Four fantastic strikes guide Torquay United to a perfect start to 2026

Torquay United kicked-off 2026 with an impressive 4-1 victory over Hampton & Richmond Borough, courtesy of four super goals at Plainmoor.

After falling behind to an Aaron Lacey strike against the run of play, Callum Dolan levelled before the break and the Gulls ran riot with second-half strikes from Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Jordan Young and substitute Dylan Morgan.

United swarmed their lowly visitors in the opening stages, Matt Worthington pulling the midfield strings in his first outing for six weeks, and he was the man to force the first save from visiting custodian Matt Rowley.

For the bulk of the opening quarter, United completely controlled proceedings, Dolan causing all manner of problems from the left flank, but the shooting from just outside the penalty area was just a tad wayward.

Hampton, however, had a shock up their sleeves, snatching the lead with a neat finish from Lacey. Louis Dennis was the first responder, whipping over a cross that just evaded the deep run of Lo-Everton.

Dolan was then provider for Dennis, who was inches away from finding the leveller, followed by a weaving Young run that ended with a cross to the lively Dennis, but his radar was again just out of sync.

The deserved equaliser finally arrived in sumptuous style six minutes before the break, Dolan opening his body from the left to curl an inch-perfect right-footer around the covering defender and inside the far post.

It was a beautiful goal, matched by Lo-Everton’s terrific finish early in the second period, controlling the ball on the edge of the area before lashing a sweet strike into the top corner.

The belated lead was thoroughly warranted on the balance of play and United had a cushion just past the hour with yet another fabulous goal, Young joining the party by pinging a delicious third across Rowley and into the corner of the net.

The Yellow Army wanted more, and so did the players, striking the underside of the bar before Morgan added gloss to a satisfying day with arguably the best of the lot, completing a mesmerising run with an emphatic finish from 20 yards.