Centre-back Mark Ellis's third goal in four games finally broke the resistance of Northampton Town, kept the Gulls' extraordinary run going, and broadened his father's smile at Plainmoor.

Ellis's dad enjoys a flutter now and then, and he usually has a few bob on his lad to score, even from the heart of defence. Ellis Snr has cleaned up over the last few weeks as his son dispatched spectacular volleys in the Gulls' 2-1 win at Macclesfield and Morecambe at long odds, and he hit the bookies again on Saturday.

This time, Ellis Jnr found the net with a far-post header from Kevin Nicholson's 75th-minute corner as Martin Ling's men made it 11 wins from 14 games, 35 points from 42 and moved up to fifth in the npower League Two table.

Just as against Dagenham & Redbridge in midweek, when they won by the same score, United were made to work hard by struggling opponents. In fact, the Cobblers, under new manager Aidy Boothroyd, probably shaded the first half.

Boothroyd's latest signing, former Gulls trainee Luke Guttridge from Aldershot, played midfield "in the hole" just behind lone striker Saido Berahino, on loan from West Bromwich, and gave the Gulls plenty of problems. Young winger Michael Jacobs was also a threat on the left, especially from set-pieces.

Town forced six corners to United's one in the first half. But Torquay's latest victory, their fifth in a row, was founded on a defence looking more assured by the week. Despite getting several good efforts on goal, Northampton never really stretched goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik, even though the visitors posted both Berahino and centre-half Byron Webster on him at corners.

In front of Olejnik, Ellis and Chris Robertson were on top of their games at centre-back. Robertson, in particular, came up with several crucial headers and blocks in his own goalmouth, and Ellis brooked no arguments with his power and timing in the air.

When United do not concede in the first half, they always look capable of scoring in the second, when the spaces and the angles start to open up for their ball players. United restarted more confidently, Eunan O'Kane and Danny Stevens visibly up a gear.

On 58 minutes, Stevens sent Rene Howe down the left, and it took a fine save by former Yeovil goalkeeper Chris Weale to deny United's leading scorer his tenth goal of the season.

Olejnik had to come up with an important save off his line from Berahino after Guttridge had played him through, and, in the 66th minute, Guttridge was inches away from touching in Jacobs' low diagonal cross from the left.

But Guttridge had given his best, Boothroyd replacing him with Ryan Gilligan in the 71st minute. Ling also sent on Taiwo Atieno for Ian Morris on United's right and, in the 75th minute, they broke through.

From Nicholson's inswinging corner, a perfect delivery, Ellis rose at the far post to head home.

Although Boothroyd introduced ex-Torquay striker Bayo Akinfenwa and Ben Tozer, United played out the last ten minutes with impressive discipline and calm, giving their opponents no real chance to save themselves.

Torquay United (4-1-4-1): Olejnik; Oastler, Robertson, Ellis, Nicholson; Lathrope; Morris (Atieno 73), Mansell, O'Kane, Stevens; Howe (McPhee 87). Substitutes (not used): Rowe-Turner, Saah, Rice (gk).

Goal: Ellis 75.

Northampton Town (4-4-1-1): Weale; Crowe (Tozer 87), Langmead, Webster, Adams; Young, Johnson (Akinfenwa 84), Harding, Jacobs; Guttridge (Gilligan 71); Berahino. Substitutes (not used): Asante, Hall (gk).

Booking: Webster.

Referee: J Linington (Isle of Wight).

Attendance: 2,719.