Torquay extended their winning run to five matches against Northampton.

Luke Gutteridge went close to putting the League Two strugglers ahead in the first half but his 20-yard shot was saved by Gulls keeper Bobby Olejnik.

The midfielder then saw a close-range effort go wide after he had dived to try and convert Michael Jacobs' cross.

But it was the hosts who broke the deadlock as defender Mark Ellis powered a header home for his third goal in four matches to edge the win.

It was tough on visiting defender Kelvin Langmead, who had earlier made a great diving block to deny Chris Robertson from point-blank range.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Torquay United manager Martin Ling told BBC Radio Devon:

"There was a purpose to us in the second half.

"What I would like to do is turn my phone off until 11 o'clock on Tuesday and have no bids for any of our players.

"The players are very confident at the moment."

Northampton Town manager Aidy Boothroyd tells BBC Radio Northampton:

"We're bottom of the table because we can't keep a clean sheet. It's as simple as that.

"It's one second of indiscipline that costs you. And those are the margins between being a really good team or a really average team.

"We're too soft but we'll change that and make sure that we get ourselves out of where we are.

"I'm annoyed about it because we've done so well. When you get so near and yet so far, it's galling."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (5)

Torquay United

  • 01 Olejnik
  • 03 Nicholson
  • 04 Ellis
  • 05 Robertson
  • 18 Oastler
  • 07 Mansell
  • 10 O'Kane
  • 11 Morris (Atieno - 73' )
  • 19 Stevens
  • 22 Lathrope
  • 09 Howe (McPhee - 87' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Rice
  • 02 Rowe-Turner
  • 06 Saah
  • 16 McPhee
  • 23 Atieno

Northampton Town

  • 32 Weale
  • 04 Crowe (Tozer - 87' )
  • 06 Webster Booked
  • 14 Johnson (Akinfenwa - 84' )
  • 28 Langmead
  • 29 Adams
  • 17 Jacobs
  • 22 Guttridge (Gilligan - 70' )
  • 27 Harding
  • 02 Young
  • 09 Berahino

Substitutes

  • 26 Hall
  • 05 Tozer
  • 20 Gilligan
  • 10 Akinfenwa
  • 25 Asante
Ref: Linington
Att: 2,719

Match Stats

Shots

9 6

On target

7 4

Corners

4 7

Fouls

9 16

Live Text Commentary

94:09

The referee ends the match.

90:00 +0:30

Ryan Gilligan challenges Lee Mansell unfairly and gives away a free kick. Robert Olejnik takes the direct free kick.

89:51

Unfair challenge on Ben Harding by Eunan O'Kane results in a free kick. Michael Jacobs crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance by Lee Mansell.

88:04

Unfair challenge on Byron Webster by Taiwo Atieno results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Chris Weale.

86:29 Substitution

Substitution Chris McPhee joins the action as a substitute, replacing Rene Howe.

86:29 Substitution

Substitution Ben Tozer on for Jason Crowe.

85:39

The ball is swung over by Michael Jacobs, clearance by Lee Mansell.

83:12 Substitution

Substitution Adebayo Akinfenwa is brought on as a substitute for John Johnson.

80:12

The referee blows for offside. Chris Weale takes the indirect free kick.

78:05

Lewis Young concedes a free kick for a foul on Kevin Nicholson. Kevin Nicholson takes the direct free kick.

75:48

Free kick awarded for a foul by Damon Lathrope on Blair Adams. Kelvin Langmead takes the free kick.

74:31

Assist on the goal came from Kevin Nicholson.

74:31 Goal scored

Goal - Mark Ellis - Torquay 1 - 0 Northamp'n Mark Ellis grabs a headed goal from close in. Torquay 1-0 Northampton.

73:23

Blair Adams gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Taiwo Atieno. Kevin Nicholson sends in a cross, Chris Robertson takes a shot. Blocked by Byron Webster. Corner taken by Kevin Nicholson,

73:01

Unfair challenge on Eunan O'Kane by John Johnson results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Damon Lathrope.

72:24 Substitution

Substitution Taiwo Atieno on for Ian Morris.

72:08

The ball is swung over by Eunan O'Kane, save made by Chris Weale.

69:58 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Gilligan on for Luke Guttridge.

68:40

Corner from the right by-line taken by Kevin Nicholson, clearance made by Byron Webster. Kevin Nicholson takes a inswinging corner. Effort on goal by Eunan O'Kane from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.

67:12

Foul by Damon Lathrope on Luke Guttridge, free kick awarded. Jason Crowe restarts play with the free kick.

65:06

The ball is delivered by Blair Adams,

62:04

The ball is swung over by Joe Oastler.

60:32

Saido Berahino takes a shot. Save by Robert Olejnik. Corner taken by Blair Adams from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance by Rene Howe.

59:10

Eunan O'Kane produces a cross, save by Chris Weale.

58:03

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Luke Guttridge by Damon Lathrope. Free kick taken by Chris Weale.

57:54

The ball is delivered by Joe Oastler, clearance by Jason Crowe.

57:22

Eunan O'Kane takes a shot. Clearance by Byron Webster.

57:07

Rene Howe takes a shot. Save by Chris Weale.

