Torquay 1 Rotherham 3: Ruthless Millers back in the promotion race

Second-half goals from Lee Frecklington, Alex Revell and substitute Kayode Odejayi secured maximum points on a bitterly cold night at Plainmoor, moving Steve Evans’s side to within three points of the League Two automatic promotion places.

The home side enjoyed the better of the opening 45 minutes with veteran goalkeeper Andy Warrington making two saves to deny Torquay’s Lee Mansell.

Further opportunities for Billy Bodin and Ryan Jarvis were squandered and Rotherham made the home side pay with a clinical second-half display.

The Millers warmed to the task after the break and struck immediately when Frecklington created a yard of space for himself after a clever flick, and his 20-yard daisy-cutter was fumbled over the line by Gulls goalkeeper Michael Poke.

Buoyed by their success, the Millers started to dominate proceedings and doubled their advantage on 59 minutes when Daniel Nardiello flicked on Liam Ridehalgh’s long punt forward, and Revell pounced to slide the ball beyond Poke.

Rotherham were given a late scare in the final minute when Mark Bradley upended Bodin in the penalty area, resulting in a spot kick. Bodin picked himself off the floor to tuck the penalty away, but any fears of a late comeback were quashed when, a minute later, Courtney Cameron’s cut-back was tapped in by Odejayi.

Torquay United: Poke; Leadbitter, Saah, Downes, Nicholson; Lathrope; Mansell, Yeoman (Macklin 65), Craig (Benyon HT), Bodin; Jarvis. Unused substitutes: Rice, MacDonald, Easton, Stevens, Cruise.

Rotherham United: Warrington; Bradley, Mullins, Davis, Ridehalgh; Agard (Cameron 80), Arnason, Frecklington, Kearns; Revell (Slew 74), Nardiello (Odejayi 67). Unused substitutes: Thompson, Tonge, Rowe, Pringle.

Referee: B Malone (Wiltshire).