FL2: Torquay Utd v Northampton 28 Jan 12

So another win, that's 5 on the trot! It was not great to watch for much of the game but Mark Ellis yet again got the vital breakthrough and that was just enough in the end. Crowd 2,719, around 150 from Northampton, sponsors MOTM our prolific scorer of late, Mark Ellis.

The first half was pretty dire from a Torquay point of view. Hardly any goal attempts of note, I can only remember a Robertson header and a tame shot from O'Kane. Torquay did try some through balls but we were typically caught off-side. Danny Stevens looked our most creative source who made some decent runs with the ball, and Morris did some good tidy work. Northampton looked more alert and there were several scares with the ball whizzing across our goal and it just needed a touch to turn the ball into the net. Torquay survived them all and Northampton can count themselves unlucky. The half-time whistle blew and at least we were still on level terms.

Ling must have said some home truths at half-time because we looked a lot livlier as soon as the second half got underway. At last there was some sustained Torquay pressure. Howe finally had a clear opening with the keeper to beat just inside the penalty area. Howe's shot was true enough but the keeper made a decent save to parry the ball away. At the other end Olejnik saved us when Northampton were clean through narrowing the angle expertly.

On 75 minutes over came a Nicholson corner invitingly to the far post, Ellis timed his run perfectly to nod home. Torquay grew in confidence after the goal and there was relief around Plainmoor. Torquay held out for the rest of the match with relative comfort such is the confidence in our back line and keeper these days. Just prior to the goal, Atieno had replaced Morris and it's good to see Atieno playing with a bit of confidence these days. Late on McPhee replaced Howe.

So it was a game where Torquay moved up a gear in the second half and did just enough to nick another win. When you concede very little at the back 1 or 2 goals can be enough and that is what is happening at the moment. One or two players like O'Kane and Mansell had off-days by their high standards but our special team spirit saw us home in the end, it's impressive the way the players work hard for eachother.

We have a ridiculously small squad and it's something of a minor miracle to have achieved 50 points by the end of January. One slight puzzlement I don't understand is why Macklin does not get any look in, he's does not even get on the bench. But hats off to Martin Ling and his boys - it is a superb achievement and who knows where this will all end in May? Whatever happens, they have certainly far exceeded my expectations.

I think the problem is, even when we are not playing particularly well, we seem to have forgotten how to lose! ;D Two tough matches that we are expected to win against teams scraping away in the relegation zone and job done! Dagenham beat Gillingham today coming from behind, showing how these games can bite you in the arse!

Second 4-3 defeat for Gillingham in a week. They're having trouble keeping the ball out of the back of the net

Dagenham may still go because I think Plymouth will get out of it. But then one team usually falls from further up the table into the relegation battle, like Lincoln last year

wonder if a littlte award will be coming mr lings way this week? swindon lost today,allbeit against leceister leaves us out in front on form

I think you will find it was my mistake first. The point still stands! ;D

i did hear there were off field problems at hull today,no surprise there then,evans and raynor respect nobody and are vile little creatures,shame for crawley fc its not the club itself but them.But while these dickheads run the show,crawley fc will gain no respect at all