Gulls show no mercy

By mbarlow

TORQUAY United stormed to their biggest home League win in ten years with a five-star performance and a five-goal thrashing of Coca-Cola League Two basement side Darlington on Saturday.

Victory courtesy of goals from Chris Zebroski (two), Scott Rendell, Elliot Benyon and Wayne Carlisle clinched Torquay's fifth win of the season and extended Darlington's winless streak to five matches.

United's win also lifted them to 19th place in the League Two table and will have filled them with confidence prior to tomorrow's FA Cup second-round tie against Stockport County at Macclesfield.

Man of the match Zebroski, Carlisle and Rendell put the Gulls 3-0 up at half-time and in the second half Zebroski swooped for his second before Benyon made it 5-0.

But for a off-the-line clearance by Darlington central defender Danny Hall, Zebroski would have finished with a hat-trick.

For the third home match in a row, the Gulls started with intent after Darlington defender Mark Bower – the visitors' skipper – up-ended United danger man Zebroski as the on-loan Wycombe forward made his first run on goal in the third minute.

Jake Thomson's free-kick needed to be punched clear by Nick Liversedge, setting the tone for a busy afternoon at the office for the Quakers' goalkeeper.

Seconds later it required a hefty deflection from Bower to turn Thomson's angled drive away from goal as the on-loan Southampton winger beat his man and let fly from the left. Thomson then went on a mesmerising run, beating four players on the edge of the Darlington penalty area before Carlisle scooped a shot just over.

When Thomson was not running at the Darlington defence, Zebroski was, and the visitors were back-pedalling under the early pressure.

Bower deflected a Zebroski cross-cum-shot over the bar but from the corner United nearly took the lead. Liversedge mistimed his punch from the edge of the box and central defender Chris Robertson looped a header towards goal, where it had to be headed clear by Hall.

Darlington may have thought the tide was turning when they won their first corner in the 14th minute, but three minutes later Zebroski volleyed Torquay ahead.

The former Plymouth Argyle man swooped after strike partner Rendell had flicked on goalkeeper Michael Poke's hefty downfield drop-kick. Zebroski chested the ball down, turned on it, and then let fly with a thumping volley that gave Liversedge no chance from just inside the box.

Darlington danger man Jeff Smith sent a 30-yard free-kick just past the post on 23 minutes before Zebroski's shot on the run was saved by the busy Liversedge. It was a sign of things to come. On 30 minutes Jeff Smith's cross from the left was flicked on at the near post by former Torquay centre-forward Lee Thorpe, but the incoming Jonathan Hogg missed a golden opportunity to restore parity.

In the next attack United made it 2-0. Again Zebroski cut in from the left, again his initial shot was blocked, but this time he followed up to cross and Carlisle was on hand to force the ball over the line.

Thorpe reminded the home side he was still in the game by flashing a header just over, but the Gulls resolutely defended their clean-sheet. In the third and final minute of first-half stoppage time, United extended their lead to three goals.

Thomson's corner was headed towards goal by Chris Hargreaves and Rendell headed in his fifth goal of the term, earning the Gulls a standing ovation at half-time.

The yellow tide continued to pour forward in the second half. Thomson's free-kick was scrambled away after home full-back Adam Smith was fouled as he got in on the act, pushing forward down the left.

Liversedge made an acrobatic double save to deny Rendell and then Carlisle in the 65th minute, but three minutes later Torquay surged further ahead. Thomson's corner sat up for Carlisle to hook a shot on to the bar and, when the ball bounced back, Zebroski headed home his fourth goal in three games.

Buckle introduced Benyon – along with Tim Sills –in the 70th minute and within five minutes the former was celebrating his sixth goal of the season. Thomson, again, was the provider with a pinpoint cross floated across from the right. Benyon took the ball down and sent a searing half volley past Liversedge.

In the final minute Benyon could have doubled his tally but Liversedge managed to palm away the striker's shot. Again Zebroski pounced, but his header was kept out by Hall's stooping header off the line.