Ten-man Yeovil Town battled to a 2-0 victory over Gary Johnson’s Torquay United at a hostile Plainmoor on New Year’s Day.
Despite playing with ten men for 80 minutes after Chris Dagnall’s red card, Yeovil controlled the game, scoring through Courtney Duffus and substitute Rhys Murphy.
Torquay would have a man sent off themselves as the game came to its conclusion, with Jean-Yves Koue Niate recieveing a second yellow card for a cynical drag on Murphy.
Darren Sarll made four changes to the side which lost against Sutton United last weekend.
Captain Lee Collins and Craig Alcock both returned from injury to add some experience to the Yeovil backline.
Dagnall joined Duffus up-front as Murphy recovered from a minor illness prior to the game.
Brighton loanee James Tilley also returned to the side, giving Lawson D’Ath a well-deserved rest.
With it only being a short trip for the Yeovil faithful, the atmosphere was electric inside Plainmoor.
The game would explode into life almost instantly, with a red card and goal within 15 minutes.
The red card would come first at just ten minutes in, after Charlie Lee had his headed effort saved by Lucas Covolan, there was afters between the goalkeeper and Dagnall which saw the latter given his marching orders.
However, this did not dishearten Town taking the lead just five minutes later. The returning Alcock was involved as his headed pass was met by Duffus who hammered home his 14th goal of the season.
Despite having a man advantage, Torquay struggled to create any chances of note to really test Stuart Nelson.
Yeovil still had opportunities as the half continues, the best being a Carl Dickinson free kick which flew a whisker over the bar.
The best chance for the hosts during the first half would fall to Niate who had his effort stopped by Nelson as his near post.
The second half saw the Glovers start brighter, with Albi Skendi continually causing havoc for the Torquay defenders.
As the half progressed, the numerical advantage would begin to tell as chances would fall for the Gulls.
Jamie Reid would miss a golden chance in the 59th minute as he dragged his first-time effort from inside the box wide.
The Glovers would be forced into some heroic defending as Alcock produced a stunning block to deny Asa Hall’s seemingly clear sight at goal.
The sides would be put on an even playing field in the 80th minute as Niate needlessly tussled with Murphy, dragging the substitute down for his second yellow card of the afternoon.
After claiming crosses all afternoon, Nelson produced one of the saves of the season in the 90th minute. As Lloyd James fired from the edge of the box, the Yeovil number one somehow got a finger to his effort, keeping Town ahead.
The battling performance would be capped off in the final minute as Murphy added his 17th goal of the season.
A fast breakaway caught Torquay with too many men forward. The ever-dangerous Skendi found Murphy as he delicately chipped the ball over Covolan to ensure the three points returned to Somerset.
Torquay: Covolan, Cameron, Niate, Lewis (James), Keating, Hall (Lewington), Evans, Reid, Cundy, Nemane (Andrews), Whitfield.
Bookings: Niate (RED) Lewis, Hall, Evans, Lewington.
Subs not used: Collings, Koszela
Yeovil Town: Nelson; Alcock (Osho), Collins, Wilkinson, Dickinson; Lee, Hippolyte (Worthington), Tilley, Skendi; Duffus (Murphy), Dagnall.
Bookings: Dagnall (RED), Alcock, Hippolyte, Wilkinson.
Subs not used: D’Ath, Hutton.
