ASK ANYONE inside Torquay United's dressing-room which single factor has been most important in the Gulls' surge up the League Two table, and the answer almost certainly won't be one of the usual higher profile suspects.

Bet on most of his team-mates voting for Damon Lathrope and manager Martin Ling's decision to install him as United's midfield 'anchorman'.

Since the former Norwich City youngster started playing just in front of Torquay's back-four, allowing attacking midfielders Eunan O'Kane and Lee Mansell to do their thing, United's defence has tightened up and the club has gone on its current run of 35 points out of 42.

And the fact that Lathrope does most of his best work away from the traditional spotlight bothers the man himself hardly at all.

"I know it's not going to win too many headlines, because I'm not likely to bomb on and score many goals," says Lathrope, 22.

"But I'm absolutely loving what I do at the moment.

"And, the way I see it, there's just as much responsibility in the role defensively as there is going forward.

"It's my job to get on the ball, which I love anyway, start off the moves and keep the ball moving."

As it turns out, Lathrope is no stranger to the position.

"When I was in the youth team and the reserves at Norwich, we used to play a similar formation, so I know how it should work," he recalled.

No wonder Lathrope is in bullish mood at the moment.

Signed by former boss Paul Buckle, his uncle, 18 months ago, he had to wait until the end of September (2010) to make his League debut.

It lasted 14 minutes, thanks to a nasty ankle injury which kept him out for two-and-a-half months.

It wasn't until March when, as an 89th minute sub, he celebrated his first United win, 2-0 over his hometown club Stevenage.

Of course last season ended in disappointment, when Stevenage beat the Gulls 1-0 in the Play-Off Final, Lathrope unable to stop John Mousinho scoring the first-half winner.

Buckle promptly departed for Bristol Rovers, and Ling eventually replaced him.

"I had a very unfortunate start last year and, as much as you try not to think about it, it's always a worry that a new manager might not rate you," he said.

"But I did have six managers in four years at Norwich, so I was used to that process," he said.

"It's also a good chance for a fresh start and, for me, it's benefited me no end.

"Martin has come in, he's been fair to me and given me an important job to do."

Lathrope stressed: "Fair play to the gaffer, I think a lot of the credit for the run we've had is down to him.

"After we lost at Southend (4-1) on that bad run, it would have been easy to look for other players elsewhere.

"But he didn't deal out a load of stick when the times were hard.

"Before the Wimbledon game, he and Shaun (Taylor) did little notes and wrote down all our positive qualities.

"He told us that he had faith in us, and that gave the players a new belief.

"We went out and beat Wimbledon 4-0, and that started us on this run.

"If we try to pass the ball and make a mistake, he doesn't shout his mouth off and have a go. But he'll do that if we don't try it again."

Lathrope also says that the atmosphere in the team is second to none.

"I know it's easy to enjoy things when the team is doing well, but the dressing-room is perfect," he says.

"Everyone gets on, and we've got such a good team spirit.

"You want to dig in and help your mate, and that's happened even when we haven't been playing well.

"We know we'll probably have a setback or two between now and the end of the season, but we'll still pull together.

"Also, Manse (Lee Mansell) is a quality captain. He's a massive part of what we do.

"He and Nico (Kevin Nicholson) are the heart and soul of the team.

"Manse is always the first one with a laugh and joke, but he and Nico both hate losing more than anything.

"If you haven't got that inside you, you're dead in this game."