Jake Robinson’s 22-match loan spell with Torquay United from Shrewsbury Town in 2011 threw up a number of talking points.
Firstly, he made his debut in a 3-1 defeat against
Hereford United when he wasn’t registered to play for the Gulls. He found the
back of the net in the fixture, which would later see the club docked one point
for his selection.
Secondly – he was allowed to appear in games against his
parent club; this was to be a decision that would briefly come back to haunt
Shrewsbury manager Graham Turner, as Robinson helped the Gulls to tame the
Shrews in spectacular fashion.
Robinson was one of five loan signings named in Paul
Buckle’s starting line-up to face the Shrews; and it was two of that quintet who
combined to score the Gulls’ opener after five minutes. Ronan Murray – making
his debut for Torquay after joining on loan from Ipswich Town
Three minutes before half-time, the Shrews were reduced
to ten men when right-back Jermaine Grandison was dismissed for a reckless
challenge on Robinson.
After the break, Robinson was to have a further influence
on the proceedings when he converted from the penalty spot on 54 minutes, after
Shrews defender Shane Cansdell-Sherriff was adjudged to have handled a knock
down from Tomlin by referee Andy U’rso.
Robinson struck again two minutes with a stunning
individual strike from 25-yards to extend the Gulls’ lead to three.
On 70 minutes, Chris Zebroski increased Torquay’s
advantage to four when he drilled home with an angled effort from close range
from a cross from Craig Stanley.
Five minutes from time, the Gulls added a fifth when
Shrewsbury skipper Ian Sharps inadvertently turned the ball into his own net,
as Torquay completed a five-star performance to tame the Shrews.
Afterwards, Buckle spoke of his delight that Robinson
wasn’t overawed by the occasion of playing against his parent club.
“I said to him that you must play the game and not the
occasion,” said Buckle.
“We spoke before the game and he played his normal stuff,
cutting in from the left and he cut in and it was an unbelievable finish.
"It was a fabulous
performance and to actually get five goals as well is the icing on the cake.”
The Gulls would later face the Shrews again in the semi-finals
of the end of season Play-offs, where they won 2-0 on aggregate over two legs
to set up a final meeting with Stevenage at Old Trafford.
Torquay (4-4-2): Scott Bevan; Lee Mansell, Chris Robertson,
Guy Branston, Kevin Nicholson; Gavin Tomlin, Craig Stanley, Ben Pringle, Jake Robinson;
Chris Zebroski, Ronan Murray (Danny Stevens 58)
A full account of this match and another 49 in Torquay United's history can be found in Torquay United: A History in 50 Matches which is available from: https://torquayunitedahistoryin50.bigcartel.com/
