Hartlepool United 0
Torquay United 5
Wright 12’ 16’ 56′, Whitfield 37’, Warren 87’
United secured another three points on the road and remained top of the National League with a devastating performance away to Hartlepool United.
United manager Gary Johnson brought Asa Hall into the starting eleven with Josh Umerah taking a place on the bench.
United took the game away from Hartlepool in the first half. After threatening early doors, Adam Randell picked out Danny Wright who showed great composure to beat Ben Killip. It was an incisive move that ended with a clinical finish from United’s number nine.
United’s second found Wright yet again in an unforgiving mood. Ben Wynter’s gloriously cushioned back header allowed Wright to sweep the ball past Killip. It was near enough two chances, two goals.
Ben Whitfield showed great awareness to take advantage of a loose ball across Hartlepool’s back line. He showed great composure to slam the ball past Killip.
United were three up at the break with no sign that they were satisfied with leaving it at that.
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans created an opportunity for himself in the 49th minute but he was forced a little too wide and his shot hit the side netting.
In the 56th minute Wright completed his perfect hat-trick and it had quality written all over it. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, surrounded by defenders, held the ball up and produced a perfectly weighted back-heel pass to set Ben Whitfield away. His cross found Wright who sent a powerful header into the back of the net.
Hartlepool did threaten in the 59th minute when Parkhouse put a very good chance wide of the far post.
United made two substitutions in quick succession that further proved their dominance in the game. Armani Little replaced Whitfield in the 60th minute and Asa Hall was replaced by Jake Andrews in the 66th minute.
In the 70th minute Wright had a chance to get his fourth. Lemonheigh-Evans drifted a lovely ball into the box. Wright reached for the ball but could not trouble Killip at his near post.
While still threatening in Hartlepool’s box, United’s back line still had to keep their concentration to keep Pool at bay. The game was over, but the clean sheet was still to be earned.
In the 83rd minute Lucas Covolan tried to catch out his opposite with from a free kick. Unfortunately, his effort went too high over the bar.
United capped their performance in the 87th minute with their fifth. Lemonheigh-Evans with the corner, Cameron with the header towards goal, Warren scoring from a few yards.
United were yet again inside Hartlepool’s box in the dying minutes of the match. Some frantic defending stopped Lemonheigh-Evans from heading in United’s sixth.
In front of the cameras United had sparkled. Gary Johnson had asked before the game for his team to produce on the big stage. They did just that.
Hartlepool: Killip (GK), Cass, Ferguson, Odusina [Grey 20’], Johnson, Shelton [Bloomfield 41’], Featherstone, Holohan [Crawford 84’], Molyneux, Donaldson ©, Parkhouse SUBS: Ravas, Williams
Booked: Bloomfield 81’, Grey 83′
TUFC: 33. Covolan (GK), 2. Wynter, 4. Cameron, 7. Lemonheigh-Evans, 8. Hall © [11. Andrews 66’], 9. Wright, 12. Randell, 16. Sherring, 23. Moxey [6 Warren 72’], 23. Nemane, 34. Whitfield [10. Little 60’] SUBS: 1. MacDonald (GK), 35. Umerah
Booked: Randell 74’,
Referee: Thomas Parsons