Wrexham 6
(Davies, 11′, Mullin, 30′, Palmer, 43′, Hayden 73′, Dalby, 82′, Forde 90+1′)
United 0
United suffered defeat in North Wales on Saturday, as Wrexham ran out clear winners at the Racecourse Ground.
An early strike from Jordan Davies left United facing an uphill challenge, and that task got even harder on the half-hour as Paul Mullin doubled the home side’s advantage. A third before the interval only rubbed salt into the wounds, and three more after the break, from Aaron Haydn, Samuel Dalby and Anthony Forde only added further gloss to Wrexham’s winning margin.
The Gaffer made four changes to the side that drew 1-1 at Wealdstone last weekend, signalling a return to the starting line-up for Mark Halstead and Shaun Donnellan, a first start of the season for Aaron Jarvis, and a debut for new signing Scott Smith, following his loan move from Wigan.
As you may have expected from a side boasting a 100% home record so far this term, the hosts began the match on the front foot.
A cross from former Gulls skipper Luke Young presented Ollie Palmer with opening sight of goal in the fifth minute, however the Wrexham striker couldn’t direct his header enough to trouble the United goal, and his effort flashed wide of the target.
Torquay were looking sprightly on the counter though, with Keiron Evans, Will Goodwin and Jarvis all carrying a threat in the attacking third, and new man Smith also enjoying himself in the early stages, spraying the ball around the pitch with admirable precision.
Having recently received his Player of the Month award for August, Halstead lived up to that billing in the 11th minute, as he produced a fine tip round the post to keep out James Jones’ long-range effort.
From the resultant corner though, he could do nothing to prevent Wrexham opening the scoring.
With Young’s corner delivered straight into the box, it was Davies who rose highest to gleefully power home a header into the back of the net.
It was just the sort of start The Gulls would have been looking to have deprived their hosts from, but to their credit, the men in yellow refused to wilt under some intense territorial pressure.
Another long-range effort from Jones on the 20 minute-mark nearly caught Torquay out however, however after the Wrexham man cut inside from the right, it was with some relief that United witnessed the shot cannon off the woodwork.
Johnson’s men refused to accept a supporting role in proceedings, with a number of promising moves just lacking the finishing touch, but in the 30th minute, things got even more difficult.
Jones had already shown his penchant for striking the ball from long-distance and after firing another effort towards goal, Mullin intervened to divert the ball into the net and double his side’s advantage.
Having conceded a second, Torquay came within a whisker of halving that deficit moments later.
A determined run down the right from Dylan Crowe ended with the former Ipswich youngster sending in a delightful delivery towards Jarvis, who sent a looping header onto the crossbar.
The Gulls didn’t deserve to be three goals down at the break, but two minutes before the break, that was what they faced.
A right-wing cross from Mullin was directed into the path of his strike partner, Palmer, leaving the striker to apply the finishing touch and make it 3-0 at the change of ends.
It was end-to-end stuff once things got back underway, as Johnson’s men went in search of a pathway back into the game, whilst the home side looked to stretch their lead even further.
Chances weren’t coming as freely for the Welsh side, with Dan Martin coming closest to altering the scoreboard in the opening stages of the second period, with a left-footed effort that sadly flew wide of the upright.
Set-pieces seemed to be the main threat during the second 45, but although United won a number of corners, they were unable to test goalkeeper Mark Howard with any of them.
In the 64th minute, Asa Hall tried his luck from outside the box – with the effort going over the bar – before Evans seized upon an opportunity from a similar distance four minutes later, however his effort went wide of the post.
For a period thereafter, The Gulls looked the likelier side to score, but just as the pendulum threatened to be just shifting their way, Wrexham punished them even further with a late trio of strikes.
Young’s corners – which had caused problems all afternoon – did the trick again, with the flag-kick sent perfectly towards Haydn, who directed his effort home for Wrexham’s fourth on 73 minutes.
Nine minutes later, it was five, as substitute Dalby made the most of a little too much space in The Gulls’ backline to fire home his first goal for the club.
With the match entering injury time, another ball into the box ended in Forde bundling the ball home at close-range, as a punishing afternoon for Torquay finally came to a close.
Defeat by this margin will always hurt, but there is no other option than to re-group, and begin the fightback at home to Scunthorpe next Saturday.
Wrexham: 21. Mark Howard, 4. Ben Tozer, 5. Aaron Haydn, 7. Jordan Davies, 8. Luke Young (c), 9. Oliver Palmer (18. Samuel Dalby, 78′), 10. Paul Mullin, 14. Anthony Forde, 19. Jacob Mendy-Mendy (3. Callum McFadzean, 24′), 30. James Jones, 32. Max Cleworth.
SUBS NOT USED: 31. Rory Watson (GK), 6. Jordan Tunnicliffe, 38. Elliot Lee.
United: 1. Mark Halstead, 2. Dylan Crowe, 3. Dan Martin, 5. Ali Omar, 6. Ross Marshall, 8. Asa Hall (c), 9. Aaron Jarvis, 11. Kieron Evans, 16. Shaun Donnellan (23. Ollie Tomlinson, 76′), 19. Will Goodwin, 36. Scott Smith (14. Brett McGavin, 75′).
SUBS NOT USED: 22. Rhys Lovett (GK), 4. Tom Lapslie, 15. Ben Wyatt.
Yellow Cards: Jarvis, 78′
Attendance: 9,970 (155 away)