The hosts made six changes to the side that started Saturday’s 1-0 league win over Blue Square Premier leaders Kettering Town and there was a clear lack of cohesion as Torquay stretched their unbeaten run to 12 games.

Terras’ boss John Hollins handed starts to Richard Barnard, Adam Bygrave, youngster Jordan Vincent, Sam Cutler, Pierre Joseph-Dubois and Josh Webb while Danny Knowles, Chris McPhee and Stuart Beavon were all included on the bench.

However, there were no places in the squad for Santos Gaia, Anton Robinson and James Coutts, who all missed the game through injury.

Weymouth made a bright start with Joseph-Dubois running on to a long ball in the second minute and testing visiting keeper Scott Bevan with a shot from an acute angle that the Torquay man did well to get a hand to.

But the Gulls, who were unchanged for the third game running, soon responded when some poor defending from the hosts at a short corner allowed Sills to climb unopposed in the box and send a powerful header past the helpless Barnard.

That effort silenced the home fans but their spirits were immediately lifted again when Kevin Sandwith sent a sweet left-footed volley from 25 yards just past Bevan’s right-hand post.

The Terras looked like they were beginning to settle but on 16 minutes referee Gary Jerden turned down a handball shout from the home team near the halfway line and that allowed the Gulls to break down the right flank.

The ball was switched inside to Sills and he nicked it past Bygrave before lashing a half volley into the roof of the net from 15 yards. Joseph-Dubois was looking a threat for the Terras with his pace but it was the Gulls who went closest to scoring again on 23 minutes when Chris Hargreaves sent a powerful header goalwards from a corner only to see it cleared off the line.

United continued their commanding display in the second half with Tyrone Thompson having a shot deflected wide and Hargreaves going close with another header that was saved by Barnard.

Weymouth then hit back with Sandwith nodding a corner from Ryan Williams straight at Bevan but their overall play remained uninspiring as the visitors carried on enjoying the majority of the possession.

Hollins sent on teenager Ollie Tribe and the experienced McPhee to try and lift his side but some audacious skill by Mustapha Capayol on 72 minutes saw him go close to adding a third for the Gulls with a vicious curler that swung just past the far upright.

Another goal from the visitors was clearly on the cards and it arrived eight minutes later when Capayol produced some good work on the right before swinging in a cross that substitute Elliott Benyon headed in with ease from six yards.

Weymouth offered little in the closing stages despite bringing Beavon on and Torquay very nearly added another when Matt Green fired just wide with a shot across goal.