Ling delighted with Gulls grit

Ling: Pleased with back-to-back victories

Torquay manager Martin Ling was full of praise for his side as their 2-1 home win over Dagenham moved them up to eighth in League Two.

The turning point at Plainmoor on Saturday was the introduction of 75th minute substitute Niall Thompson a minute after Matthew Saunders 20-yard volleyed leveller had cancelled out Danny Stevens' first-half opener.

Thompson let fly with a thumping cross from the left in the 79th minute that flew in off Daggers skipper Abu Ogogo leaving Ling to reflect on a hard-earned three points.

"It's another League Two game that we have to dig out against a team in a good run of form," he said. "We've got back to back wins after disappointing results. It gets us back into the race again.

"I thought Ryan Jarvis worked his socks off and gave Rene Howe some really good support and once again Rene was hard to handle.

"We started really well, got our noses in front and then they scored a wonder strike.

"To be fair to them they got a head of steam up but then we had the substitution with young Niall Thompson coming on and that proved good for us in the end, even though it was an own goal I understand. He's in there trying to claim it, a young lad for his first league goal.

"Overall I think it was workmanlike. Dagenham have had some good results. It was a good result against a side in form. When you play a John Still side you know you are in for a tough game and I think it was."