"On and off the pitch, the Terriers are hardly Third Division." That is the message coming from South Devon following Town's victory over Torquay United. It will come as another accolade to manager Peter Jackson - who (based on recent performances) is in the top 20 of top performing managers.

Read the This is South Devon Match Report:

Up and down the Leeds Road, they'll be talking about 'that goal' for years to come, and it's doubtful if even Huddersfield Town's great old ground - now just a flattened memory in the shadow of the soaring Alfred McAlpine Stadium - saw many better.

Tony Carss will be able to dine out on the first-time 25-yard volley which screamed into the top left-hand corner of Torquay United's net in the 80th minute on Saturday.

And, even if they don't know it yet, his grandchildren are in for a tale or two. Why not? Huddersfield Town's left winger has tried it scores of times in training, and never pulled it off.

But, just as another 9,000-plus Terriers crowd was starting to accept that United's defiant defence would not be broken, Carss came up trumps.

Instead of floating yet another high ball into the goalmouth, Andrew Holdsworth stood over a right-wing corner and spotted Carss pulling away unmarked outside the area.

Holdsworth's delivery had to be perfect and it was.

Allowing the ball to drift across his body and without letting it drop, Carss must have known from the moment he hit it with his cultured left foot that he was in with a chance of something special.

United had two defenders and goalkeeper Kevin Dearden on the goalline, but even Dearden's despairing dive and Alex Russell's outstretched neck were mere gestures as Carss' volley beat them.

Even though their defence kept Huddersfield at bay for so long, United can have few complaints about the result.

Without Dearden, recalled for the injured Arjan Van Heusden, and his defence, United would have been blown away.

For their attack was lightweight against a powerful home defence led by Nigerian centre-back Efe Sodje.

Town goalkeeper Ian Gray did not have a serious save to make in the whole match. And even in midfield, where they are usually so creative, United were second-best.

Huddersfield boss Peter Jackson rates his strikers Andy Booth and Jon Stead as the best pairing in Division Three, and you could see their potential during a first half in which they could easily have established a winning lead.

They had United's defence under pressure from the start, Booth missing one clear chance when Craig Taylor slipped in the 19th minute.

Taylor, United's man of the match, later bravely blocked a fierce Stead shot, and in between Dearden twice denied Stead headers, as well as diving to claw a Nathan Clarke header off his line and behind for a corner in the 27th minute.

In the first half United did not do enough to stop wing-backs Holdsworth and Carss delivering crosses, and in attack they were forced to feed off scraps.

In midfield, they were hustled out of it by a home unit led by former Coventry youngster Lee Fowler, who had played at Plainmoor in the summer, as a 'guest' at a charity match for the Rowcroft Hospice!

Yet Jo Kuffour with a header and Brian McGlinchey with a shot from a Kevin Hill nod-down both could have done better on half-chances.

Just as at Oxford ten days before, United had to get a goal to rattle the home side's nerves, but in the second half Jason Fowler, David Graham and Hill all failed to hit the target when well placed.

At the other end Taylor & Co were coming under relentless pressure, even if Huddersfield resorted to a stream of high balls, from crosses, free-kicks and the long throws of Clarke, all aimed at the heads of Booth and Stead.

But Dearden, playing his first senior match since a 1-0 win at Cambridge on March 1 last season, was equal to everything.

Williamson, Woods and Taylor kept winning their headers. And McGlinchey was always alert on the cover.

Then, just when it seemed as if United had survived the worst and Huddersfield could come up with nothing new to beat them, the Holdsworth-Carss corner move brought the house down.

But for a terrific goalline clearance by McGlinchey from Julian Worthington in the 84th minute, it would have been 2-0.

With Taylor up front, United tried hard to snatch a point in the closing stages. Taylor did head just wide from a Kuffour cross.

But then, in their desperation to score, United's captain and Matt Hockley collided painfully and needed treatment for head knocks.

