Torquay United moved up to fourth in League Two after Taiwo Atieno's goal saw them beat promotion rivals Shrewsbury Town at Plainmoor.

James Collins went close to giving Shrewsbury an early lead when his header hit the crossbar.

Danny Stevens then had a shot well saved by Shrews keeper Chris Neal and Atieno fired just wide.

But Atieno secured their sixth consecutive win when his looping header found its way over the line.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Torquay United manager Martin Ling told BBC Radio Devon:

"It was an open game, an exciting game. A game between two teams that are playing with massive confidence. They have won three games on the trot before today, we have won five on the trot before today and I think that was shown.

"Over the last 15 games we've been the best side in the country. If they aren't taking notice then they're a fool not to. I have won manager of the month, Mark (Ellis) won player of the month.

"But it isn't about a month of a season, it's about 46 games and at the moment we have played 29 of those. It has been excellent so far but if we don't put the last 17 games together like we have done with the first 29 then we will end up with nothing apart from a few plaudits and a few (individual) trophies at the end of the season.

"We want to get up, or get into the play-offs. That is the achievement."

Shrewsbury manager Graham Turner told BBC Radio Shropshire:

"We've got to be disappointed by our forward display.

"We had a lot of the ball in the second half without looking convincing - we never really produced a telling cross or a telling pass, and their keeper didn't have a save to make in the last 20 minutes.

"We should've done better defending the corner for the goal - it was a shambles.

"We had plenty of opportunity to clear it, and it was a real messy goal which makes it all doubly disappointing."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Torquay

  • 01 Olejnik
  • 03 Nicholson
  • 04 Ellis Booked
  • 06 Saah
  • 18 Oastler
  • 07 Mansell
  • 10 O'Kane
  • 11 Morris
  • 19 Stevens (Rowe-Turner - 83' )
  • 22 Lathrope
  • 23 Atieno (McPhee - 81' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Rice
  • 02 Rowe-Turner
  • 21 MacDonald
  • 16 McPhee
  • 24 Yeoman

Shrewsbury

  • 01 Neal
  • 02 Grandison
  • 03 Jacobson
  • 05 Sharps
  • 15 Regan (Wright - 83' )
  • 08 Wroe (Taylor - 89' )
  • 14 Richards
  • 19 McAllister
  • 26 Sawyers (Ainsworth - 73' )
  • 09 Collins Booked
  • 24 Gornell

Substitutes

  • 25 Smith
  • 23 Taylor
  • 07 Wright
  • 16 Ainsworth
  • 17 Bradshaw
Ref: Ward
Att: 2,592

Match Stats

Shots

16 10

On target

8 5

Corners

4 4

Fouls

7 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:39 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +3:23

Centre by Terry Gornell, clearance made by Ian Morris.

90:00 +2:27

Free kick awarded for a foul by Terry Gornell on Lee Mansell. Kevin Nicholson takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +1:44

Lionel Ainsworth takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Ian Morris.

90:00 +1:04

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Matthew Richards played to the near post, Kevin Nicholson manages to make a clearance.

90:00 +0:05

Ian Sharps sends in a cross.

88:59 Substitution

Substitution Nicky Wroe leaves the field to be replaced by Jon Taylor.

87:27

Eunan O'Kane takes the free kick.

87:27 Booking

Booking James Collins goes into the referee's book.

87:24

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lathanial Rowe-Turner by James Collins.

86:35

Chris McPhee takes a shot. Blocked by Ian Sharps.

86:07

The ball is sent over by Lathanial Rowe-Turner, save by Chris Neal.

85:16

James Collins is ruled offside. Kevin Nicholson takes the free kick.

84:55

The ball is sent over by Mark Wright, Eunan O'Kane makes a clearance.

84:34

Lionel Ainsworth produces a cross, Lee Mansell manages to make a clearance.

82:26

Indirect free kick taken by Robert Olejnik.

82:26 Substitution

Substitution Carl Regan leaves the field to be replaced by Mark Wright.

82:26 Substitution

Substitution Lathanial Rowe-Turner is brought on as a substitute for Danny Stevens.

82:26

The referee blows for offside against James Collins.

81:02

Nicky Wroe takes a shot. Joe Oastler gets a block in.

80:14 Substitution

Substitution Taiwo Atieno leaves the field to be replaced by Chris McPhee.

79:22

James Collins takes a shot. Brian Saah gets a block in. The ball is sent over by Joe Jacobson, Mark Ellis makes a clearance.

76:14

The ball is delivered by Joe Jacobson.

75:31

Ian Morris has an effort at goal from 35+ yards. Save by Chris Neal.

74:28

A cross is delivered by Danny Stevens, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Taiwo Atieno goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

73:35

Free kick awarded for a foul by David McAllister on Mark Ellis. Mark Ellis takes the direct free kick.

72:42 Substitution

Substitution Lionel Ainsworth is brought on as a substitute for Romaine Sawyers.

70:23

Lee Mansell crosses the ball, clearance made by Carl Regan.

69:42

Jermaine Grandison delivers the ball, David McAllister takes a shot. Robert Olejnik makes a save.

