Torquay assume command

Striker Chris Zebroski netted the opener in the 29th minute, and Eunan O'Kane added a second on the stroke of half-time to double the hosts' lead with a clinical finish.

The Shrews battled with considerably more purpose and gusto in the second half and ensured that their deficit was not further increased, but it is Torquay who hold the ascendancy ahead of the second leg at the Prostar Stadium.

Graham Turner had to make an enforced change as early as the 23rd minute as defender Ian Sharps appeared to sustain an injury which saw Niall Canavan introduced at his expense.

Six minutes later, Torquay were in front. Fine work from O'Kane and Gavin Tomlin outwide culminated in the ball dropping to Zebroski, who slammed an emphatic finish beyond Ben Smith in the Shrewsbury goal.

The visitors finally began to settle into the encounter, but just as they were starting to enjoy some good spells of possession, Torquay struck once more.

O'Kane unleashed a fierce shot from the edge of the Shrews box which arrowed unerringly into the corner of the net after Kevin Nicholson found the midfielder in space.

It was a crushing blow for Shrewsbury on the stroke of half-time, and it further established the hosts' control of the tie.

Torquay came out for the second half in blistering fashion, with Jake Robinson firing a piledriver from range narrowly wide of the far post four minutes in as Smith frantically scrambled across his line.

Four minutes later, Nicholson followed suit with a powerful drive from 25 yards which forced Smith into making a very fine save down low to his left to keep the hosts at bay.

But for substitute Tom Bradshaw, Torquay would have held a 3-0 advantage: Gavin Tomlin struck a crisp volley towards the far corner of the net from Damon Lathrope's cross in the 74th minute, only for the Shrews forward to clear the ball off the line with a desperate lunge.

Both sides consolidated their positions late on as Torquay settled for their two-goal lead while Shrewsbury ensured that further damage was not inflicted.

The onus will be on Turner's side to attack from the outset when the two sides re-convene on Friday for the second leg at the Prostar Stadium as they look to overturn the deficit.

For Torquay, meanwhile, the emphasis will be on avoiding complacency and attempting to finish the job with a trip to Wembley looking their likely destiny.