Slough Town sunk by Torquay tornado in 32 minute meltdown at Plainmoor

Wiktor Makowski scored his second goal in as many games at Torquay United, but it wasn’t enough. Photo: Zak Rana

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Torquay United 4, Slough Town 2

Slough Town’s hopes of making it five games unbeaten in the National League South evaporated inside 32 minutes as they were blown away by a clinical and ruthless Torquay United side.

The Gulls were in flying form as they won once again at Plainmoor to maintain their 100 per cent home record so far this season.

The Rebels played their part in an entertaining first half clash but were mainly playing catch-up as the home side roared into what proved an unassailable lead.

Davies made three changes to his side for the trip to Torquay, with Dan Roth, Reiss Greenidge and Tyrique Clarke returning to the starting line up in place of Kiki Oshilaja, Brian Nelson and Ruben Bartlett-Antwi. Seventeen-year-old Kian Berry was named among the substitutes.

Torquay had the ball in the net through Cody Cooke inside a couple of minutes, but the linesman came to the Rebels rescue on that occasion. However, in the eighth minute they forged ahead through Jordan Young’s finish. Louis Dennis set up the chance, cutting the ball back for Young to sweep home his fifth goal of the season.

Jared Myers levelled matters for the visitors in the 11th minute, scoring his first competitive goal for the Rebels with a precise finish into the bottom corner, however, it proved a brief respite.

The Gulls were back in front in the 13th minute through Dennis’s powerful header while Johnny Goddard managed to hook the ball into his own goal in the 27th minute to make it 3-1 as he tried to put the ball behind for a corner.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors in the 32nd minute when Cooke scored Torquay’s fourth goal from close range, and though Wiktor Makowski managed to pull another back for the visitors before half-time, the hosts had a measure of control in this one and looked the more likely side to add to their advantage.

At times in the first half the Rebels looked like they might capitulate to a very heavy defeat, however, Makowski’s composed finish over James Hamon raised hopes they might be able to claw their way back into contention.

Surprisingly, given the crazy nature of the first half, there were no further goals for either side after the interval - despite a decent array of chances being created - and the game finished 4-2 to the Gulls.

Young went close to scoring a second with a shot that flashed past the post while Jordan Dyer’s header was cleared off the line as the hosts chased a fifth goal and generally controlled a much cagier second half.

The result lifts Torquay to fourth in the table, just above Maidenhead United with both sides on 14 points. Slough slip to 16th with nine points from their opening eight matches.

They can now take a breather from the league after what’s been a hectic start to the season. Next Saturday, they face a tricky looking trip to Welling United in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup.