THE boos rang out loud and clear at the final whistle at Moss Rose as Macclesfield Town produced one of their worst displays of the season to ensure they still have it all to do in their fight for survival.

Following a hard-fought point at Notts County two daysé earlier, a win against bottom club Torquay would have guaranteed League Two safety for the Silkmen. But so poor was the performance that, with three tough games still remaining, the Cheshire club have become entangled in a relegation dogfight when they should be only concerning themselves with where to go on holiday.

Indeed, the lacklustre nature of the display, with the exception of Martin Bullock and on-loan goalkeeper Tommy Lee, in his final game for Town, looked as if the playersé minds were already on their summer breaks.

Supporters have been critical of Brian Horton at times this season and, on occasions, it has been justified. However, it was the players who should take full responsibility for Easter Mondayés abject surrender. Substitute Jo Kuffour punished some static defending when he volleyed home from close range on 54 minutes. And, as Macclesfield pressed for an equaliser, the former Arsenal trainee capitalised on a David Morley mistake to grab his second in the final minute.

"You just canét give goals away like we have; the second oneés a joke," said an irate Horton. "He [David Morley] tries to play a square pass in our last third - ités pathetic defending. The way we played I donét think we would have scored if we were still going now, but you canét play like that."

Kevin Sandwith was unfortunate to see his 25-yard free-kick crash against the crossbar on six minutes. But that was as close as Macc got in the first half as the visitors gained the ascendancy with Danny Hollands, Darren Garner and Kevin Hills all going close. After the break, Lee Thorpe wasted a great chance when he headed straight at Lee. But Torquay took the lead when the lively Kuffour pounced on Thorpeés header to fire home.

Horton made a double substitution with Kevin Townson and John Miles replacing the ineffective Marcus Richardson and Kevin Sandwith.

Danny Swailes glanced a header inches wide, before Townson missed a great chance to level matters when he cut inside Hill before firing into the side-netting. Matthew McNeilés header then clipped the crossbar but, as the hosts looked like they might salvage a point, Kuffour dispossessed Morley on the halfway line, sprinted clear and coolly slotted home in the final minute.

There was still time for Kevin McIntyre and Townson to waste late chances but by then the damage had been done.

MACCLESFIELD: Lee, Sandwith (Miles 58), Morley, Swailes, Bullock, Harsley, Richardson (Townson 58), Whitaker, McIntyre, Brightwell, McNeil. Subs (not used): Fettis, Briscoe, Navarro. Star man: Martin Bullock.

TORQUAY: Marriott, Hollands, Villis (Andrews 54), Hill, Bedeau (Kuffour 29), Reed, Garner, Woods, Taylor, Phillips (Hockley 84), Thorpe. Subs (not used): Connell, Sako.

Referee: A.Marriner.

Attendance: 1,808 (240).