The final whistle confirmed Huddersfield's fifth successive victory, in league and cup, and as they still have several senior players sidelined, it will be a surprise if they don't go on to mount a serious attempt to go straight back up after relegation last season.

On and off the pitch, the Terriers are hardly Third Division
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On average Town have taken over 800 supporters to each away match Town have taken part in. There have been seven away matches so far this season for Town, which have totalled 9,764, and include the huge followings to Boston United and Rochdale (where Town had almost half of the total crowd) and the Carling Cup away day at the Stadium of Light - where Town was victorious over Sunderland 4-2
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Town top scorer Jon Stead is backing Town to beat Lincoln City at Sincil Bank on Saturday despite his absence through suspension
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Stead's suspension means that on Saturday goalkeeper Ian Gray will become the single Town player to have an all-present record of playing for Town this season
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It is all ticket for Terriers supporters on Saturday. It will be £15 (adults), £10 (OAP's) and juniors are £5
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Town are hoping club captain Robbie Edwards will return to light training by the end of the week. Ian Hughes and Steve Yates (both suffering from hamstring injuries) are receiving treatment for injuries
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Manager Peter Jackson was delighted but a frustrated man following the Terrier's fifth win on the trot - the fourth in the league. The one-nil result does not show a true reflection on this match, as Town completely controlled and dominated this contest as Town goalkeeper Ian Gray did not have a single shot to save during the whole 90 minutes

Jackson was delighted with the "wonder goal" from Town midfielder Tony Carss who struck a terrific long-rang strike from a Andy Holdsworth corner "a move we've practised all season"

Jackson hailed it as a "terrific game" and the performance from the players was "outstanding", in front of a decent crowd at the McAlpine Stadium. The result moved Town up from 9th to 6th and into the play off zone, just behind Doncaster Rovers who had a great win again - this time at Macclesfield Town

The Terriers are now just four points from the automatic promotion zone, but five from leaders Hull City, who are in action at home to Carlisle United, the division's bottom side. If Town continue to put in the kind of performance as seen in this game, and the determination to pick up late goals, then this season will be fruitful for the McAlpine side

Torquay manager Leroy Rosenior was pleased with his side's displayed but disappointed to lose to such a late goal as he felt his side deserved the point. He was delighted with the defending from his side, and felt his side had not only frustrated their hosts, but left "Huddersfield Town running out of ideas" towards the end of the contest

This was Town's third clean sheet on the trot, and Town are becoming increasingly difficult to beat. Town took control of the match after a scrapping opening, leading wave after wave of quality attacking play, which silenced the 290 invasion force from Devon. But side's top goalscorers Jon Stead (Town), David Graham (United) were at fault for missing chances, Stead a clear-cut one when he directed a header straight at United's 'keeper

Town also felt aggrieved with the referee that he failed to give Town a penalty on numerous occasion's, and felt the wrath of the home fans who jeered the official from the plush McAlpine surface, at half-time. Andy Booth also missed a glorious opportunity after gliding into the Torquay box, but he fluffed his effort

Town dominated and all departments performed excellently. The goal from Tony Carss could well be goal of the season, as it smashed into the top corner of the net, leaving Kevin Dearden in no chance of saving it

Tony Carrs 80th minute strike was a scintillating 30-yard strike and was one of the best ever seen in the McAlpine Stadium. Town had close efforts from Nathan Clarke, Andy Booth and Jon Worthington, before Carrs struck home following a Andy Holdsworth corner. Peter Jackson was a delighted man after seeing his team move into the play-off zone and continuing their recent good jun. He will also have been happy to nil, restricted the visitors to no shots on target and prevented Torquay for scoring for only the second time this season.

Town was in rampant mood throughout and could have won by more, as Torquay failed to have a look in as United's top marksman David Graham was kept well at bay, by a disciplined Terriers performance
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A single goal from Tony Carss on 80 minutes was enough for the Terriers to see off stubborn Torquay. Town had the lionshare of the play which saw Town have 16 shots on target and prevented 8-goal striker David Graham and Torquay from having a single strike on target
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First Half Match News from HTAFC.com

Town were unlucky not to go in at the break at least one goal to the good after dominating the majority of the first half and having the better of the goalscoring chances. Town, at times, played some attractive flowing football with the only downside to the half being two booking for the Terriers by a rather fussy referee Boyeson who was jeered off at half time.

