Match ends, Chester FC 4, Torquay United 1.
ChesterChester4TorquayTorquay United1
Ross Hannah became the first Chester player to score a hat-trick in almost two years as Steve Burr's side recorded their best win of the season against struggling Torquay.
Hannah got his first in just 15 seconds after being set up by Danny Hattersley.
Ryan Higgins cut in to fire home a left-foot shot for the second before Hannah's free-kick made it 3-0.
On-loan Andre Wright pulled one back, before Jonny Hunt set up Hannah for his third.
| Hat-trick heroes |
|---|
| The last Chester player to hit a hat-trick was on-loan Matty Taylor in a 4-3 Conference win at Tamworth in February 2014. |
| Ross Hannah's opener is understood to be the fastest ever goal scored by a Chester player. |
In-form Hannah now has 12 goals for the season, nine of which have come in City's last eight games.
He could have had more, but hit the post minutes after his opener, had one disallowed and was thwarted on more than one occasion by Gulls keeper Dan Lavercombe.
Chester also missed a late penalty when Craig Mahon was pulled down, but John Rooney had his penalty saved, then hit the post with the rebound - and fellow substitute Craig Hobson also hit the woodwork with a header.
Torquay slipped to 23rd in the National League, just three points above bottom club Kidderminster Harriers, while Chester climb a place to 14th.
Line-ups
Chester
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Worsnop
- 2Higgins
- 22Heneghan
- 24Whitmore
- 3Hunt
- 6Sharps
- 5George
- 8ShawSubstituted forMahonat 75'minutes
- 26LloydSubstituted forRooneyat 75'minutes
- 9HannahSubstituted forHobsonat 84'minutes
- 25Hattersley
Substitutes
- 7Mahon
- 10Rooney
- 11Chapell
- 13Forth
- 19Hobson
Torquay
Formation 4-3-3
- 21Lavercombe
- 26Heslop
- 18Smith
- 25Verma
- 24NicholsonSubstituted forChaneyat 78'minutes
- 5MacDonaldBooked at 82mins
- 11MurombedziSubstituted forCarmichaelat 46'minutes
- 3Butler
- 28Wright
- 17FisherSubstituted forGerringat 65'minutes
- 7Briscoe
Substitutes
- 12Carmichael
- 19Chaney
- 22Gerring
- 23Hancox
- 31Corderoy
- Referee:
- Tom Nield
- Attendance:
- 2,160
Match Stats
Home TeamChesterAway TeamTorquay
- Possession
- Home59%
- Away41%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home9
- Away4
- Corners
- Home10
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Chester FC 4, Torquay United 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Andre Wright (Torquay United) header from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Louis Briscoe.
Post update
Corner, Torquay United.
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Danny Hattersley (Chester FC) hits the woodwork with a header from the left side of the six yard box.
Post update
Offside, Chester FC. Danny Hattersley tries a through ball, but Danny Hattersley is caught offside.
Post update
John Rooney (Chester FC) hits the woodwork with a right footed shot from the right side of the box.
Post update
Penalty saved! John Rooney (Chester FC) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Penalty conceded by Angus MacDonald (Torquay United) after a foul in the penalty area.
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Penalty Chester FC. Craig Mahon draws a foul in the penalty area.
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Corner, Torquay United.
Substitution
Substitution, Chester FC. Craig Hobson replaces Ross Hannah.
Post update
Attempt saved. Johnny Hunt (Chester FC) left footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Booking
Angus MacDonald (Torquay United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Angus MacDonald (Torquay United).
Post update
Ross Hannah (Chester FC) wins a free kick.
Post update
Corner, Torquay United.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ben Gerring (Torquay United) header from outside the box misses to the right.
Post update
Offside, Chester FC. Ross Hannah tries a through ball, but Ross Hannah is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Danny Hattersley (Chester FC) header from the left side of the box misses to the left.
