Two seasons ago Bromley routed Torquay United 7-3 at Plainmoor in a performance that was largely heralded as an iconic moment in Bromley’s history but also an aberration.

Few could have predicted that history would repeat itself as Bromley returned to wreak havoc crushing Torquay by another four goal margin that leaves the hosts teetering over the relegation trap door.

That said Torquay manager Gary Owers was at a loss to describe how his side had managed to lose by such a heavy margin after a first half performance that had seen the home team dominate possession yet go in one goal down at the break.

A bright opening from the hosts led by the tireless running from debutant Elliott Romain had the Bromley defence on the backfoot indeed as early as the third minute Bromley captain Jack Holland had to be alert to block a goal bound Romain effort.

On the quarter hour Romain found space and slipped in Jamie Reid however, although, the frontman’s shot beat Gregory it also drifted past the far post.

It took Bromley a while to work their way into the game and when they did they created a series of opportunities in quick succession.

First Tyrone Sterling did well to play in Louis Dennis down the left wing channel, the latter’s fine skill led to him beating his man but Ryan Clarke in the Torquay goal was alert to deflect Dennis’ effort behind for a corner. From the resultant short corner Luke Wanadio created space but his curling effort was tipped over the crossbar by Clarke.

Minutes later a Frankie Raymond free kick was spilled by Clarke and in the ensuing goalmouth scramble the ball fell to Ben Chorley but he shot wide amongst a sea of bodies.

With Torquay having the lion’s share of possession but failing to create clear cut chances they nearly took the lead with a long range effort on the half hour, Luke Young picked up the ball 30 yards out from goal and unleashed a swerving dipping drive that crashed against David Gregory’s left hand post.

As has so often been the case this season Bromley then proceeded to sucker punch their hosts with a goal on the counter attack. All season Neil Smith has hailed the ability of his side to create and score goals and the National League’s top scorers were to live up to this billing with a fantastic breakaway goal.

Adam Mekki picked up a loose ball in the middle of the park before undertaking a slalom run that took him past three Torquay players, the silky winger slipped in Dennis and Bromley’s top scorer made no mistake beating Clarke at the second attempt for his 15th goal of the season.

Torquay still had time to equalise before half time but twice Romain was denied by Gregory as the Bromley custodian kept out successive headers from the diminutive front man.

If Torquay should have been galvanised by a strong first half performance that saw them more than competitive the second half inexplicably witnessed a hapless collapse as Bromley ruthlessly exposed Torquay’s soft underbelly and fragile confidence.

In the 60th minute Mekki served noticed of what was to come when he forced Clarke into a fine save to keep out his 30 yard effort. Clarke had to produce an even better save to deny Omar Bugiel when the target man’s glancing header was denied by Clarke’s finger tips.

As good as Clarke’s double save was there was nothing he could do about Bromley’s second goal. Josh Rees pounced on slack play in the Torquay midfielder and advanced forward before feeding Mekki inside the penalty area, Mekki drilled a low effort across Clarke that nestled in the corner of the net to double Bromley’s lead.

Visibly Torquay heads dropped at the goal and it came as no surprise when Bromley increased the lead seven minutes later. An innocuous cross somehow found its way through to an unmarked Luke Wanadio who made no mistake with a first time swivel finish leaving Clarke no chance.

If that goal was soft Bromley’s fourth was a fine example of men against boys, Frankie Raymond skinned Reece Mitchell on the by-line ran around him and laid off for Rees to tap in from the penalty spot.

The fourth was too much for some home fans to take as a few hundred streamed out of the exits and the remainder barracked their charges with chants of “what a load of rubbish”.

Bromley nearly added insult to injury three minutes from time as they were awarded a penalty after Liam Davis bundled Rees over in the penalty area. However Clarke was to provide minor consolation for the beleaguered home fans with a save from Dennis’ tame strike.

The win moves Bromley back into the playoff places ahead of next Saturday’s home game against Halifax Town with their challenge on two fronts showing no sign of running of steam. For Torquay they remain 11 points adrift of safety with only 16 league games to go, for them their winter of discontent continues unabated.

Torquay United: Clarke; Efete, Balatoni, McGinty, Davis; Dowling, Young, O’Sullivan (Mitchell 68); Reid (Fletcher 56). Romain (Keating 81), Gosling;

Subs not used: Dorel, Gowling.

Bromley: Gregory; Woolfenden, Chorley, Holland, Sterling; Wanadio (Higgs 74), Raymond (Vose., Rees, Mekki; Bugiel (Williams 68), Dennis;

Subs not used: D. Johnson, R. Johnson.

Goal scorers / Time of goal: Bromley: Dennis (41), Mekki (66), Wanadio (73), Rees (80)

Referee: Mr A Penwell

Attendance: 1547 (71 Bromley)