Torquay United 0, Aldershot Town 2

THIS impressive victory may have appeared like little more than an autumnal cruise around sunny Torbay, but it was underpinned by a steely resolve to disprove their doubters.

Displaying the work-rate and creativity so glaringly absent from the previous weekend’s home defeat against Macclesfield Town, The Shots dominated struggling Torquay with ease and capped a resurgent performance with two fabulous goals.

Aside from one fumbled Louis Briscoe free-kick, which goalkeeper Phil Smith caught at the second attempt as it rebounded fortuitously off the post, The Gulls foundered on a solid wall of blue shirts denying the hosts as soon as they fashioned even the slightest glimpse of goal.

“It’s a good performance, especially after last week, and we had asked the players for a response,” admitted manager Barry Smith.

“We’re not the finished article and we can always improve but I think they’ve answered a few questions today about their desire and commitment because it would have been easy to go and hide. I’m delighted for the players, because they do work very hard.

“We changed things up a wee bit and the system worked today,” he explained of the switch which saw winger Rhys Browne play in a central attacking midfield role to fine effect. “We gave Rhys a bit more licence to be on the ball and be more direct. We set out our stall to be positive, and we scored two goals in the first half. Then the second half was all about discipline.”

Matt Barnes-Homer, Nick Anderton and Browne had early long-range efforts – the second and third of which drew strong saves from Fabian Spiess – but by putting their bodies on the line and defending from the front, the clean sheet will have pleased manager Smith as much as the attacking verve. Yet the goals were particularly striking.

On 21 minutes, Sam Hatton’s nonchalant 35-yard free-kick – after Browne was fouled during another dynamic, darting run – flew into the corner of the net to give the visitors the lead. Smith later suggested that he had been critical of Hatton’s set-pieces of late, and this was a spectacular and timely riposte.

Charlie Walker’s deft, curled shot at the end of a fluid passing move also involving Browne and Hatton at its sharp end doubled the lead in the 34th minute and The Shots were never in danger.

Even buoyed by the return of player-manager Kevin Nicholson, the latest man charged with arresting Torquay’s slump into the relegation zone, they struggled for penetration. Shepherd Murombedzi and James Hurst saw shots thwarted by diving blocks and, rather than rouse themselves for a barnstorming comeback after the break, the second half was a virtual non-event.

Jim Stevenson’s shot was deflected haphazardly wide and then he scuffed another shot, and the only barrier to Aldershot Town extending their lead was their own ambition. Stevenson and Dan Walker could have snatched further goals during injury time, as Torquay continually failed to wrest control, but the 249 visiting supporters nonetheless enjoyed their boisterous and vociferous afternoon by the sea.

Torquay United: Spiess; Berry, MacDonald, N Smith, Nicholson; Hurst, Heslop, Butler, Briscoe (Fisher 59); Marsh (Yeoman 83), Murombedzi (Bell 70). Subs (not used): Lavercombe, Hickford.

Aldershot Town: P Smith; Alexander, Beckles, Saville, Anderton; Lathrope, Hatton, Stevenson, Browne (D Walker 82); C Walker, Barnes-Homer (Brodie 71). Subs (not used): Oliver, Richards, Thomas.

Attendance: 1,946.