Naismith double inspires Stanley
Kal Naismith bagged a brace as Accrington continued their rise up the League Two table with a 2-1 victory over fellow strugglers Torquay.
Having recently propped up the standings, Stanley extended their unbeaten run to seven games to climb up to 20th place while the Gulls have now won just one in nine and sit second from bottom.
In a lively opening, Stanley captain Luke Joyce, on his 200th appearance for the club, hit the foot of a post while Peter Murphy's close-range header was kept out by Gulls goalkeeper Martin Rice.
Torquay went ahead when the home side failed to clear their lines after 14 minutes. Defender Aaron Downes put the ball back into the area and Paul McCallum curled the ball into the top corner for his third goal of the season.
Both sides had headers cleared off the line - Downes for Torquay and Tom Aldred for Stanley - with the next goal vital.
And it was Stanley who made the impact three minutes before the break when Murphy's cross was flicked on by Kayode Odejayi and winger Naismith's thumping header gave the 'keeper no chance.
Odejayi should then have put Stanley ahead on the stroke of half-time but could only head over.
The high tempo continued after the break as both sides looked for the winner, with Stanley eventually making their chance count.
Nicky Hunt's cross from the right found Naismith in the area and he stooped low to head home his second of the afternoon after 74 minutes.
Source: PA
