THREE GAMES FROM WEMBLEY

DAVID THOMAS REPORTING

Torquay United 1, Exeter City 0.

(Freight Rover Trophy)

DON'T shout it too loudly, or you might put them off. But Torquay United, the team still trying to catch up the rest of the Fourth Division, are only three matches from Wembley! Don't laugh either, for they completed the job of reaching the last 16 of the Freight Rover Trophy by deservedly bundling Exete City out of the competition in the Plainmoor mud last night. Striker Mario Walsh's 56th minute goal was the reward for a second half performance in which United moved up a gear and outgunned their old rivals. Nobody deserved to score the winner more than 18-year- old Walsh, who gave further evidence of his growing maturity and confidence at a time when most kids in his position would be cracking under the strain.For months now Walsh has had to serve his apprenticeship in the hardest role of all against seasoned centre-halves with no concern for his future well-being.

He has often looked what he is -raw, over-anxious and not exactly built for the job just yet. But he has a big heart and ears that listen and all those weeks of toiling in a losing side are beginning to pay off. The arrival of loan signing Steve Phillips has created a twin-Cockney strike force and given Walsh the psychological boost he needed. Phillips (31) never stops talking at the best of times, and he was at it again as usual last night as his young lieutenant tackled the considerable persons of former or captain John Impey and Aiden McCaffery.

For most of the first half. United played second fiddle to a busy, eager City side who looked half a yard sharper everywhere except where it matters-in front of goal. Kellow, Gale and Marker all went close as United tried to pull themselves together on a pitch that inevitably cut up badly. But United could have had no better encouragement than seeing Gale miss an open goal in the 22nd minute, when keeper David Fry came for a left wing cross by Harrower and failed to make contact. Mark Loram then dic virtually the same thing at the other end when he intercepted a dreadful back pass by Ling, chose to go round keeper Shaw and then saw McNichol get back to deflect his shot for a corner. As both sides looked deter- mined to hand the qualifying place to group rivals Wolves, one cold and frustrated fan shouted: "Send on the Refrigerator!" How Mr William Perry and the Chicago Bears would have tackled the job is anybody's guess. But it was to who were frozen out in the second half. Phillips, who had collected a broken nose by this time, and Loram both went close and Walsh even tried a nifty hand ball before scoring a disallowed goal in the 54th minute. But two minutes later there was no doubting the legality of his most vital strike when Phillips and Loram combined on a throw by left back Pugh to lay on the chance for Walsh to side foot home from six yards. Walsh, who had been a handful for the City defence all night, promptly blotted his copybook and ended up in the referee's for trying to start a silly scrap with McCaffery. By now United had their tails well and truly up. City only threatened to equalise twice, when Fry did well to push a McNichol header round his post in the 72nd minute and Marker missed a great chance at the far post six minutes from time. Torquay might have extended their lead with a shot on the turn from Loram, a clever chip by Walsh that just shaved the bar and a last minute header from Derek Fowler that hit the bar and rebounded for Phillips, of all people, to stab over from point blank range. Marker was booked for a first minute lunge at Wright.

TORQUAY UNITED (4-4-2)
Fry: Dawkins, Compton, Wright, Pugh; Fowler D. Crowe, Crabbe, Loram; Phillips, Walsh.

EXETER CITY (4-4-2):
Shaw; McNichol, Impey, McCaffery, Viney: Kellow (Pratt 58 mins). Harrower, Keough, Ling; Gale, Marker.

Referee: R. Hammer (Bristol).

Attendance: 1,046.