Torquay manager Paul Buckle felt Kevin Nicholson's "freak" own goal was the turning point as his side crashed to a 2-0 defeat at home to Grimsby

The Mariners had taken a second half lead through Nicholson's own goal before Peter Sweeney sealed the win.

Buckle said: "It was a fight and a scrap in the first 45 minutes and we had to compete like they did.

"There was nothing between the two teams in the first 45 minutes. Their 4-5-1 system showed their intent early on and fair play to them.

"I can't legislate for the own goal just after half time. It was a freak goal. It's not good play that has opened us up. It's nothing we can work on as a group and it's given them the lift they needed and it's knocked us.

"That's what happens in football, when it's not going great for you and you are not winning games, it goes in the top corner. I don't actually go with luck but we haven't had an ounce of it. We are 1-0 down and it's nip and tuck whether it's a free kick and the boy puts it in the bottom corner and it's 2-0."