ADY Pennock was back to his ebullient best after his side defeated Torquay.

The Forest Green boss had cut a despondent figure folllowing the news of a three-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player in the the opening game of the season at Southport, but the former Stoke City coach certainly had his mojo back as they returned to winning ways against Torquay on Tuesday, moving up to eighth in the table.

He said: Everyone has to be positive now - the players, the supporters, the press, myself - because those players have been kicked in the privates.

"But we've got to move on. Someone's done a mistake, it wasn't done on purpose.

"We've got to turn that around and turn the negatives into positives."

Rovers came from behind against a Gulls' side who had manager Chris Hargreaves sent to the stands and midfielder Courtney Richards sent off.

The Gulls took the lead through Duane Ofori-Acheampong, but a Jon Parkin strike and a second half goal from James Norwood handed Rovers the points.

Earlier, boss Ady Pennock was forced to change his defence for the first time this season with Marcus Kelly dropping in at left-back to replace Chris Stokes (knee). Elliott Frear took his place on the wing and strikerParkin was restored to the starting line-up in place of Lee Hughes.

Rovers survived an early let-off when the flat-footed Luke Oliver pulled back the speedy Ryan Bowman and from the resulting free-kick, Courtney Cameron fizzed over. The night was soon over for Oliver as he pulled up clutching his hamstring and was replaced on seven minutes by Eddie Oshodi.

A defensive error almost gifted Torquay a fortuitous opener. Kelly’s sliced clearance allowed Duane Ofori-Acheampong to evade Same Russell, but the covering David Pipe cleared the ball from the danger zone.

Rovers responded. Frear galloped down the left, but Parkin failed to get enough purchase on his header. Torquay’s riposte was immediate-Courtney Richards opening up Rovers for Ofori-Acheampong to put the Gulls 1-0 up on 22 minutes.

Rovers were struggling to get a foothold, but James Norwood flashed wide after the eager Rob Sinclair carved open a chance.

At the other end, a sliding Pipe tackle snuffed out the dangerous Bowman, who escaped the attention of Oshodi.

A goalmouth frenzy resulted in Rovers netting parity on 34 minutes. Kelly’s free-kick was headed back across the goal by Norwood for Oshodi to see his initial shot blocked on the line, but his second effort was deflected in by Parkin and beyond Torquay Martin Rice.

Deep into first half stoppage time, Sinclair teed-up Norwood, who drilled his shot wide from just inside the box as Rovers finished the half on a high.

Torquay boss Chris Hargreaves failed to appear in the technical area for the second half after he contested Rovers’ equaliser and was sent to the stands by the referee.

Rovers started the second half brightly. Frear’s cross forced Rice to save a deft Parkin effort.

A 30 yard run from midfield lynchpin Wedgbury saw the former Stevenage man surge past two defenders and fizz in a strike, which forced Rice into a plunging save from the edge of the box.

In a rare Torquay foray, Russell did well to finger a Luke Young 30 yard howitzer past the post.

Rovers came close to snatching the lead on the hour, but Oshodi could only watch his header clip the bar from a precise Frear corner.

Pennock’s side remained in pole position. Sinclair shot wide after a Parkin flick from a deep Russell kick. Torquay were reduced to ten men, when Richards was shown red for a 74th minute foul on Norwood.

Rovers took advantage of their numerical advantage when the outstanding Frear arrowed over a deep cross from the left for Norwood to finish with aplomb on 79 minutes.

Forest Green: S Russell, D Pipe, M Kelly, L Oliver (E Oshodi 7), D Coles, S Wedgbury, R Sinclair, E Frear, J Parkin (K Guthrie 88), C Jolley (L Hughes 75), J Norwood.

Subs: D Bennett, L Rodgers.

Star Man:Elliott Frear. Celebrated his England C call-up with a wizardry wing display.

Attendance: 1,365.