Paul Wotton said his Torquay United players ‘played with their guts’ in the 2-0 home win against Eastbourne Borough on Saturday - and he ‘loves that!’

In front of another huge crowd for the National League South - 4,343 fans were inside Plainmoor - Torquay worked hard all game against a determined and physical Eastbourne side and achieved their first win in four games with two late goals by defender Sam Dreyer and midfielder Omar Mussa.

With four key players injured (Jordan Dyer, Jay Foulston, Will Jenkins Davies and Manny Ilesanmi) and one passing fit just in time (Jordan Young), Wotton switched to a back three with wing backs, Lirak Hasani and Dan Hayfield were in midfield, and Matt Jay supported striker Cody Cooke up front.

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And Torquay were pretty solid from the off, against a team in fifth in the table, one place above the Gulls. Now Torquay the positions are switched ahead of the Gulls trip to second-placed Worthing on Tuesday night.

Wotton said: “I am so proud of the boys - I thought they were fantastic. We were at it from the first minute, they reacted very well from a very disappointing weekend last week. We are a really consistent bunch, we are a consistent football club, we get out heads down, we work hard in training, we stay humble, and I thought we thoroughly deserved the win.

“I thought their keeper made a fantastic save in the first half, at nil-nil. Our goalie made a fantastic save in the second half at nil-nil. And other than that I thought we were the team that were trying to play football, and I felt our fitness levels, the last 20-25 minutes, I thought we came on top in the game. I am very pleased, I think that’s a really fantastic result for us after what has been a disappointing period results-wise.”

Torquay started brightly but as Eastbourne came into the game in the first half it became a nervy affair. In the second half, the Gulls worked really hard - especially the three at the back: Dreyer, Finley Craske and Ed Palmer - and they mounted increasingly enthusiastic attacks that bludgeoned the visitors into submission.

When the goal came in the 86th minute, Dreyer’s header in the box was deflected in by an Eastbourne player, but it was on target so there’s no way anyone will be taking that one away from him.

Mussa’s goal in the 96th minute came on the counter-attack after a great ball forward by Cooke - but its importance should not be underestimated. The referee played a further two minutes after that and Mussa has been desperate to get on the scoresheet this season. He took his chance so well, running at the goalkeeper and then confidently shooting past him into the far corner. That should do him a world of good.

“We thoroughly deserved it and I think we should enjoy it because it feels like a long time since we won,” said Wotton. “All in all I thought the boys were absolutely tremendous. They played with their guts today and I love that!”