A delighted Mark Yates has insisted that his battling side deserved at least a share of the spoils following Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Torquay.

Skipper Mark Ellis' goal in first-half stoppage-time was enough to give the Gulls all three points in their push for promotion from the Blue Square Premier.

But with a string of chances of their own, the visitors and a travelling contingent of around 200 were disappointed to have left empty-handed.

That was a view shared by boss Yates following the game, who praised his team for matching up to Paul Buckle's United.

"I'm delighted that we've come here and more than matched a very strong Torquay side who are up there challenging," he said.

"That's the effort and commitment that we have to show between now and the end of the season and if we can play that way, we'll win more game than we lose.

"We switched off for five seconds today and it cost us - there was nothing in the game.

"It's a harsh lesson because I felt the players deserved something out of today.

"We had two or three excellent chances; it just didn't go for us."

Striker Iyseden Christie went agonisingly close to adding to his tally for the season in the second half with a number of great chances.

The Aggborough chief refused to blame the former Rochdale front-man but admitted the missed chances proved costly in the end.

"Iyseden normally buries the kind of chances he had," added Yates.

"The goalkeeper's made one terrific save with his legs, but Iyseden has had one from six yards and put it over the bar.

"I'm not blaming Iyseden, far from it, but it's a chance he normally sticks away.

"That changed the game, and Torquay aren't where they are in the league for no reason; they keep asking questions of you and I think today we answered those questions."