Match Reaction: Torquay United find their cutting edge

Torquay United are enjoying a happy weekend with three points in the bag after an explosive five-minute spell swept aside Dartford at Plainmoor.

The Gulls huffed and puffed through the first period but were unable to find a finishing touch to their play. That all changed immediately after the restart, as Aaron Jarvis (penalty), Arkell Jude-Boyd and Brad Ash all scored in a three-goal blitz.

Plainmoor was bouncing and United could have notched a few more.

Dartford did hit back with a consolation from Ibby Akanbi and United had to soak up some pressure before substitute Duane Ofori-Acheampong completed the 4-1 victory.

“The people who deserve the credit are the players because they had the belief that they could go out and win the football match,” said interim manager Aaron Downes.

“We were happy with parts of the first half, without a final product, but they rectified that within seven minutes. We feel we’ve been the dominant team but we also knew they had a threat, and a certain way that makes things awkward.

“When the score goes to 3-1, the most pleasing thing was the reaction to counteract that. For 15 minutes, we were on the ropes a little bit and we flipped that around to get a fourth.

“It was an enjoyable afternoon for us all and something the football club needed. The boys gave us that and I’m so proud of them. We looked like we were going to score every time and it was just a couple of things we touched on at half-time, but it was the players who did that.

“We showed that final cutting edge and could have scored a couple more. You could see the confidence in the players and some of the play was really pleasing. It is something to build on moving forward and I know that group is a good football team.

“Everybody played their part and we couldn’t ask much more than sending everyone home happy on family day. It was a fantastic atmosphere at Plainmoor and I’ll never get tired of saying thank-you and expressing how much their support means to us, not just financially, but also for everybody’s spirit."