By Alex Charlton
A Cody Cooke looping header was enough to secure Torquay United a 1-0 away win over Hampton & Richmond at a sun-drenched Beveree Stadium.
The away side had two goals ruled out for offside in either half, with Cooke and Brad Ash having their efforts disallowed by the referee.
A win for Paul Wotton’s side means they climbed the table to third, while Alan Julian’s men dropped to 14th in the National League South.
In an even start to the first half, Hampton & Richmond were limited to chances, with Odei Martin Sorondo firing his long range effort over the Torquay bar.
In a common theme of the first half, the Gulls forced the home side into mistakes and were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position, with Josh Keeya picking up a yellow card for his foul.
Cooke gave the away side the lead in the 22nd minute from the resulting set-piece, with his glancing header across goal beating the outstretched Curd.
Torquay began to dictate proceedings in the first half and thought they had a second, but Cooke’s fine finish was ruled out for offside.
As pressure mounted on Hampton & Richmond, Ben Seymour should have netted against his former side, but his tame, close-range effort landed in the appreciative hands of Curd.
The Gulls continued to pose a threat from set-pieces, and Cooke almost had a brace but headed straight at the goalkeeper from a free-kick.
The home side were much improved in the second half and carved out an opportunity for Jake Gray inside the box, but the winger fired over from a difficult angle.
Finn Tonks, who came into the Torquay side for Ed Palmer, delivered a tantalising cross into the box for Cooke, but he was unable to convert and drilled his finish narrowly wide of the near post.
The away side thought they should have had a penalty midway through the second period when Matt Carson was brought down by substitute Jerry Wiltshire, but the referee waved it away.
Hampton & Richmond controlled possession in the second period, but it was the away side who almost had a second through a smart Ash finish at the near post, only for it to be ruled out for offside.
Despite dominating the ball, the home side struggled to create any clear-cut chances but were gifted a free-kick in a promising position in the final minute of normal time, following a neat period of play.
However, Gray was unable to score what would have been his third goal of the season and had his shot deflected over the bar.
From the resulting corner, the ball fell to Martin Sorondo at the far post, but he headed straight at Hamon, who gratefully grasped the ball.
After a half of few distinctive chances, Torquay ran out deserved winners, with a 1-0 over the South West London side.
The Beavers are at home again this coming Saturday and tickets for the clash against St Albans can be purchased online here. TICKETS