Ian Craney's fine strike handed Accrington their third win on the bounce at the expense of Torquay.
Stanley had been under the cosh in the first half and were reliant on keeper Alex Cisak who made a string of saves, notably a smart stop from Mark Ellis.
But the game turned when Ellis got a straight red card for tripping Terry Gornell as he bore down on goal.
The hosts poured forward and got their winner courtesy of Craney, who turned and fired home from 25 yards out.
Torquay United boss Paul Buckle told BBC Radio Devon: "I feel we're very unlucky today as we could have easily been three goals to the good in the first-half.
"It took a lot out of us that game and we'll have to recover now for Tuesday but certainly today we looked a very good league two side.
"I'm disappointed for the players more than anything because I felt all game we were organised and I really think it would have been a Torquay victory today had it not been 10 versus 11."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 26 February 2011
Npower League Two
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Accrington
1-0
Torquay
FT
(HT 0-0)
Craney 78
Accrington Stanley
01 Cisak
03 Winnard
04 Hessey
12 Edwards
26 Jacobson
06 Procter
07 Ryan (Murphy 90+2)
08 Barnett (McConville 65)
14 Joyce yellow card
27 Craney (Putterill 80)
24 Gornell
Substitutes
25 Dunbavin,
05 Long,
17 Murphy,
10 Putterill,
11 McConville,
09 Lindfield,
19 Boulding
Torquay
16 Potter
03 Nicholson
04 Ellis red card
05 Robertson
18 Oastler (O'Kane 83)
23 Branston
06 Stanley
07 Mansell
08 Kee (Rowe-Turner 75)
09 Robinson (Gilligan 59)
26 Zebroski
Substitutes
01 Bevan,
02 Rowe-Turner,
10 O'Kane,
11 Gilligan,
19 Stevens,
22 Lathrope,
14 Macklin
Ref: RussellAtt: 1,543
ACCRINGTON
TORQUAY
Possession
Accrington44%
Torquay56%
Attempts on target
Accrington2
Torquay4
Attempts off target
Accrington7
Torquay9
Corners
Accrington10
Torquay8
Fouls
Accrington10
Torquay7
Final Result
95:33 The match has reached full-time.
Full Time
90:00+3:43 Unfair challenge on Sean McConville by Lee Mansell results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Joe Jacobson.
90:00+3:24 Unfair challenge on Lee Mansell by Sean McConville results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Lee Mansell.
90:00+2:52 Short corner taken by Sean McConville.
90:00+1:41 Substitution (Accrington Stanley) makes a substitution, with Peter Murphy coming on for James Ryan.
90:00+1:20 Sean McConville takes a shot. Save by Danny Potter.
90:00+0:01 Guy Branston is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Sean Hessey.
89:06 The offside flag is raised against Terry Gornell. Danny Potter takes the direct free kick.
86:20 Outswinging corner taken by Sean McConville from the right by-line, clearance by Chris Robertson.
84:13 Lathanial Rowe-Turner fouled by Andrew Procter, the ref awards a free kick. Craig Stanley takes the direct free kick.
82:49 Ryan Gilligan gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Sean Hessey. Direct free kick taken by Sean Hessey.
82:21 Substitution Eunan O'Kane comes on in place of Joe Oastler.
82:02 Ray Putterill crosses the ball, Ryan Gilligan manages to make a clearance.
81:08 Terry Gornell produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses right.
79:48 Sean McConville decides to take a short corner.
79:01 Substitution Ray Putterill is brought on as a substitute for Ian Craney.
77:58 GOAL - Ian Craney:Accrington Stanley 1 - 0 Torquay Ian Craney finds the back of the net with a goal from long range to the top right corner of the goal. Accrington Stanley 1-0 Torquay.
76:40 Phil Edwards concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris Zebroski. Free kick crossed left-footed by Guy Branston from right channel, clearance made by Andrew Procter.
74:26 Inswinging corner taken by Sean McConville from the right by-line.
74:26 Substitution Billy Kee leaves the field to be replaced by Lathanial Rowe-Turner.
73:35 Corner taken right-footed by Sean McConville from the left by-line to the near post, Shot from inside the area by Joe Jacobson clears the bar.
72:50 Corner taken by Sean McConville.
72:23 Ryan Gilligan takes a shot. Save by Alex Cisak.
71:02 Corner from the right by-line taken by Craig Stanley, clearance made by Andrew Procter.
