He received a red card immediately after Torquay United went 3-0 up and, although substitute Sam Smith pulled one back after the Gulls were also reduced to 10 men, there was no comeback.

Two early goals from Wayne Carlisle and Tim Sills put the Devon side in control before Nicky Wroe ensured it was effectively game over at the start of the second half.

Diamonds skipper Curtis Woodhouse went close after 42 seconds but Dale Roberts was forced into a superb point-blank save from Carlisle before Daryl Clare's 25-yard free-kick was deflected over.

Torquay went ahead on six minutes as Kevin Nicholson's long throw-in was flicked on by Curtis Osano for Carlisle to convert at the far post.

Osano's run was diverted onto the roof of the net amid penalty claims for handball. But Phil Gulliver's booking led to the second goal as Steve Woods delivered a free-kick which Sills headed home.

Marcus Kelly narrowly failed to connect with a right-wing cross from Lee Phillips and Panther also went close with Diamonds' first shot on target.

Former Torquay striker Phillips was forced off with a head injury and his replacement Smith was denied by an offside flag before Matt Green suffered the same fate on the stroke of half-time.

Diamonds boss Garry Hill switched to 3-4-3 by sending on Leon Knight for Michael Corcoran. But five minutes later Wroe tapped in when Roberts parried from Green.

Panther was dismissed for a two-footed tackle on Steve Woods and Green quickly followed him down the tunnel for an elbow on Osano.

Smith found the bottom corner from Knight's through-ball. However in the closing stages Torquay looked more likely to extend their advantage rather than throwing it away.

Diamonds: Roberts; Osano, Gulliver, Hope, Corcoran (sub Knight, h-t); Burgess, Panther, Woodhouse, Kelly; Phillips (sub Smith, 36 mins), Clare (sub Tomlin, 64 mins). Subs not used: Jelleyman, Wolleaston.

Torquay: Bevan; Mansell, Robertson, Woods (sub Hodges, 68 mins), Nicholson; Carlisle, Wroe, Hargreaves, Stevens (sub Carayol, 72 mins); Sills (sub Thompson, 84 mins), Green. Subs not used: Benyon, Adams.

Referee: Mr I Cooper.

Goals: Carlisle (6 mins, 0-1), Sills (14 mins, 0-2), Wroe (50 mins, 0-3), Smith (65 mins, 1-3).

Sendings-off: Panther (serious foul play), Green (violent conduct).

Booking: Gulliver (foul).

Attendance: 1,649 (away fans 259).

Full coverage including Garry Hill's reaction and Mark Lea's verdict in Sport on Monday

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