Paul Wotton said Torquay United were magnificent after going down to 10 men in the 83rd minute of their 1-0 win against Truro City on New Year’s Day.

The Torquay manager - who came to Plainmoor from Truro in the summer - was delighted with the win against a team he says will be ‘up there’ at the end of the National League South season.

The win didn’t come easily. Torquay shaded the first half before Truro became a real threat in the second. But a fabulous goal by Jordan Young in the 80th minute gave the Gulls a lead they had to protect, mostly with 10 men after on loan right back Jordan Thomas was shown a second yellow card for a silly challenge as he tried to win the ball.

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In the six minutes that were added on, Connor Riley-Lowe hit the crossbar with a strike from just inside the area and there were a few more hearts-in-mouth moments with James Hamon palming a Andrewe Neal shot over the bar and a header from Dan Harrison also going over.

Wotton said: “I think it was probably the best clean sheet of the season, we had endeavour, we had passion, we had spirit, togetherness. I am all in all thrilled with the result. We can be much better in certain areas, I will never settle, but Truro City will be right up there at the end of the season.”

The Plainmoor pitch had to pass a late inspection by the referee, with water laying on the surface as the rain came down all morning. But with volunteers pitchforking the earth and the ball bouncing and rolling well - it finally got the go-ahead at 2.15pm. With 5,135 fans in the ground, no one from Torquay wanted this one called off.

Wotton said: “It was a tremendous result, a fantastic result. I don’t know why the game was in doubt, I have got to be honest, the pitch played really well in tough conditions so well done to Julian Gouldthorpe for getting the game on.

“I thought the first half we were good. We came out of the traps and we were on top, had a couple of good chances. And then Truro had a couple of good chances and we made a couple of great blocks. There wasn’t much in it in the first half but I felt we edged the first half.

“At half time I said I just wanted us to be a little bit more composed on the ball in the final third - to stay on the ball a little bit more in wide areas. I felt that we were getting the ball and forcing a cross in. Truro are a big side and we had to find a different way and I felt like we were playing into their hands a little bit in the first half. So I wanted us to be brave on the ball in the second half.

“I have got to give credit to Truro, I thought for the first 20 minutes of the second half they were fully on top. They came out of the traps and they pressed us high ... and then I felt we got back into the game, probably level terms, and I think up until the sending off I thought we were comfortable, we were good - and then after the sending off, I thought we were magnificent.”

Torquay go to Worthing on Saturday for an FA Trophy fourth round tie. Just one point ahead of Boreham Wood at the top of a tight National South table, Torquay are next in league action when Welling United come to town on Saturday, January 11.