Torquay United's unbeaten home record was ended by Hampton & Richmond Borough this afternoon - after the Gulls did everything but score a goal in an extraordinary 1-0 defeat at Plainmoor.

Torquay, who will play much worse and lose this season, were all over Hampton in the first half, but couldn't make their possession pay. In the second half, Hampton got a goal on the break, despite Torquay still being the better side, and at the end it was attack, attack, attack.

But for all the fine passing and possession, a goal would just not come, and after the final whistle it was Hampton who were celebrating the win in front of their 21 fans - in an impressive attendance of 4,450! There were weird results all round in the National League South though, and Torquay are still second - but with the top four in the table all on 52 points, it is incredibly tight.

READ MORE: Torquay United sign Matt Jay as one of two new arrivals

READ MORE: Exeter City 'crazy 10 minutes' costly as Grecians beaten at home

There were three changes. With defenders Jordan Dyer and Jay Foulston injured during the 2-2 draw at Slough Town, Wotton started Ed Palmer and Finley Craske at the back. There was a debut for Matt Jay, up front alongside Cody Cooke, with Omar Mussa dropping to the bench. Captain Oscar Threlkeld was in midfield despite his injury scare at Slough.

It was a great first half with both teams enjoying good possession and passing the ball around really well. The only odd thing about it was there were no goals at the break. A flick by Jordan Thomas at the end of a great build from the back was held well by Max Merrick in the Hampton goal in the third minute. A lovely flick in midfield by Jay set up Craske down the left but Cooke was challenged well as he went for the header. It was an exciting start by the Gulls. A Jay shot was blocked in the eighth minute. Thomas shot over from 22 yards a minute later. Another Jay strike was blocked on its way to goal

Merrick saved a Jordan Young shot from distance in the 13th minute. The passing was excellent and, at the back, Palmer was pulling the strings, finding players with some very good passes - but a push in his own box might have resulted in a penalty under the nose of another referee.

Slowly Hampton got into the game and Mauro Vilhete's shot was blocked before Hamon saved James Roberts' follow-up. George Hunt had another shot blocked. On the half-hour, Threlkeld put a difficult chance over the cross from a Palmer nod-back, from a Dylan Morgan corner to the back post.

Young shot wide at the end of another attack. Vilhete was offside when he found the top corner with a rebound in Torquay's box. Cooke headed wide from a long throw-in by Palmer. In the 39th minute Morgan was tipped around the post by Merrick - and that was followed by a Dan Hayfield strike that was deflected wide. Not even an extra two minutes could bring a goal.

Craske went down injured inside the second minute of the second half. He was treated on the pitch and carried on. A Vilhete shot was too high in the 51st minute. Likewise, a header from the back post by Palmer from a corner. When Vilhete got on the end of a long ball forward in the 56th minute - he looked offside and perhaps a hand was involved as he controlled it. But his strike past Hamon was good and it was 1-0.

Wotton put Mussa and Will Jenkins Davies on for Morgan and Threlkeld and laid siege to Hampton's goal. Young had a shot deflected wide in the 61st minute and a Hayfield header was parried by the goalkeeper. Merrick made a double save from Young in the 68th minute. A Palmer flick-on was good but Merrick got to the ball first.

New striker Emmanuel Ilesanmi came on for Cooke in the 70th minute as Torquay continued to attack. He instantly looked good. A Jenkins Davies strike went wide in the 78th minute. Another Young strike was blocked. Lirak Hasani came on for Hayfield in the 83rd minute. A flick-on at the near post from a Mussa corner by Hasani went wide into the side netting. In the 89th minute another Young shot was parried wide.

Six minutes were added on as Ilesanmi headed the ball straight at the goalie. Merrick made a brilliant save to deny Hasani, whose flicked header from a corner looked all set to make it 1-1. A back-heel by Jordan Thomas just crept agonisingly by the far post following a Mussa pass. Despite the pressure, and it was all Torquay in the final stages, the goal would just not come. It was a hugely frustrating game.