PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 1, TORQUAY UNITED 2
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- Created on Tuesday, 03 January 2012 09:54
- Last Updated on Tuesday, 03 January 2012 10:07
- Published on Tuesday, 03 January 2012 09:54
Torquay United skipper Lee Mansell hit a 64th minute winner as the Gulls soared to ninth in League Two following their first Devon derby double over Plymouth since 1971.
Midfielder Mansell first timed Eunan O'Kane's inch perfect cut back from the byline to fire the Gulls 2-0 up and earn the praise of United boss Martin Ling.
Ling said: "Manse has got eight goals now and he is looking for double figures. With his unbelievable energy I would back him because we have got another 22 league games to go.
"The system we play allows Manse and Eunan freedom to play.
"Damon Lathrope, who takes no great plaudits every week, is the one that fills cracks when they appear and he does that well, releasing the other two."
Highly rated playmaker O'Kane swept across the 58th minute free kick that enabled recalled Billy Bodin to open the scoring from Chris Robertson's nod down.
Minutes later Mansell doubled Torquay's tally in front of 1,938 away fans in a bumper 12,836 derby crowd at Home Park.
Basement side Argyle threatened a comeback when teenage midfielder Luke Young scored his first senior goal, helping skipper Simon Walton's far post header over the line following Warren Feeney's deep cross from the right in the 72nd minute.
Ten minutes later recalled Young seemed set to restore parity but United central defender Robertson made a superb lunging block to deflect the youngster's goal-bound shot over.
Argyle boss Carl Fletcher rued the end of the greens' unbeaten five-match league run, since November's 3-1 defeat at Torquay.
Fletcher said: "I was disappointed we lost because there was such a great crowd here today. We are just disappointed in the changing room that we could not put smiles on their faces.
"I was pleased that Luke Young got his first senior goal. He has been knocking at the door for a little while.
"Walts set it up with a header and another midfielder ended up putting it away and then Youngy had another chance deflected when it looked as though it was heading into the top corner.
"We will take the positives from the way we finished the game and move on."
Argyle visit Crewe on Saturday, Torquay's next league game is at Macclesfield on January 14.
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