Exeter reach play-off final

Grecians produce late turn-around to book Wembley return

By Ben Collins   Last updated: 5th May 2008  

Exeter reach play-off final

Tisdale: Making Wembley return

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Exeter City produced a thrilling late fightback to win 4-1 at Devon rivals Torquay and return to the Blue Square Premier play-off final.

Torquay went into the game as favourites having won 2-1 away in the first leg and they were firmly in control when Kevin Hill's 59th-minute opener left the visitors needing two goals just to take the game into extra-time.

But half-time substitute Ryan Harley gave Exeter hope with a 68th-minute equaliser and Ben Watson's coolly-taken penalty levelled the tie in the 80th minute after Torquay goalkeeper Simon Rayner was adjudged to have brought down Richard Logan.

Late twist

Exeter then stunned the home crowd as Logan headed home from Wayne Carlisle's cross just a minute from time, before Carlisle booked the Grecians' ticket to Wembley with a break-away goal deep into stoppage time.

Paul Tisdale's men will now face either Cambridge or Burton on May 18 for a place in the Football League having lost out to Morecambe in last year's final.