GULLS ON TOP IN SIX-POINTER

LEWIS Collins’ fine second-half finish kept alive Torquay United’s slim survival hopes at the expense of fellow strugglers Scunthorpe, who now seem destined to be in National League North next season.

- Chris Sumpter

The strike settled a contest that had all the hallmarks of one between two poor teams fighting for their lives.

Nervy and tight – even downright desperate at times – Collins raced clear in the 63rd minute and kept his cool to slot home with arguably the game’s only real moment of quality.

It capped a great week on the road for Gary Johnson’s Gulls, with six points in five days keeps ensuring they remain in the thick of the battle to escape the bottom four.

“We’ve been saying for more than a couple of weeks that the boys haven’t given up,” said Johnson.

“The players that we’re getting on the pitch are showing they want to win these games, and they know how to win them.