Paul Cook was full of praise for his players despite defeat at Torquay and admitted it gave him plenty of ideas for future experiments with team selection.

The Stanley boss handed a first start to youth team captain Ryan Hopper at Plainmoor as the patched-up Reds impressed in spells but were beaten by Rene Howe’s second half goal.

"We’ll never accept getting beaten and though it’s part and parcel of the game you should never accept it," said Cook.

"As a manager, if your team plays like that you’ll win a lot more than you lose, that’s for sure. We are looking towards next season but we still want to win every game we’re involved in.

"Young Ryan making his full debut was a credit to himself.

"He did really well, was off his front foot and I thought it was a great debut for him.

"I think the youth system is important for us. Young lads give energy and enthusiasm and we have to give them chances.

"It’s great for the club that we have the Centre of Excellence and if we can get a few of those young lads into the first team it’ll be a huge boost."

Hopper replaced Micah Evans in the starting line up as Stanley looked for back-to-back wins for the first time under Cook and there was little between them and the automatic promotion-chasing Gulls.

Bobby Grant drove a free kick into the Torquay wall, while at the other end, Kevin Nicholson and Eunan O’Kane both shot wide for the home side.

Martin Ling was looking to celebrate winning the manager-of-the-month award with a victory, but Stanley’s rearguard held firm for more than an hour.

After the interval the game was a little more open, with Scunthorpe loanee Grant (pictured right) again going close and Torquay’s Mark Ellis clattering one against the bar.

It was the home side that made the breakthrough though, with Ryan Jarvis muscling Michael Liddle off the ball 17 minutes from time and finding Howe, who curled home at the second time of asking.

"We might have got a free kick leading up to the goal but I also think that Michael Liddle could have dealt with it better," explained Cook.

"He just needs to empty it out of the ground and we’ll defend the throw-in. Michael was outstanding so we have no problems with that.

"We deserved something from the game. We played really well and for long, long spells I thought we were the better team.

"We were good all over the pitch and had some really good performances on the back of some great support as well.

"I think great credit must go to the fans who have travelled all this way to support us."

STANLEY: Dunbavin, Murphy, Liddle, Barnett, Joyce, McIntyre, Devitt (Hatfield 81), Hopper (Evans 66), Lindfield, Grant, Amond (Craney 46) Substitutes: Nicholls, Guthrie