Mitch Brundle took advantage of the old boys' network in the hope he would launch his career in style.
Bristol City loanee central defender Brundle, 19, filled in at right back and revealed that former Town midfielder Marlon Pack encouraged him to join the club's hunt for a third successive play-off campaign. He explained:
"The decision to join was an easy one and Marlon told me it would be a great move as the club had the players and experience to make the play-offs. So when I signed, I made sure that I had it written into my contract so I'd be available in case we got to Wembley!
"It's been a brilliant experience so far and I'll play wherever I'm needed. I'm just happy to be playing first team football. We all believe we can finish the season really well and finish above eighth place."
Midfielder Matt Richards won the game with an excellent 75th minute volley for his seventh goal of the season and Cheltenham assistant manager Neil Howarth admitted:
"It's nice to be looking at the top of the table. It's been a difficult season, but we're quietly doing okay. I'm looking at the next game and three points rather than the play-offs. Let's see where we are with six games to go."
But Howarth also admitted it was a poor first period and revealed:
"Sometimes there's a little carrot and stick needed, but we tried to be positive at half time and the lads get ten out of ten for effort in the second half. But we were playing a team fighting for their lives and their manager and so it was difficult."
Cheltenham had chances to extend their lead.
Central defender Troy Brown headed inches over from six yards and striker Jamie Cureton blew two great opportunities.
But keeper Scott Brown made sure of the win in the dying minutes when he shut out winger Shamir Goodwin from eight yards.
On the half hour both teams should have opened the scoring within one minute.
Joss Labadie's low shot was saved by Brown and the Robins quickly broke upfield to feed striker Cureton who fired into the side-netting from twelve yards.
This might have been midfielder Labadie's last game of the campaign unless he successfully appeals a ten-match for biting Chesterfield's Ollie Banks.
In first half stoppage time winger Ashley Vincent needed to be alert to hook Torquay midfielder Goodwin's curling 18 yard shot off the line.
Basement club Torquay are seven points from safety, but boss Chris Hargreaves is staying positive despite transport problems and losing Elliot Benyon to illness before the game. He revealed:
"I wanted to start the same side for the first time since I took over, but then at 6:30 the physio called up to say Elliot had sickness and diarrhoea and was out. Then the coach breaks down and you start wondering if someone's trying to tell you something. I've got children though, I can't afford to have a heart attack!"
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