It was the win that they wanted over Mansfield Town, but results elsewhere meant that Torquay United will be returning to the Conference five years after winning back into the Football League.
An own goal from John Dempster- a former teammate of Gulls' manager Chris Hargreaves at Oxford United- set Torquay on their way before Kingsbridge-born Ashley Yeoman- the nearest thing at the club to a local boy at Plainmoor- added a second.
James Jennings pulled a goal back for the Stags- who had been reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Matt Rhead- early in the second half before Tottenham Hotspur loanee Shaquile Coulthirst scored a third when he turned home a cross from substitute Jordan Chapell to seal the win.
Sadly, a 3-0 win for the Gulls' fellow strugglers Northampton Town at Dagenham & Redbridge proved to be enough to condemn Torquay to the Conference.
This now means that the Gulls have joined a group of clubs who have been relegated to the Conference twice that includes Halifax Town, Chester City, Darlington, Lincoln City, Hereford United and Barnet.
They also join another list of clubs who have experienced relegation from the Football League after winning promotion from the Conference, which contains Kidderminster Harriers, Rushden & Diamonds, Boston United, Chester City and Aldershot Town.
