After a tough midweek trip to Dover, we faced a potentially tougher test against high flying Torquay as the league’s 3rd-placed team visited Meadowbank on Saturday afternoon.

The two sides came into the game with contradicting form. The away side arrived with four victories in their last six outings in comparison to our one.

However, we struck the opening blow in the affair after an uneventful opening five minutes.

Winger Dennon Lewis cut out a crossfield ball from the opposition, before Lewis’ headed pass was guided expertly into the path of Alfie Rutherford who dribbled with the ball before slotting home to the left of goalkeeper from inside the area to give us the lead.

The opening twenty minutes of the match constituted a gritty, determined display from us, with most of the chances going our way, aside from one tame effort that trickled wide from the away side.

Twenty-one minutes into the affair, Dennon Lewis came close to doubling our lead as he drilled in an effort from the left-hand edge of the box, stinging the palms of away goalkeeper James Hamon and forcing a corner.

The lead was doubled however, only minutes later, and it was an interception from an opposition pass, this time from Dan Hayfield, that proved to be fruitful once more.

Jason Prior’s interception preceded a lay-off to Josh Taylor, who rounded his man before striking home with a fierce drive from just outside the box into the bottom left corner.

Riding a wave of confidence, we were able to intercept the ball on further occasions and further force the initiative, with Brennan Camp striking over the bar as we searched for another goal.

We created a further opening on thirty-four minutes as Jimmy Muitt curled an effort over the bar, after a brief exchange in passes, before Brennan Camp struck an effort wide on the half-volley.

We were also able to create chances via set-pieces in the first half, and it was Dennon Lewis who was next to try his luck after a short corner, as he carried the ball to the edge of the box and produced a curled effort which was well saved.

In a dominant first half display, Jimmy Muitt added a third goal to our lead from a set-piece, poking home after a close-range scramble.

After gaining a comfortable lead in the opening forty-five minutes, the start of the second half continued in the same manner, with Brennan Camp being denied from close range.

It took until the 57th minute for Torquay to have their first shot on target, however that effort from Callum Dolan had the sting taken out of it after it was well blocked, although they followed it up with a flicked effort from Ed Palmer that was wonderfully saved by Harrison Foulkes, tipping onto his post.

Very quickly after being introduced, Niall McManus was straight into the thick of the action, forcing James Hamon into a save, before Jordan Young curled over in response.

Victory was crucial for Torquay to keep in touch with the sides above them, however as the game wore on, we continued to have the better of it with multiple shots on target, reaffirming that we were good value for our lead.

A further positive from the match came in added time as Harrison Foulkes dived to his right and saved a penalty from Louis Dennis, however, the clean sheet was eradicated just before the final whistle due to a Jordan Young free-kick, before Dennon Lewis struck the bar with the goal gaping in the final act of the match.

Following this match, the return to Meadowbank is a quick one, as we host Maidenhead United on Tuesday night, looking to produce a similar result.