Town had their first chance of the game straight from the kick off after good work by Andy Booth allowed Andrew Holdsworth to play a dangerous low ball into the feet of Jon Stead from the right flank. The young striker, looking for his tenth goal of the season, turned and hit a left foot shot that was easily claimed by Dearden.

The McAlpine faithful were incensed on the quarter of an hour mark after a superb run by Jon Stead saw Town’s top scorer cut in between three Torquay defenders and bear down on goal. Just as it looked as if the young striker had broken clear, he went down in what looked like a blatant ‘sandwich’ between two defenders. However, referee Boyeson waved away loud appeals for a penalty.

Three minutes later Town had a great opportunity to open the scoring when Stead’s flick on found Booth in space. The Town striker proceeded to carry the ball a full 20 yards before creating shooting space inside the area. Unfortunately for the Terriers, the skipper dragged his left-foot shot wide of Dearden’s left hand post.

In the 21^st minute, Town had another opportunity after Worthington found Schofield down the left flank. Town’s match winner at Roots Hall crossed for Stead whose looping header narrowly missed the target.

The young striker was involved again minutes later when a sweeping Town move involving Worthington, Schofield and Carss resulted in the latter putting in a first time cross which Stead just failed to convert.

Town forced their first corner of the game after another good move saw Carss cross deep to the far post which was headed out by Taylor under pressure from Booth. The Holdsworth corner produced a magnificent save by Dearden after Clarke rose to in the box to meet Holdsworth’s set-piece with a powerful goalbound header.

The first booking of the game came on the half hour mark when Yates fouled Graham on the edge of the area. The yellow card brought boos from the McAlpine crowd who thought the booking very harsh.

Booth was next to register an effort on target on 32 minutes, but his downward header from Holdsworth’s cross from the right lacked the necessary power to beat Dearden.

With ten minutes left of the half Town created another opportunity when a superb Fowler cross-field pass found Carss on the leftwhose deep cross was headed back across the six yard box by Booth into the path of Stead who made room to shoot but saw his effort blocked by skipper Taylor.

The next passage of play saw referee Boyeson go further down in the McAlpine popularity stakes when an innocuous challenge by Holdsworth on Russell resulted in the Town youngster becoming the second Terrier in the book.

Town were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out after a foul by Woods on Stead. Unfortunately Carss’ free-kick failed to test keeper Dearden
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Half-Time from the McAlpine Stadium: Huddersfield Town 0-0 Torquay United
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TODAY'S TEAMS: Huddersfield: Gray, Yates, Sodje, Clarke, Carss, Worthington, Fowler, Schofield, Holdsworth, Booth, Stead. Subs: Newby, Senior, Scott, Holland, Mattis

Torquay: Dearden, McGlinchey, Taylor, Woods, Williamson, Hill, Russell, Hockley, Fowler, Graham, Kuffour. Subs: Wills, Broad, Benefield, Camara, Bond

Nathan Clarke keeps his place in the starting line-up and Steve Yates has overcome injury to remain in defence also. Lee Fowler is fit enough to feature in this home game for the Terriers. Paul Scott returns from injury to earn a place on the bench, with Irish midfield man Dwayne Mattis also featuring on the bench. There is also a return to the starting line-up for Andy Holdsworth who will play right wing-back. Chris Holland makes a welcome return to the bench after impressing against a very experienced Sheffield United reserve team in midweek

