Torquay United too strong and too good for Chippenham Town at Plainmoor

Torquay United needed a win, they expected a win and they delivered a win.

The weekend defeat at Chesham was hardly a crisis, the Gulls still entered tonight in fourth, but inconsistency on the road has prompted the odd grumble.

On their own patch, United have been imperious so far this term, and the visit of bottom club Chippenham Town looked a formality on paper, but football doesn’t always follow such an easy path.

Thankfully, on this occasion, the Gulls were just too good for their lowly guests, cruising to a 3-0 win with strikes from Jordan Young, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Louis Dennis.

From the first whistle, United were on top, pushing back the Chippenham defence, as Callum Dolan forced a decent save from Will Henry, who then had to watch in hope as a Mat Jay effort whistled past his upright.

The Gulls were turning the screw, and the door opened via a familiar source, Young lashing home a free-kick for goal number seven in a superb individual start to the campaign.

Chippenham enjoyed some brief respite when Jake Evans fired over the bar, but momentum swiftly swung back in favour of the Gulls, Jay firing down the throat of Henry, followed by Young also picking out the well-positioned Chippenham custodian.

The Yellow Army expected another before the interval and their wish was granted in fabulous style, Lo-Everton opening his goal account for the club with a sumptuous strike.

It felt like job done for the Gulls, and so it was just before the hour, Dennis converting from close range. The clinching goal was followed by an understandable drop in tempo from United, allowing Chippenham to take control of possession without really troubling goalkeeper James Hamon.

Manager Paul Wotton freshened up his troops, Sonny Fish making his first Plainmoor appearance alongside fellow replacements Dylan Morgan, Dan Hayfield and Ed Palmer.

This game had gone to script, the challenge now is to find the right formula away from home, starting with Dorking Wanderers on the weekend.