Torquay United v Spurs Match Reports

Tottenham welcomed Torquay United in this League Cup Second Round Second Leg tie that saw them progress with a 3-0 victory.

Two Nico Claesen goals and an own goal sealed the aggregate 3-1 win for Tottenham on home turf.

Spurs –  Ray Clemence, Chris Fairclough, Gary Stevens, Mitchell Thomas, Gary Mabbutt, Paul Allen, Ossie Ardiles, Nico Claesen, Steve Hodge, Vinny Samways (Paul Moran), Shaun Close.
Torquay United –
Manager : – Cyril Knowles
Ref. : –
Crowd :  20,970

On a soaking wet night on the Plainmoor pitch, Tottenham succumbed to Fourth Division Torquay in the first leg of this League Cup tie. 

A Derek Dawson header won it for the Gulls, managed by Spurs favourite Cyril Knowles in front of a few Spurs fans gathered together on the open, four step terrace in the away end.

Torquay United – , , Ian Twitchin, , , , , , , Derek Dawson,
Manager : – Cyril Knowles
Spurs –  Ray Clemence, Chris Fairclough, Richard Gough, Mitchell Thomas, Gary Mabbutt, Paul Allen, Ossie Ardiles, Steve Hodge, David Howells, Johnny Metgod (Paul Moran), Chris Waddle
Ref. : –
Crowd : 5,000

Spurs won this League Cup Third Round trip to Torquay United 4-1.

Spurs took the lead through a Martin Peters penalty before Martin Chivers fired home left-footed from inside the box to double Tottenham’s lead and then added a third. Substitute Jimmy Pearce was prevented from adding a fourth goal when Gulls defender Ian Twichin cleared the winger’s shot off the line at close range, but Pearce was not to be denied and he wrapped up a 4-1 win with a late goal.

Torquay United –
Spurs –  Pat Jennings, Joe Kinnear, Cyril Knowles, Alan Mullery (c), Mike England, Phil Beal, Ralph Coates (Jimmy Pearce), Steve Perryman, Martin Chivers, Martin Peters, Alan Gilzean
Ref. : –
Crowd : 20,213
Ref. Mr. (-)
Linesmen : Mr. – (-) – Red flag; Mr. – (-) – Yellow flag

Bill Nicholson was disgusted with the performance in the Third Round tie and his blasting gave the side the gee-up they needed as Spurs romped to a big victory in the replay. White Hart Lane staged an FA Cup Third Round replay against Torquay United on a Monday evening in front of a big crowd.

An opener from Jimmy Greaves was equalised by Robin Stubbs, but Alan Gilzean scored the goal that Spurs go into half-time with a 2-1 lead.

After the turnaround, Spurs showed their quality with Jimmy Greaves going on tom complete his hat-trick and Jimmy Robertson also getting on the score-sheet to make the final score 5-1.

Spurs –  Bill Brown, Cyril Knowles, Ron Henry, Alan Mullery, Maurice Norman, Eddie Clayton, Jimmy Robertson, Jimmy Greaves, Alan Gilzean, Cliff Jones, Terry Dyson
Torquay United –  Terry Adlington, Alan Smith, George Allen, John Benson, Colin Bettany, Trevor Wolstenholme, Billy Atkinson, Geoff Cox, Robin Stubbs, Tommy Northcott, Micky Somers
Ref. : –  Mr. (-)
Linesmen : Mr. – (-) – Red flag; Mr. – (-) – Yellow flag
Crowd :  55,081

Spurs were drawn to play Torquay at Plainmoor in the Third Round of the FA Cup and we were lucky to take the home side to a reply.  It took a goal from Maurice Norman plus two from Alan Gilzean to gain a draw against a ferocious Torquay performance.

United had already beaten Canterbury City and Colchester United to reach the Third Round and they went ahead through a penalty, conceded by Cyril Knowles’ foul on Robin Stubbs and converted by Billy Atkinson.  Alan Gilzean quickly equalised with a header to Ron Henry’s cross, then England centre-half Maurice Norman and Gilzean’s second gave Tottenham a two-goal cushion.

Robin Stubbs scored to make it 3-2 with five minutes left and United threw everything towards the Babbacombe End goal, with Stubbs equalising with a goal, netting a rebound that bobbled over the line and Torquay nearly went on to score a winner in injury time when Tommy Northcott’s header hit the crossbar.

Torquay United – Terry Adlington, Alan Smith, George Allen, John Benson, Colin Bettany, Trevor Wolstenholme, Bill Atkinson, Geoff Cox, Robin Stubbs, Tommy Northcott, George Somers
Manager : – Eric Webber
Spurs – Bill Brown, Cyril Knowles, Ron Henry, Alan Mullery, Maurice Norman, Eddie Clayton, Jimmy Robertson, Jimmy Greaves, Alan Gilzean, Cliff Jones, Terry Dyson
Ref. : –
Crowd : 20,000