Torquay 1  (Sills, 51)

Bristol Rovers 1 (Jacobson,29)

Attendance: 1,410

Joe Jacobson's first half goal gave Rovers a half time lead at Plainmoor this afternoon, but the home side equalised six minutes into the second half through Tim Sills.

Paul Trollope's side were stronger than their hosts in the opening period and could have been further in front at the break. However Torquay, who made eight half time substitutions, looked a more purposeful outfit after the break and might well have scored more than their solitary goal.

Rovers lined up in a familiar 4-4-2 formation, with Chris Lines playing wide on the right, while Sean Rigg lined up on the left in the absence of the injured Jeff Hughes.

Bright sunshine and a strong wind greeted the sides at Plainmoor and there was a scare for Rovers in the first minute when Tim Sills seized on a miscued clearance by Danny Coles, but screwed his shot well wide of the upright.

Immediately afterwards Chris Lines saw his free kick strike the home side's defensive wall and although the ball was partially cleared, it was played back in to Rigg who hit a shot wide of the target.

Both sides were passing the ball around well, though it wasn't until the 14^th minute that we saw the next goal attempt. That came when Aaron Lescott squared the ball to Lines, who saw his 25 yard effort just clear the bar.

Former Rovers midfielder Wayne Carlisle hit a ferocious shot towards goal on 20 minutes and although the ball appeared to strike Joe Jacobson on the hand, referee Mr Woolmer waived away the home side's appeal for a spot kick.

At the other end Rigg sent a tame shot straight into the arms of goalkeeper Michael Poke. The keeper then came to his side's rescue when he rushed off his line to touch the ball off Craig Disley's head as the midfielder ran on to a delightful ball from Lambert.

After another Lines saw free kick struck the Torquay defensive wall and was deflected over the bar, Rovers took the lead from the ensuing corner kick.

Stuart Campbell's dead ball kick was cleared as far as Joe Jacobson, some thirty yards from goal and the defender took one touch before hitting a superb left foot volley past Poke to register his second goal of the week.

With Rovers well in command, chances for the home side were few and far between though when they did break Elliot Benyon rolled a shot just wide of the post and Nicky Wroe fired high over the bar.

Their best chance, though, came with five minutes of the half remaining when Benyon cut inside of Craig Hinton before hitting a shot which Steve Phillips, diving at full stretch to his left, managed to touch away from goal.

A minute later, the impressive Lambert threaded a ball through to Lescott and his cross to the far post found Rigg, who headed over with the goal at his mercy.

The home side made eight substitutions at the start of the second half and they went close to equalising four minutes in, but Phillips denied Sills a goal when he touched his header over the bar.

On 51 minutes, though, Sills put Torquay back on level terms when he met a cross from Mustapha Carayol and headed past Phillips from close range.

Darryl Duffy linked up well with Andy Williams just after the hour mark and the former Hereford striker was unlucky not to score as Poke saved his angled drive with his legs.

Williams went close wit another effort, which just cleared the bar before Rigg was presented with another good opportunity.

Campbell picked put David Pipe with an inch perfect pass. His cross into the box found Rigg, who saw his hurried shot drift well wide of the far post.

Rovers were fortunate not to fall behind on 75 minutes, when Matt Green raced clear and slipped the ball past Phillips only to see it come back into play off the post.

As play broke again to the other end, Williams saw Poke hold on to the ball as he attempted to slide it past him. In terms of chances, that was it and an entertaining game ended all square.

Rovers: Steve Phillips, Aaron Lescott, Joe Jacobson, Chris Lines, Craig Hinton (Byron Anthony,46), Danny Coles (Steve Elliott,46), Stuart Campbell, Craig Disley, Rickie Lambert (Andy Williams, 46), Darryl Duffy (Josh Klein-Davies, 64), Sean Rigg (David Pipe, 64)

Substitutes: Tom Parrinello, Mike Green, Charlie Reece

Torquay (First Half): Michael Poke, Kevin Nicholson, Chris Todd, Lee Mansell, Tim Sills, Elliot Benton, Nicky Wroe, Tyrone Thompson, Chris Hargreaves, Wayne Carlisle, Lee Hodges

Torquay (Second Half): Michael Poke, Chris Robertson, Mark Ellis, Steve Woods, Lee Hodges, Danny Stevens, Steve Adams, Michael Brough, Mustapha Carayol, Matt Green, Tim Sills

Reported by Keith Brookman