Torquay United plummeted to the bottom of the National League today when they were beaten 6-0 by moneybags Wrexham in North Wales. Everyone knew it was going to be tough for the Gulls today, with the Hollywood-owned club paying the kind of wages that Torquay can only dream about.
But the fact that the Gulls are now bottom of the table after 10 games will be ringing alarm bells for Gulls fans, with the manager's words 'judge us after 10 games' still fresh in the memory. This was, after all, the 10th game!
Gary Johnson shuffled his pack with new loan midfielder Scott Smith making his debut after joining the club until 2023 on loan from Wigan Athletic. Welcome to the club Scott!
Read More - Torquay United aim to give Wrexham another bloody nose
Also in for his first start was striker Aaron Jarvis, with no Corie Andrews in the squad after an MRI scan in the week revealed he needs a knee operation to clear up some ligament damage. Also missing from the 16 was Ryan Hanson. Midfielder Shaun Donnellan returned to the starting line-up, while Mark Halstead replaced Rhys Lovett in goal - Johnson citing his experience in big games like this one as the reason for the swap.
Tom Lapslie, who has been trying to shake off a hamstring problem in recent weeks, was also included among the substitutes.
Ben Tozer had two early chances to show off his long throw with a couple of dangerous, flat and fast balls into the box - and it was Tozer who supplied Ollie Palmer on four minutes, but the striker messed up his contact and put the chance wide from six yards.
Will Goodwin and Jarvis had opportunities at the other end but perhaps they were only half-chances. Palmer shot from distance on six minutes but it was an easy one for Halstead to hold. Smith set-up Jarvis and there was more action in the Wrexham box, but Dan Martin might have shot rather than pass the ball when he was in a good position. Torquay were looking well in the game for the first 10 minutes, but Halstead had to tip a James Jones shot around the post on 11 minutes - and from the corner Wrexham went ahead when an unmarked Jordan Davis was gifted the room to head the ball home.
Torquay continued to play well after the goal. But when Jones was allowed to break away, the Wrexham man hit the post with a great shot. Jarvis couldn't get his shot away when getting on the end of a Dylan Crowe cross on 21 minutes. There was no one there to tap in Goodwin's marvellous low cross on 27 minutes. But Torquay were doing well and creating chances.
However, on 29 minutes Paul Mullin made it 2-0 when the striker got on the end of a Jones cross - just like Goodwin's - to beat Halstead with a confident strike. Halstead's shins stopped a 31st minute strike by Callum McFadzean, who had replaced the injured Jacob Mendy.
On 33 minutes, a looping header by Jarvis hit the underside of the bar and fell on the wrong side of the line, with Goodwin unable to turn in the rebound. Goodwin was denied by some good last-man defending by Max Cleworth. An Evans shot was deflected into the arms of the goalkeeper Mark Howard.
The third goal came from nowhere - with Palmer allowed to get on the end of an Anthony Forde cross to turn it home in the 43rd minute. Halstead held a Mullin shot early in the second half, but still the Gulls were building with the ball well. A 48th minute shot by Martin was poor though. Smith shot over on 51 minutes.
Wrexham made advances, Torquay held them off; but it felt like the Welsh team weren't finished yet, and Ross Marshall had to use his head to beat Mullin to a good ball into the box. Asa Hall shot over on 63 minutes - after letting fly from 25 yards. Halstead spilled a Palmer shot at the other end, with Marshall just getting to the ball before Jones could. Evans dragged a shot wide - approaching the 70th minute.
It was frustrating because Torquay weren't doing too badly, certainly they have been worse this season, though Ali Omar got caught on the wrong side of Mullin, with Halstead turning the ball out of play from the feet of the striker. It was 4-0 in the 72nd minute when Aaron Hayden headed home a Luke Young corner.
Johnson introduced Brett McGavin for Smith on 74 minutes. Young defender Ollie Tomlinson came on for Donnellan two minutes later. The best goal of the game was scored by substitute Sam Dalby in the 80th minute - a minute after coming on for Palmer. It came after some brilliant build-up play by the home side.
Davis was unlucky with a lovely volley on 84 minutes - the ball coming back off the post. On 88 minutes, Goodwin set-up Jarvis but the Torquay striker could only put the ball wide.
As the game entered injury time, Torquay's defence went to sleep again and Forde got in between Omar and Martin to make it six. Three-nil down by half time, the game was already over; and for all the hard work of players like Evans and Jarvis, there was no way back. The Gulls' defensive frailties will be in the spotlight when this video nasty is watched by the team next week.
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