66:46 Ian Craney is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Direct free kick taken by Lee Mansell.
66:27 Chris Zebroski takes a shot. Alex Cisak makes a save.
64:54 Substitution (Accrington Stanley) makes a substitution, with Sean McConville coming on for Charlie Barnett.
63:44 Kevin Nicholson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Charlie Barnett. Free kick taken by Sean Hessey.
62:53 Short corner worked by Charlie Barnett.
62:11 Shot from deep inside the area by Charlie Barnett clears the bar.
58:51 Ian Craney is ruled offside. Danny Potter takes the direct free kick.
58:21 Substitution Ryan Gilligan is brought on as a substitute for Jake Robinson.
57:29 Kevin Nicholson takes a shot. Save by Alex Cisak.
52:31 Ian Craney has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.
52:05 Kevin Nicholson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James Ryan. Sean Hessey takes the free kick.
51:34 The offside flag is raised against Jake Robinson. Free kick taken by Phil Edwards.
48:08 Joe Jacobson crosses the ball.
46:42 Charlie Barnett takes a short corner.
45:01 The second half kicks off.
Half Time
45:00+1:54 The players leave the pitch at half time.
45:00+0:05 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Terry Gornell by Mark Ellis. Joe Jacobson has an effort direct from the free kick.
45:00+0:05 Sent off Mark Ellis shown a red card for serious foul play.
43:19 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Craig Stanley.
42:43 Craig Stanley takes the outswinging corner, Mark Ellis takes a shot. Sean Hessey manages to make a clearance.
42:25 Billy Kee takes a shot. Blocked by Luke Joyce.
41:33 Foul by Luke Joyce on Chris Zebroski, free kick awarded. Lee Mansell restarts play with the free kick.
41:33 Booking The referee cautions Luke Joyce for unsporting behaviour.
40:15 Kevin Nicholson takes a corner.
38:41 Long range shot by Jake Robinson goes wide right of the goal.
37:24 Free kick awarded for a foul by Terry Gornell on Craig Stanley. Chris Robertson restarts play with the free kick.
36:58 Jake Robinson takes a shot. Save by Alex Cisak.
35:35 James Ryan has an effort at goal from long range that goes wide left of the upright.
32:39 Corner taken left-footed by Kevin Nicholson, clearance by Sean Hessey.
31:59 Corner taken by Craig Stanley from the right by-line, Mark Ellis takes a shot. Alex Cisak makes a save.
30:41 Foul by Sean Hessey on Chris Zebroski, free kick awarded. Chris Robertson takes the free kick.
28:18 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Charlie Barnett from the right by-line to the near post, Kevin Nicholson manages to make a clearance.
25:16 Inswinging corner taken by Craig Stanley, Header by Kevin Nicholson from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
24:17 The referee blows for offside. Sean Hessey restarts play with the free kick.
22:34 Kevin Nicholson takes the outswinging corner, Guy Branston takes a shot. Clearance by Dean Winnard.
19:14 Lee Mansell challenges James Ryan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Phil Edwards takes the direct free kick.
17:57 The assistant referee flags for offside against Chris Zebroski. Sean Hessey takes the free kick.
16:37 Free kick awarded for a foul by Dean Winnard on Jake Robinson. Kevin Nicholson takes the free kick.
15:20 Jake Robinson is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Direct free kick taken by Sean Hessey.
14:49 Lee Mansell fouled by James Ryan, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Craig Stanley.
12:08 Inswinging corner taken by Charlie Barnett from the left by-line, James Ryan has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
11:26 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mark Ellis by Terry Gornell. Danny Potter restarts play with the free kick.
9:10 Jake Robinson sends in a cross, Header from close range by Kevin Nicholson misses to the right of the goal.
8:34 Unfair challenge on Billy Kee by Phil Edwards results in a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Craig Stanley, Dean Winnard makes a clearance.
8:13 Terry Gornell is ruled offside. Danny Potter restarts play with the free kick.
7:06 Jake Robinson takes a shot. Save by Alex Cisak.
6:23 Mark Ellis concedes a free kick for a foul on Terry Gornell. Charlie Barnett crosses the ball in from the free kick, Mark Ellis makes a clearance.
5:55 Lee Mansell produces a right-footed shot from 35 yards and went wide right of the net.
3:30 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Sean Hessey.
0:00 The referee gets the match started.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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