For Torquay experienced goalkeeper Arjan van Heusden was not passed fit for the match so former Town loan keeper (although he never played for Town) Kevin Dearden starts, for his first match against Town, since Town beat his former club Brentford in the 1994/1995 play-off seni-finals. It also means that the Gulls have no substitute goalkeeper
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Leading Goalscorers: Town: Stead (9), Booth (4), Carss, Scott (2)
Torquay United: Graham (8), Kuffour (3)
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MATCH PREVIEW: Huddersfield Town v Torquay United

Peter Jackson is preparing for the McAlpine Stadium visit of fifth placed Torquay with anticipation of a fifth straight victory (a fourth straight league win). Nathan Clarke will start in central defence, his first home start since November 2002, with Paul Scott added to the squad (following suspension), has Jackson looks at employing the 3-5-2 formation again

Jackson who recognised his forward line of Andy Booth and Jon Stead as the best in the division will have to prepare his defence for United's top scorer with eight goals David Graham. Graham has been in prolific form this season, scoring eight goals to be one of the league's top scorers

The Town manager also feel's that "this will be our hardest home game of the season so far" as he prepares for Torquay who have lost just once in the last seven matches. Jackson once again paid tribute to the Town fans asking for them to be at their vocal best throughout the match, as they have been all season

Lee Fowler is a major doubt for Peter Jackson with the injury, which kept him out of Friday night's Wales Under-21 match, captain Rob Edwards is definitely out. Torquay are still without Lee Canoville, Reuben Hazell and David Woozley, who are all recovering after knee operations. Martin Gritton will be missing with a groin injury. However, the Gulls are hoping that experienced goalkeeper Arjan van Heusden and Tony Bedeau will both be fit to face the Terriers

Current form over the last eight matches places Town in second place (behind league leaders Hull City), with Torquay in a creditable 7th place. Town have 16 points (with 5 wins) with Torquay on 14 points (with 4 wins), again highlighting just how close this division is so far

Head to head there have been 12 matches, with 5 victories a piece and two draws. Town have out scored United with 21 goals to 17. At Huddersfield Town have won 3 of the six games, Torquay one, and two draws. Town have scored 14 goals (including 4 goals in a match on two occasions) to United's 8

The last meeting between these two sides was back in 1991/1992 season with Town winning 4-0 at Leeds Road and 1-0 away. The first meeting between the two came as late as the 1975/1976 season in the old fourth division when Torquay beat the Terriers 3-2 - their only victory to date at Huddersfield!

It's over ten years since the last league meeting with Torquay, of which all the 12 meetings with United have come in the league. With Torquay United skirting between the bottom two division's for much of their existence, meetings have been few and far between since the 1970's. Ironically during 1975 to 1980 there was 10 meetings. Much of Torquay's footballing highlight's have come in cup competition's and perhaps the quaint Southern seaside town is more renowned for the comedy series Faulty Towers, than the action at Plainmoor

Peter Jackson believes that in Andy Booth and Jon Stead, Town have he best forward line of any in the division
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The Reserves remain unbeaten following a 1-1 at Sheffield United
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Robbie Edwards is to have surgery on the troublesome hamstring injury
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Lee Fowler is rated as 50/50 to be fit for Town to face Torquay United on Saturday. The midfield man is ruled out for the Under-21 Wales team for Friday's match, so Jackson is hoping Fowler will face United
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Meanwhile on the injury front, Jon Thorrington, Jon Worthington and Ian Hughes are all making sound progress with their respective injuries
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Manager Peter Jackson is hoping for a fifth straight win when the Terriers face Torquay at the McAlpine Stadium on Saturday. He believes that if Town keep it tight at the back, they can beat fifth placed Torquay. Paul Scott is returning from suspension and Nathan Clarke could be included in the side. In David Graham the visitors have a potent striker, and Jackson feels that if Town shut him out, Town will win
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Torquay are currently in the play-off zone on 21 points (2 infront of Town), with a plus 4 goal difference and six league victories (2 away from home). The Plainmoor club have said that Plymouth player Brian McGlinchey will remain on loan at the club.

Torquay's last outing was a 3-1 home win over Bury, the last away trip was a defeat at Oxford United.