Notts County’s four-match unbeaten run came to a shuddering halt as they suffered a crushing 5-1 defeat at Torquay United.
Plainmoor was the scene of last season’s agonising National League play-off semi-final defeat and there was to be no revenge for the Magpies as Connor Lemonheigh-Evans scored a hat-trick to add to Armani Little’s double to consign Notts to a defeat which sees them remain sixth in the table.
While defeat is a blow to their hopes of securing a top-three place - and a home pay-off semi-final - at the end of the season, it is by no means a fatal one, with Ian Burchnall sure to rally his troops for what looks like a favourable run-in against several teams struggling at the wrong end of the table.
But they will have to show considerably more grit and determination then they did here if they are to achieve their dream of promotion.
Head coach Burchnall named the same side which triumphed 3-0 at Southend last weekend, and there were also no changes on the bench, with no place in the match-day squad for Cal Roberts, who didn’t travel to the south-west.
Notts started on the front foot and the first chance fell to Frank Vincent in the fourth minute when Ruben Rodrigues fed Jayden Richardon on the right and he set up the midfielder, whose shot was blocked out for a corner, which was cleared.
Vitezslav Jaros was called into action when Richardson gave the ball away but Stephen Duke-McKenna’s shot was straight at the Notts keeper.
But he could do little to stop Little’s curling effort in the 11th minute after Notts failed to hold on the ball up front and Torquay worked the ball to their skipper on the left of the box and he found a fine finish.
Danny Wright had a great chance to make it two a minute later when he headed wide with the goal at his mercy.
But the home side did double their lead in the 14th minute when Duke-McKenna found Wright on the left and his low cross was stroked home by Lemonheigh-Evans, who was too sharp for Adam Chicksen at the far post.
Notts were shellshocked, but after Matty Palmer had a shot on target which was comfortably cleared by a covering defender, they had a shout for a penalty turned down when Rodrigues went down under a challenge.
A heavy challenge on Wootton resulted in a free kick for Notts, but it was the visitors’ Harry Arter who was booked by referee James Durkin for continuing the argument about the penalty incident.
Ben Wynter was then shown a yellow card for a heavy challenge on Arter, before the game was halted again as Connell Rawlinson ran into Lemonheigh-Evans, leaving the Torquay player flat out holding his face and seeing the Notts defender having to have his head bandaged.
Alex Lacey was forced to make a scuffed clearance as every time Torquay attacked they caused mayhem in a Notts’ defence which was getting very little help from their midfield, who continually gave the ball away cheaply.
Arter shot harmlessly wide in the 38th minute after Notts had a spell of possession, but in the 40th minute Jaros had to tip over Wright’s angled shot after the home side were given the freedom of the box to work an opportunity for the big striker.
Wright was booked for fouling Chicksen, then Lapslie was left prone holding his face following a clash with Lacey as six minutes of stoppage time were indicated, during which Palmer set up a Wootton shot which he dragged wide.
Notts won a corner, which Arter delivered, but although the visitors kept control of the ball they couldn’t fashion a shot as the half ended with no addition to the score.
After such an abysmal first half it was no surprise that Burchnall made changes at the interval, Eli Sam replacing Kelly-Evans and former Torquay winger Aaron Nemane on for Vincent.
And the substitutes combined to pass up a glorious opportunity after 50 minutes when Palmer put Nemane clear on the right and his cross found Sam unmarked five yards out in the middle of the goal but he somehow put his shot wide in front of the travelling fans.
Minutes later it was Rodrigues’ turn to spurn a glorious opportunity, firing over at the near post under pressure after another fine run and cross from Nemane, who had made an immediate impact.
Lacey was booked for bringing down Little in midfield as Notts were again stretched by a Torquay counter attack but Jaros dealt easily with a weak shot.
Tenacious play by Rodrigues set up Sam for a shot which was blocked out for a corner, with Lapslie booked for a late challenge on Rodrigues.
Jim O’Brien replaced Arter before Wootton and Rodrigues both had shots blocked as Notts piled on the pressure, then Lacey ballooned a shot over the bar from yet another corner.
Notts deservedly got a goal back in the 74th minute when Wootton latched on to Rodrigues’ pass, swivelled and fired a left-foot shot into the roof of the net.
But after Moxey was booked for time wasting, Notts’ hopes of a recovery were dashed when Lemonheigh-Evans broke into the box and beat Jaros with a low finish.
Notts then fell apart and an horrendous afternoon continued in the 85th minute when Lemonheigh-Evans showed great feet in the box to leave two defenders chasing shadows before completing his hat-trick with a firm finish.
And there was worse to come during eight minutes of added time as Little led the Notts defence a merry dance before chipping Jaros with a delightful finish.
Notts County: Jaros, Richardson, Kelly-Evans (Sam 45), Lacey, Rawlinson, Chicksen, Arter (O’Brien 68), Palmer, Vincent (Nemane 45), Rodrigues, Wootton. Unused subs: Brunt, Graham.
Torquay United: MacDonald, Wynter, Lapslie, Lemonheigh-Evans, Little, Wearne (Martin 59), Johnson (Hall 68), Duke-McKenna (O’Connell 92), Moxey, Lewis, Wright. Unused subs: Halstead, Omar.
