Football: Cherry picker

STEPHEN McPHAIL'S 24th-minute strike opened the floodgates as Barnsley shocked Torquay with three goals in five minutes.

McPhail's free kick was followed by a Michael Chopra strike before Paul Reid's goal two minutes later put Torquay three down with less than half an hour played.

After the restart, not even Michael Boulding's 64th-minute header could break gutsy Torquay's spirit and a late consolation goal by Martin Phillips was no surprise.TRANMERE manager Brian Little insisted he was happy with a point after his side let their lead slip at the Fitness First Stadium.

The draw means third-placed Rovers are now four points behind Hull in the race for the second automatic promotion spot.

Peter Taylor's Tigers stole a march on Tranmere by beating Colchester at home.

But Little insisted he was pleased to take a point from the Cherries.

He said: "I think both sides looked at this game and did not want to lose.

"And it ended up a bit of a stalemate.

"It's been a decent day's work for us, but not a great day.

"But coming to a difficult place like this and getting a result is pleasing."

Little's high-flying side had gone ahead courtesy of a strike from midfielder Paul Hall.

But defender Matt Mills, on loan from Southampton, headed home to ensure sixth-placed Bournemouth remain in the promotion play-offs zone.

Their manager, Sean O'Driscoll, was also satisfied and thought a draw was a fair result.

He said "I thought it was a great performance in a game with two good teams.

"Both sides did not want to lose it.

"I have heard reports that they are a hard nut to crack and we have prepared all week for this game. And I felt my players did everything I wanted them to do."

Tranmere were without in-form striker Eugene Dadi but started the match brightly.

They created the first opportunity of the match just after the quarter-hour mark when captain Jason McAteer swung in a free kick.

Defender Michael Jackson rose unmarked to meet it but placed his header wide.

Little's men went ahead after 21 minutes when former Portsmouth midfielder Hall's tame effort from the edge of the box took a deflection and crept into the bottom corner.

The home side battled back, though, and grabbed an equaliser just two minutes before the interval.

Wade Elliott supplied the cross, and Mills headed home from the six-yard box with Tranmere goalkeeper John Achterberg unable to keep it out.

Tranmere wasted a great opportunity to restore their lead just before the interval when Iain Hume was set up by strike partner Chris Dagnall, but saw his attempt on goal fly wide of a post.

Mills tried to fashion a winner on the hour mark but his long- range effort flew over the bar, while Elliott volleyed wide in the closing stages.

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