68:39

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Matthew Richards, save made by Robert Olejnik.

67:22

Danny Stevens provided the assist for the goal.

67:22 Goal scored

Goal - Taiwo Atieno - Torquay 1 - 0 Shrewsbury Taiwo Atieno finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close range. Torquay 1-0 Shrewsbury.

66:44

Corner taken by Kevin Nicholson from the right by-line, Chris Neal makes a save.

65:34

A cross is delivered by Joe Jacobson.

64:49

The ball is sent over by Nicky Wroe, James Collins takes a shot. Joe Oastler gets a block in.

62:56

Brian Saah gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James Collins. Matthew Richards takes the direct free kick. The ball is crossed by Joe Jacobson, clearance by Joe Oastler.

61:58

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Kevin Nicholson.

61:44

Danny Stevens takes a shot. Chris Neal makes a save.

61:08

Centre by Nicky Wroe, Robert Olejnik makes a save.

59:21

Terry Gornell takes a shot. Robert Olejnik makes a save.

57:31

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Romaine Sawyers by Damon Lathrope. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Matthew Richards from left channel. The offside flag is raised against Ian Sharps. Free kick taken by Robert Olejnik.

56:19

Terry Gornell sends in a cross.

54:33

James Collins gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joe Oastler. Robert Olejnik restarts play with the free kick.

53:12

The ball is swung over by Taiwo Atieno, clearance by Nicky Wroe.

50:56

Lee Mansell challenges Nicky Wroe unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Joe Jacobson.

48:50

Danny Stevens takes a shot. Blocked by Jermaine Grandison. Corner taken by Eunan O'Kane from the right by-line to the near post.

48:18

The ball is sent over by James Collins, clearance made by Brian Saah.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:15 Half time

Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.

45:00 +0:56

Foul by James Collins on Brian Saah, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Robert Olejnik.

45:00

Free kick taken by Joe Jacobson.

45:00 Booking

Booking Booking for Mark Ellis for unsporting behaviour.

44:49

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mark Ellis on David McAllister.

40:57

Danny Stevens produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.

39:47

Eunan O'Kane takes a shot. Save by Chris Neal.

37:29

Damon Lathrope produces a cross, Headed effort from inside the area by Taiwo Atieno misses to the left of the goal.

35:50

Shot from outside the penalty box by James Collins goes wide right of the goal.

34:49

Ian Sharps fouled by Taiwo Atieno, the ref awards a free kick. Chris Neal takes the free kick.

32:46

Nicky Wroe challenges Eunan O'Kane unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kevin Nicholson has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.

32:22

Joe Oastler crosses the ball, clearance by Carl Regan.

32:00

The ball is delivered by Danny Stevens, clearance made by Joe Jacobson.

30:19

Damon Lathrope challenges Romaine Sawyers unfairly and gives away a free kick. Romaine Sawyers takes the direct free kick. Free kick awarded for a foul by Lee Mansell on Nicky Wroe. Joe Jacobson produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick, Robert Olejnik makes a save.

29:34

Free kick awarded for a foul by Matthew Richards on Eunan O'Kane. Brian Saah takes the free kick.

28:35

Corner taken by Nicky Wroe from the left by-line played to the near post, Eunan O'Kane makes a clearance.

24:24

Kevin Nicholson sends in a cross.

23:45

Outswinging corner taken by Kevin Nicholson, Ian Sharps makes a clearance.

23:28

Danny Stevens takes a shot. Save by Chris Neal.

22:33

Kevin Nicholson delivers the ball.

21:40

David McAllister produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.

20:02

Terry Gornell sends in a cross. The referee blows for offside against James Collins. Robert Olejnik takes the indirect free kick.

16:17

Effort from the edge of the area by Ian Morris goes wide of the right-hand upright.

14:39

Kevin Nicholson crosses the ball, clearance by Carl Regan.

14:25

Foul by Ian Sharps on Eunan O'Kane, free kick awarded. Lee Mansell restarts play with the free kick.

13:02

The ball is sent over by Eunan O'Kane.

12:00

James Collins produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area and misses left.

11:10

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jermaine Grandison on Taiwo Atieno. Kevin Nicholson takes the free kick. Kevin Nicholson produces a cross.

10:27

Joe Jacobson sends in a cross, save by Robert Olejnik.

9:34

Danny Stevens produces a cross, Shot by Eunan O'Kane from just outside the area goes over the net.

8:49

Lee Mansell delivers the ball.

7:36

David McAllister gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joe Oastler. Robert Olejnik takes the direct free kick.

7:25

The ball is sent over by James Collins.

6:30

Kevin Nicholson takes a shot. Save by Chris Neal.

6:14

Eunan O'Kane crosses the ball.

5:58

Ian Morris crosses the ball, clearance made by Ian Sharps.

4:58

Danny Stevens produces a left-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target.

3:27

Right-footed shot by Eunan O'Kane went wide of the right-hand upright.

1:14

Centre by Nicky Wroe, James Collins takes a shot.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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