Bath City 1 Torquay United 0 - Gulls in relegation peril after defeat

Torquay United have just two games to save their National League South status after falling to within two points of the dreaded drop zone by losing 1-0 at Bath City today. And it is the team now directly below them - Taunton Town - who they play next, in Somerset on Tuesday night, before a final-day game against Havant & Waterlooville at Plainmoor next Saturday.

Torquay's 1-0 defeat at Twerton Park, coupled with a surprise 1-0 win for Taunton against Farnborough, means Tuesday's game is now the mother of all six-pointers - and a must-win for Torquay, who are labouring to avoid relegation to the Southern League, amid all the uncertainty of administration and unnamed preferred bidders.

There was one change from the team that started the win against Truro City, with Ethon Archer coming in for injured striker Duane Ofori-Acheampong, who he replaced after just 20 minutes on Monday night. Only four players were on the bench, including 17-year-old Jacob Wellington, with Aaron Jarvis, Kevin Watson, Dan Martin and Lewis Collins missing with Ofori-Acheampong. Ross Marshall is suspended for the rest of the season.

Read More - Torquay United docked one point for fielding ineligible player

Read More - Torquay United Supporters' Trust bid isn't preferred bid for Gulls

It was because Marshall played in the draw at Weymouth last month, when he was supposed to be suspended, that Torquay were deducted another point on Friday, to make it 11 taken away from the Gulls this season. Bath, who are chasing a play-off place, started well, and they were 1-0 ahead in the 10th minute when Elliott Frear got on the end of an Ephraim Yeboah cross at the back post to beat Mark Halstead with a neat strike.

Torquay reacted OK to going behind though, and Archer delivered a decent cross, but Brad Ash didn't aim his header at goal. Arkell Jude-Boyd was stopped at the end of a good run. Archer did well to take the ball into the box but his final pass was too close to the Bath goalkeeper Will Buse. Jude-Boyd sliced a shot when the ball bobbled in front of him. Buse held another Jude-Boyd effort in the 35th minute.

Yeboah was booked after diving in the area, but Torquay were still looking OK. But they weren't breaking through when the opportunities were there. The decision making wasn't the best at times. Archer broke again but his shot was straight at Buse from 22 yards. Two minutes were added on to what was hardly a scintillating first half, during which Dan Hayfield hit a free kick straight into the Torquay wall.

Bath started the second half with intent. Archer could have set Jack Stobbs clear but his first touch was poor. A Hayfield volley went wide. Will Jenkins Davies was fouled by Jack Batten. Brett McGavin teed up the free kick, 23 yards out, but the midfelder's shot was held well by Buse. Cody Cooke blasted the ball over Torquay's bar in the 59th minute - it was a bad miss after some good work by Hayfield.

Torquay rallied: an Ash shot was blocked as they cranked up the pressure; McGavin shot over in the 65th minute. Archer was fouled as he broke down the left and McGavin sent the ball into the box - but the ball was cleared. Torquay were consistently not making the best of their chances.

Austen Booth came on for McGavin with 10 minutes to go. Asa Hall was sent up front from the back. Jude-Boyd brought the ball forward really well down the right - and then his pass to Stobbs was poor. The story of the game.

Archer won a corner with a positive attack in the 86th minute - but Booth fouled the goalkeeper as Stobbs' cross came over. Ash was offside when he flicked a header at Buse.

Five minutes were added on and Ash broke away and shot across the face of goal, with Buse getting a touch on the ball. So close, but not close enough. A couple of Dean Moxey long-throws were easily defended by Bath.

Get the best stories delivered to your inbox every day. Choose what you love here