56:24

The offside flag is raised against Lee Mansell. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Weale.

56:11

Free kick awarded for a foul by Luke Guttridge on Ian Morris. Ian Morris takes the free kick.

55:12

Unfair challenge on Eunan O'Kane by Saido Berahino results in a free kick. Kevin Nicholson restarts play with the free kick.

54:10

The referee blows for offside against Eunan O'Kane. Byron Webster takes the indirect free kick.

53:38

Lewis Young produces a cross, save made by Robert Olejnik.

52:53

The ball is delivered by Lewis Young, Robert Olejnik makes a save.

51:31

Joe Oastler sends in a cross, John Johnson manages to make a clearance.

49:23

Ben Harding has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

48:41

Shot by Ian Morris from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.

47:59

Free kick awarded for a foul by Luke Guttridge on Joe Oastler. Direct free kick taken by Eunan O'Kane.

46:50

The ball is crossed by Eunan O'Kane, save made by Chris Weale.

45:38

The ball is delivered by Joe Oastler, Lewis Young manages to make a clearance.

45:16

A cross is delivered by Danny Stevens.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:00 +1:02

The first half comes to an end.

44:52

The offside flag is raised against Ian Morris. Chris Weale restarts play with the free kick.

43:06

Ian Morris is caught offside. Free kick taken by Chris Weale.

42:49

Ian Morris produces a cross, save by Chris Weale.

42:25

Ben Harding concedes a free kick for a foul on Joe Oastler. Direct free kick taken by Joe Oastler.

41:20

The ball is delivered by Blair Adams, Lewis Young gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mark Ellis. Robert Olejnik takes the free kick.

39:05

The ball is swung over by Lewis Young, Damon Lathrope manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken by Michael Jacobs, Robert Olejnik makes a fantastic save.

38:43

The ball is crossed by Lewis Young, Kevin Nicholson gets a block in.

37:52

Unfair challenge on Michael Jacobs by Lee Mansell results in a free kick. Michael Jacobs crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, clearance by Chris Robertson.

35:22

Free kick taken by Eunan O'Kane.

35:22 Booking

Booking Byron Webster shown a yellow card.

35:16

Byron Webster gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rene Howe.

35:06

Michael Jacobs crosses the ball, clearance by Damon Lathrope.

33:50

Lee Mansell takes a shot. Save by Chris Weale.

30:46

Ian Morris fouled by Blair Adams, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Joe Oastler.

28:59

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Blair Adams by Lee Mansell. Direct free kick taken by Byron Webster.

27:32

Centre by Michael Jacobs, blocked by Damon Lathrope. Corner taken by Michael Jacobs from the left by-line played to the near post, Eunan O'Kane makes a clearance. Corner taken by Ben Harding from the right by-line, Byron Webster gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Robertson. Free kick taken by Robert Olejnik.

26:22

Damon Lathrope concedes a free kick for a foul on Saido Berahino. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Michael Jacobs from left wing, Kevin Nicholson manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken by Michael Jacobs from the left by-line, Rene Howe manages to make a clearance.

25:25

Unfair challenge on Danny Stevens by John Johnson results in a free kick. Kevin Nicholson takes the direct free kick.

25:11

The ball is crossed by Michael Jacobs.

24:15

Ian Morris is caught offside. Free kick taken by Chris Weale.

23:46

The ball is delivered by Ian Morris, John Johnson manages to make a clearance.

22:47

The referee blows for offside. Chris Weale takes the free kick.

22:16

Unfair challenge on Danny Stevens by Saido Berahino results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Kevin Nicholson.

19:47

Free kick awarded for a foul by Kevin Nicholson on Lewis Young. The ball is crossed by Ben Harding, Kelvin Langmead produces a header from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

19:13

Kevin Nicholson sends in a cross, save by Chris Weale.

15:59

Rene Howe delivers the ball, clearance made by Blair Adams.

14:27

Luke Guttridge takes a shot. Save made by Robert Olejnik.

13:40

The assistant referee signals for offside against Michael Jacobs. Robert Olejnik takes the free kick.

12:53

The ball is delivered by Ben Harding, Mark Ellis makes a clearance. Michael Jacobs takes the inswinging corner, Ian Morris manages to make a clearance.

12:05

Corner taken by Ben Harding.

11:13

Ben Harding takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Save made by Robert Olejnik.

10:56

Rene Howe takes a shot. Save made by Chris Weale.

10:14

Lewis Young challenges Danny Stevens unfairly and gives away a free kick. Eunan O'Kane restarts play with the free kick.

9:04

Outswinging corner taken by Eunan O'Kane from the right by-line, Mark Ellis takes a shot. Save by Chris Weale.

8:46

Shot from 20 yards from Saido Berahino. Robert Olejnik makes a save.

7:35

Rene Howe fouled by Byron Webster, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Joe Oastler.

4:08

Eunan O'Kane is ruled offside. Chris Weale restarts play with the free kick.

3:43

Danny Stevens produces a cross, clearance by Blair Adams.

1:10

A cross is delivered by Michael Jacobs, Robert Olejnik makes a save.

0:00

The game gets underway.

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