

Mark Wright takes a shot. Save made by Scott Bevan.

90:00 +2:03 Substitution

Substitution Danny Stevens is brought on as a substitute for Gavin Tomlin.

90:00 +1:36

Chris Zebroski challenges Shane Cansdell-Sherriff unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Benjamin Smith.

90:00 +0:19

Tom Bradshaw gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Guy Branston. Kevin Nicholson restarts play with the free kick.

89:54

Scott Bevan produces a cross.

89:09

Lionel Ainsworth is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Kevin Nicholson.

88:25

Lionel Ainsworth takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post.

87:58

Eunan O'Kane challenges Mark Wright unfairly and gives away a free kick. Nicky Wroe restarts play with the free kick.

87:01

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nicky Wroe on Gavin Tomlin. Damon Lathrope restarts play with the free kick.

85:47

Guy Branston concedes a free kick for a foul on Tom Bradshaw. Shane Cansdell-Sherriff takes the free kick.

81:49 Substitution

Substitution Joe Oastler is brought on as a substitute for Billy Kee.

81:04

Volleyed shot by Tom Bradshaw went over the crossbar.

80:07

Shot by Gavin Tomlin from 12 yards. Benjamin Smith makes a save.

78:55

The referee gives a free kick against Chris Zebroski for handball. Benjamin Smith restarts play with the free kick.

78:34

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Damon Lathrope by Matt Harrold. Chris Robertson takes the direct free kick.

77:32

Mat Sadler produces a cross.

76:21

Outswinging corner taken by Kevin Nicholson from the left by-line, Guy Branston gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Matt Harrold. Benjamin Smith restarts play with the free kick.

75:52

Mark Wright handles the ball and concedes a free kick. The ball is delivered by Kevin Nicholson, Guy Branston takes a shot. Blocked by Matt Harrold.

73:54

Free kick awarded for a foul by Billy Kee on Shane Cansdell-Sherriff. Free kick taken by Benjamin Smith.

72:47

Kevin Nicholson takes the outswinging corner, Gavin Tomlin takes a shot from 12 yards. Tom Bradshaw makes a clearance.

72:06 Substitution

Substitution Lionel Ainsworth on for Jon Taylor.

71:48

The ball is delivered by Mark Wright, Guy Branston manages to make a clearance.

69:22

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Billy Kee by Mark Wright. Lee Mansell takes the direct free kick.

67:40

Damon Lathrope challenges Tom Bradshaw unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Jon Taylor.

66:17 Substitution

Substitution Tom Bradshaw replaces James Collins.

65:22

Mark Wright takes a shot. Damon Lathrope gets a block in.

65:06

Corner taken right-footed by Jon Taylor.

64:37

Corner taken right-footed by Mark Wright, Chris Robertson manages to make a clearance.

64:31

The ball is delivered by Mark Wright, clearance by Guy Branston.

63:55

Centre by Jake Robinson, Effort from inside the six-yard box by Chris Zebroski goes wide left of the target.

63:13

A cross is delivered by Mark Wright, Guy Branston manages to make a clearance.

63:07

The ball is crossed by Mark Wright, clearance made by Chris Robertson.

60:25

Effort on goal by Gavin Tomlin from 25 yards. Save made by Benjamin Smith.

59:44

Mark Wright takes a shot from long distance which goes wide of the right-hand post.

59:07

Mat Sadler fouled by Billy Kee, the ref awards a free kick. Nicky Wroe restarts play with the free kick.

58:07

Shot by Kevin Nicholson. Benjamin Smith makes a save.

57:09

Free kick awarded for a foul by Shane Cansdell-Sherriff on Chris Zebroski. Free kick taken by Lee Mansell.

55:20

Chris Robertson fouled by Matt Harrold, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Chris Robertson.

54:02

Eunan O'Kane produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses left.

52:14

The ball is delivered by Chris Zebroski.

50:31

Mark Wright produces a cross, Lee Mansell gets a block in.

49:55

Jake Robinson has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

46:30

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Kevin Nicholson, Guy Branston has a header from deep inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +3:43 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +2:21

Assist by Jake Robinson.

45:00 +2:21 Goal scored

Goal - Eunan O'Kane - Torquay 2 - 0 Shrewsbury Goal scored by Eunan O'Kane from just outside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Torquay 2-0 Shrewsbury.

