Bromley recorded a much needed win thanks to a hat-trick from Brett Williams against his old side Torquay in an entertaining game that could have gone either way right up until The Ravens’ third goal.

The game got off to a lively start with play flowing from end to end, Williams headed a Frankie Sutherland corner wide early on for the home side, while Luke Young’s free kick for The Gulls was saved by David Gregory.

After the early momentum slipped away, it was Bromley who took the lead 20 minutes in when Williams found space in the area to drill the ball high into the net from a tight angle leaving Vincent Dorel no chance in the visitors’ goal.

Torquay responded immediately though with George Dowling going close before they drew level soon after. A deep cross from the right was knocked back across goal for Jon-Paul Pittman to head home from close range.

Adam Mekki had an effort saved and Louis Dennis had a strong shout for a penalty before The Gulls dominated the final fifteen minutes of the half. Young, Jamie Reid and Pittman all forced saves from Gregory before the young keeper denied Pittman again after a defensive slip from Jack Holland.

A Young free kick from distance grazed the roof of the net and James Gray flicked a Reid cross just wide of the near post, before Bromley had one late chance when Holland headed a corner off target.

The second half saw Torquay start well, Michee Efete headed over from a corner, Pittman and Andy Haworth both forced saves from Gregory and Sean McGinty put another chance wide.

Then on a rare break from defending Bromley edged in front again, when Luke Wanadio showed great determination to keep a ball from running out of play before standing his cross up perfectly for Williams to head home in the six yard box.

Wanadio then had an effort saved by Dorel and both Mekki and Williams fired over before Sutherland hit a powerful free kick that just sailed over the bar. Torquay substitute Ruairi Keating had three chances to pull The Gulls level hitting two efforts just wide and having another saved by Gregory, but the Devon side were then made to pay for missing their chances late on.

With three minutes left on the clock Williams broke free of the visiting defence and coolly slid the ball past the advancing Dorel into the corner of the net to secure the win for Bromley.

Just before the final whistle Reid saw his shot saved by Gregory as Torquay had to resign themselves to a tenth league game without a win.

Bromley return to action at Hayes Lane on Saturday when they entertain Solihull Moors hoping to continue their recent improvement in form.

Bromley: Gregory, Wynter (Dunne 85), Sterling, Chorley (Johnson 45), Holland, Rees, Mekki, Sutherland, Wanadio, Dennis (Higgs 77), Williams.

Subs Not Used: Allen, Raymond.

Torquay: Dorel, Efete, McGinty, Young (Fallon 73), Pittman, Gray (Keating 60), Reid, Haworth, Higgins, Dowling, Cole.

Subs Not Used: Anderson, Osborn, Mitchell.

Goals: Bromley Williams 20, 58 & 87mins. Torquay – Pittman 24mins

Att: 1,029

HT 1-1 FT 3-1

Ref: Mr A Dale