Three's the magic number for Gulls

Jake Thomson celebrated his loan extension with his first goal for Torquay as the club moved above Cheltenham with a 3-0 victory at Plainmoor.

Winger Thomson, who had already set up forwards Chris Zebroski and Scott Rendell for first-half goals, teased the Town defence before sliding the ball home to help secure the Gulls' third victory over the Robins already this season.

The Devon club recorded a 3-1 Johnstone's Paint Trophy triumph in September and then followed that up with another 3-1 victory in the first round of the FA Cup last month.

Torquay started on fire with on-loan Wycombe forward Zebroski rattling the foot of a Robins post in the opening minute.

Joss Labadie went close for Cheltenham but Zebroski was not to be denied and scored with a brilliant 25-yard shot on the run that skipped up off the wet pitch and in off a post past Robins keeper Scott Brown.

Opposite number Michael Poke kept out Drissa Diallo's header but it was United who doubled their advantage with Thomson playing a key part as he swept out of his own half on a meandering run.

When Thomson - who has just started his second month at Torquay - was finally tackled, the ball broke to on-loan Peterborough striker Rendell on the left side of the penalty area and he gleefully swept the ball home.

United started the second half as they began the first, on the front foot. And when Zebroski released Thomson, the winger set his sights on goal and gained his just reward for a man-of-the-match performance by firing home the third in the 48th minute.

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