A five star display from an in form Gillingham saw them smash Torquay on Saturday afternoon.

Two first half goals from Jo Kuffour had put the visitors in front at the break, but Torquay were to get level just six minutes into the second half.

A Luke Rooney penalty was followed up by two great goals from Frank Nouble and Chris Whelpdale to ensure Andy Hessenthaler’s side returned to Kent with all three points.

Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler was forced into making two changes to the side that drew with Port Vale with Danny Kedwell and Charlie Lee sidelined, giving Chris Whelpdale and Lewis Montrose the chance to come back into the starting line up.

The visitors got off to the best possible start and took the lead in the sixth minute when former Gulls forward Jo Kuffour swept home from close range after cleverly latching on to a headed through ball from skipper Matt Lawrence.

It was the on-loan Bristol Rovers striker’s first goal since teaming up with Gillingham. He doubled that tally in the 39th minute when he slid in at the far post after Torquay failed to clear Luke Rooney’s free-kick.

Torquay pulled one back two minutes after the break when defender Chris Robertson powered home a header at the far post from Eunan O’Kane’s corner.

Four minutes later Torquay were level as Danny Stevens raced away down the left and slotted an angled drive past diving Gillingham goalkeeper Ross Flitney and in off the far post.

United’s joy was short-lived as the tricky Kuffour was felled in the penalty area by O’Kane and Rooney rifled in the 56th-minute penalty.

With 12 minutes remaining Rooney embarked on a fine run after intercepting Kevin Nicholson’s cross and unselfishly teed up Frank Nouble to hammer home an angled drive from the edge of area.

That wasn’t the end of the scoring though as there was still time for Chris Whelpdale to dink the ball over the Torquay keeper from outside the box with just a minute left on the clock.

With the Gills fans still celebrating Whelpdale’s audacious goal, he was withdrawn giving Jack Evans the chance to come on for his debut.

FULL TIME: TORQUAY UNITED 2-5 GILLINGHAM

The three points takes the Gills up to ninth in League Two, just a point outside the play-offs with Oxford United to visit Priestfield next Saturday. Before that, Gillingham will send an under strength side to play Welling United in the Kent Senior Cup on Monday night. The likes of Ashley Miller. Callum Davies and Connor Essam will be given the chance to get a game.

 

Torquay line up: Olejnik, Nicholson, Robertson, Saah, Oastler, Mansell, O’Kane, Bodin, Stevens, Howe, Atieno (Halpin 75).

Subs not used: Rice, Ellis, McPhee, Lathrope.

Goals: Robertson (47), Stevens (51).

Booked: Howe (43).

Gills line up: Flitney, Fish, Richards, Lawrence, Martin, Whelpdale (Evans 90), Montrose, Weston, Rooney, Kuffour (S Payne 86), Nouble.

Subs not used: Gazzaniga, Davies, Essam.

Goals: Kuffour (6) & (39), Rooney (pen 56), Nouble (78), Whelpdale (89).

Booked: Richards (58), Montrose (71).

Referee: Mr Langford

Attendance: 2,582 (348 Gills).