CHELTENHAM TOWN manager Mark Yates described it as 'A Tale Of Two Headers'. And what headers they were!

Both came from the same man, Torquay United's centre-back Brian Saah, and between them they clinched yet another victory for Martin Ling's record-chasing Gulls on Valentine's Night.

In the 33rd minute at Whaddon Road it was Saah's thumping far-post header which gave Ian Morris the chance to stab home what turned out to be United's winner.

But even that effort paled beside the one in stoppage-time that clinched all three points.

Robins full-back Sido Jombarti crossed from the right and all the Town 'bench' were on their feet as Jeff Goulding rose at the far post, odds-on to head home.

But in one of those moments when a defender risks losing teeth or possibly consciousness, Saah never took his eye off the ball, arched upwards in front of Goulding and flicked the ball away.

"It was a brilliant header for their goal," said Yates, "but a great one to save them at the end."

If Saah's two crucial interventions were the highlights of a top individual performance, then it was a close call for United's man-of-the-match with goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik.

Olejnik produced a series of saves, on and off his line, that must have left promotion rivals Cheltenham wondering if they'd beat him if they were still playing now.

Those scarcely believable 'stats' are mounting up.

This was United's seventh successive win, one short of the club record, and their fourth in a row on the road, one short of that record too.

It stretched their current charge up the League Two table to 13 wins, two draws and one defeat from their last 16 games (that's 41 points out of 48!).

And Tuesday's 'clean sheet' was their fourth in a row.

That was the key to a result which lifted United up to third place, level on points with leaders Southend and Cheltenham.

Ling's men, who lost Damon Lathrope to an ankle injury in the first half and Chris McPhee with a bloody nose in the second, defended for their lives during a second half when Cheltenham poured on the pressure.

Ling later admitted: "After losing Damon and Chris, we were starting to run out of ideas of what to do if anyone else had to come off!

"People had to play out of the positions they're used to and still do jobs, and it was a night for putting bodies on the line.

"I've said that to make a successful season, the whole squad is going to be called on, and you saw that tonight."

Ling added: "I thought Brian Saah was outstanding, but along with a few others too.

"At the end there, we were waiting on the bench for the ball to end up in the net, and Brian came from nowhere to keep it out."

United lost Lathrope, who turned his right ankle stopping a fierce free-kick by Marlon Pack, in the 21st minute. McPhee slotted straight into Lathrope's defensive midfield role and did a solid, industrious job.

Cheltenham tried to answer Yates' call for a fast start, but United handled them well and then started to ask some questions of their own.

Taiwo Atieno, who gave another good display as the lone targetman, set up Eunan O'Kane for a shot saved under his bar by Scott Brown.

Danny Stevens was always a threat on the left, and skipper Lee Mansell went close from 22 yards.

Then, in the 33rd minute, O'Kane forced a corner on the right.

Kevin Nicholson delivered the flag-kick to the far post, where Saah powered the ball down for Morris to finish from close range.

It was the Irish winger's second goal of the season.

Just before half-time Olejnik dropped down smartly to keep out a Kaid Mohamed drive, then punched away a strong Pack free-kick as if he was dismissing it from his presence.

The ball flew off Olejnik's fist for a throw-in as fast as it had arrived!

Olejnik probably knew he was in for a busy second half, and he was ready for it.

United's goalie dashed off his line to save from Mohamed, and he also denied Jimmy Spencer, Russell Penn and Goulding.

Around him, Olejnik's teammates beavered away to keep the Robins at bay, all the back-four of Oastler, Ellis, Saah and Nicholson in defiant mood.

Both Olejnik and McPhee were hurt, throwing themselves at the feet of Jombarti ten minutes from time.

Olejnik recovered, but McPhee had to go off with blood streaming from his nose.

Lathaniel Rowe-Turner had already replaced Stevens, so it meant another change.

Striker Rene Howe went on, Atieno moved to the right wing and Morris switched into central midfield. It was all hands to the pumps.

Cheltenham, who forced 12 corners to United's three, threw everything they had at United in the closing stages, which included more than five minutes of stoppage-time.

And in the 94th minute it looked as if their pressure had finally paid off – until Saah came up with that brave, match-winning header.

Torquay United (4-1-4-1): Olejnik; Oastler, Saah, Ellis, Nicholson; Lathrope (McPhee 21/Howe 82); Morris, Mansell, O'Kane, Stevens (Rowe-Turner 75); Atieno; subs not used – Rice (gk), MacDonald.

Cheltenham Town (4-4-2): Brown; Jombarti, Lowe, Bennett, Garbutt; Penn (Smikle 86), Summerfield, Pack, Mohamed; Duffy (McGlashan 69), Spencer (Goulding 73); subs not used – Low, Hooman.

Referee: Rob Lewis (Shropshire).

Bookings: Cheltenham – Spencer (foul 72); United – Stevens (foul 60), Atieno (foul 73).

Attendance: 3,010 (461 Gulls fans).

Statistics: Fouls – Cheltenham 19, United 15; Offsides – Cheltenham 0, United 1; Corners – Cheltenham 12, United 3; Shots/Headers On Target – Cheltenham 6, United 3; Off Target – Cheltenham 3, United 2; Hit Woodwork - None.