Torquay United 0 - 1 Stevenage Borough: John Mousinho proves to be the Special One for Stevenage as superstrike sends them up

Torquay United 0Stevenage Borough 1Mousinho 41

John Mousinho's superb 41st-minute strike lifted Stevenage into the third tier of English football for the first time in their history as they secured victory over Torquay in the npower League 2 play-off final at Old Trafford.

The Hertfordshire club had not previously played in the Football League prior to this season, but can now celebrate back-to-back promotions.

Mousinho's powerful 20-yarder proved enough to settle a scrappy affair played in blustery conditions, despite an improved second-half showing from Torquay.

The Gulls barely threatened in the first half and could have few complaints at heading into the interval a goal down. However, Stevenage were largely on the back foot thereafter and Torquay came close to grabbing an equaliser with 15 minutes remaining when Jake Robinson's shot grazed the crossbar.

It was Stevenage who enjoyed the better of the opening period. Craig Reid saw a goalbound effort blocked by Guy Branston in the fourth minute after good work down the left from Darius Charles.

The hard-working Charles then got the better of Branston on the opposite flank and cut the ball back to Mousinho, although his right-footed shot failed to seriously trouble Torquay goalkeeper Scott Bevan.

Stevenage continued to look the most likely to make a breakthrough and with four minutes of the first half remaining, they claimed a deserved lead as Mousinho surged towards the edge of the box before drilling a powerful shot across Bevan and into the bottom-left corner. However, Torquay came close to an immediate leveller when Branston headed wide from a corner. Billy Kee forced Chris Day into a sharp save at his near post and Chris Zebroski fired into the side netting after a rare mistake from Stevenage skipper Mark Roberts. Borough substitute Darren Murphy then missed a wonderful chance to double his side's lead as he failed to connect cleanly with a free header from Long's left-wing corner, before the lively Robinson struck the bar for Torquay with Day beaten.

The Gulls threw men forward as the final whistle approached and Branston should have done better when volleying high and wide after his initial effort had been blocked. Stevenage held on with relative comfort in the closing moments? and can now look forward to visiting the likes of Hillsborough and Bramall Lane next season.