Match ends, Torquay United 1, Braintree Town 5.
Torquay United 1-5 Braintree Town
- From the section Football
Torquay United suffered their biggest home league defeat in almost 20 years as Braintree cruised to victory.
Daniel Sparkes scored either side of a John Campbell equaliser to put the visitors ahead at half time.
Sparkes completed his hat-trick with a left-footed shot before Matt Paine and Ryan Peters secured a win for Braintree on their first visit to Torquay.
The Gulls had not lost as heavily at home since going down to a club-record 8-1 loss to Scunthorpe in October 1995.
The defeat was the first time Torquay, who were relegated from the Football League last season, had conceded five goals at home since October 2011.
Braintree go above them into 15th place in the Conference, with the Gulls dropping to 17th.
Line-ups
Torquay
- 1Rice
- 8Young
- 26Gueguen
- 4Downes
- 16RichardsBooked at 76mins
- 9BowmanSubstituted forPrynnat 67'minutes
- 25Ives
- 10Ajala
- 29Dawson
- 32CampbellSubstituted forBriscoeat 85'minutes
- 5PearceSubstituted forChapellat 54'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Briscoe
- 11Cameron
- 12Chapell
- 15Prynn
- 22McQuilkin
Braintree
- 1Hamann
- 2Brundle
- 6Massey
- 5Paine
- 3Habergham
- 20Clerima
- 4Isaac
- 8Davis
- 11SparkesSubstituted forPetersat 76'minutes
- 9MarksSubstituted forMulleyat 90+2'minutes
- 17MensahSubstituted forAkinolaat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 15Akinola
- 16Maybanks
- 23Peters
- 26Mulley
- 29Pentney
- Referee:
- Wayne Barratt
- Attendance:
- 1,103
Match Stats
Home TeamTorquayAway TeamBraintree
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away7
- Corners
- Home9
- Away9
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away7
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Torquay United 1, Braintree Town 5.
Foul by Ryan Peters (Braintree Town).
Aaron Downes (Torquay United) wins a free kick.
Foul by Toby Ajala (Torquay United).
Mitch Brundle (Braintree Town) wins a free kick.
Substitution
Substitution, Braintree Town. James Mulley replaces Sean Marks because of an injury.
Foul by Kenny Davis (Braintree Town).
Louis Briscoe (Torquay United) wins a free kick.
Attempt missed. Louis Briscoe (Torquay United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Torquay United. Louis Briscoe replaces John Campbell because of an injury.
Goal!
Goal! Torquay United 1, Braintree Town 5. Ryan Peters (Braintree Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sam Habergham with a cross.
Foul by Toby Ajala (Torquay United).
Ryan Peters (Braintree Town) wins a free kick.
Offside, Torquay United. Aaron Downes tries a through ball, but Aaron Downes is caught offside.
Foul by Kenny Davis (Braintree Town).
Courtney Richards (Torquay United) wins a free kick.
Substitution
Substitution, Braintree Town. Ryan Peters replaces Dan Sparkes.
Booking
Courtney Richards (Torquay United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Courtney Richards (Torquay United).
Kenny Davis (Braintree Town) wins a free kick.
Goal!
Goal! Torquay United 1, Braintree Town 4. Matt Paine (Braintree Town) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner.
Corner, Braintree Town.
Attempt saved. Simeon Akinola (Braintree Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Goal!
Goal! Torquay United 1, Braintree Town 3. Dan Sparkes (Braintree Town) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Simeon Akinola.
Foul by Courtney Richards (Torquay United).
Sam Habergham (Braintree Town) wins a free kick.
Substitution
Substitution, Torquay United. Liam Prynn replaces Ryan Bowman.
Substitution
Substitution, Braintree Town. Simeon Akinola replaces Bernard Mensah.
Foul by Ryan Bowman (Torquay United).
Matt Paine (Braintree Town) wins a free kick.
Offside, Torquay United. Ryan Bowman tries a through ball, but Ryan Bowman is caught offside.
Corner, Torquay United.
Corner, Torquay United.
Substitution
Substitution, Torquay United. Jordan Chapell replaces Krystian Pearce.
Attempt missed. Kenny Davis (Braintree Town) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Corner, Braintree Town.
Attempt missed. Kenny Davis (Braintree Town) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Foul by Toby Ajala (Torquay United).
Chez Isaac (Braintree Town) wins a free kick.