45:00 +0:02

The ball is swung over by Billy Kee.

44:36

The ball is swung over by Billy Kee, clearance by Jermaine Grandison.

44:06

Chris Robertson fouled by Matt Harrold, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Scott Bevan.

43:36

The referee blows for offside against Gavin Tomlin. Benjamin Smith restarts play with the free kick.

42:46

Unfair challenge on Matt Harrold by Eunan O'Kane results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Matt Harrold.

41:19

Unfair challenge on Jon Taylor by Eunan O'Kane results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Jermaine Grandison.

40:42

Corner taken left-footed by Kevin Nicholson to the near post, Nicky Wroe manages to make a clearance.

40:36

Chris Zebroski produces a cross, blocked by Nicky Wroe.

40:06

Kevin Nicholson takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, Nicky Wroe manages to make a clearance.

39:35

Corner from the right by-line taken by Kevin Nicholson, clearance by Shane Cansdell-Sherriff.

39:23

Billy Kee takes a shot. Mat Sadler gets a block in.

39:09

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Chris Zebroski by Mat Sadler. Lee Mansell takes the direct free kick.

38:30

Effort from the edge of the box by David Davies goes wide of the right-hand upright.

38:10

The ball is swung over by Chris Zebroski, James Collins makes a clearance.

37:36

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Kevin Nicholson from the right by-line to the near post.

37:28

Lee Mansell crosses the ball, blocked by Mat Sadler.

36:21

Jake Robinson produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.

35:03

Mat Sadler crosses the ball, save by Scott Bevan.

33:44

David Davies delivers the ball.

32:50

Kevin Nicholson produces a cross, clearance by Niall Canavan.

32:34

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Kevin Nicholson, Matt Harrold makes a clearance.

32:15

Jake Robinson has a drilled shot. Save by Benjamin Smith.

31:04

The ball is sent over by Mark Wright, clearance by Chris Robertson.

30:34

The ball is delivered by Gavin Tomlin, Mat Sadler manages to make a clearance.

30:18

Centre by Niall Canavan, Guy Branston makes a clearance.

28:48

The assist for the goal came from Gavin Tomlin.

28:48 Goal scored

Goal - Chris Zebroski - Torquay 1 - 0 Shrewsbury Chris Zebroski grabs a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Torquay 1-0 Shrewsbury.

27:14

Inswinging corner taken by Kevin Nicholson from the right by-line, Mat Sadler manages to make a clearance.

25:35

James Collins produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

24:30 Substitution

Substitution Niall Canavan is brought on as a substitute for Ian Sharps.

21:52

Kevin Nicholson delivers the ball, save by Benjamin Smith.

19:48

Eunan O'Kane has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide right of the target.

19:39

Centre by Lee Mansell, Jermaine Grandison manages to make a clearance.

18:22

Chris Zebroski is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Benjamin Smith.

17:27

Matt Harrold produces a right-footed shot from outside the box and misses left.

14:49

Chris Zebroski produces a right-footed shot from long range which goes wide right of the goal.

13:44

The ball is delivered by Jon Taylor.

11:01

Chris Zebroski is caught offside. Benjamin Smith takes the indirect free kick.

9:31

The ball is sent over by Gavin Tomlin.

9:10

A cross is delivered by Gavin Tomlin, Billy Kee produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand post.

8:34

Nicky Wroe challenges Eunan O'Kane unfairly and gives away a free kick. Chris Robertson takes the direct free kick.

7:30

Inswinging corner taken by Mark Wright from the left by-line, clearance by Billy Kee.

7:23

Centre by Mat Sadler, Guy Branston makes a clearance.

6:41

James Collins takes a shot. Save by Scott Bevan.

4:40

Chris Zebroski produces a cross, Nicky Wroe gets a block in.

3:27

Mat Sadler gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Billy Kee. Direct free kick taken by Eunan O'Kane.

3:13

Mat Sadler crosses the ball.

3:05

Shane Cansdell-Sherriff produces a cross.

1:59

Damon Lathrope gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James Collins. Ian Sharps takes the direct free kick.

1:24

Mark Wright crosses the ball, save by Scott Bevan.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

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