1. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans' first career hat-trick.
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans picked the perfect time to score his first career hat-trick as he helped to inspire the Gulls to a 5-1 win over Notts County. The Welshman struck in the 14th, 77th and 85th minutes as he became the first Torquay United player to net a treble since Danny Wright against Hartlepool United on October 31, 2020. Lemonheigh-Evans also becomes the fifth United player to score a hat-trick under Gary Johnson's reign - a list that includes Jamie Reid, Saikou Janneh and Jake Andrews as well as Wright.
In addition to this, he also takes his tally of the season to ten - which means he has now completed double figured goal returns for the past two seasons after scoring 11 in the 2020-21 campaign.
2. United's third goal was crucial.
Notts County did manage to reduce their arrears to one goal in the 74th minute when skipper Kyle Wootton. Had the Magpies managed to find an equaliser could the outcome of the match had been different? If they had done it may have shifted the momentum back in Notts' favour, but thankdfully Lemonheigh-Evans' second and United's third helped to re-establish their contorl of the match - as they then went onto score a fourth and fifth to complete
3. Armani at the double - in terms of goals and assists.
As well as scoring a brace, Armani Little also provided two assists - for Lemonheigh-Evans' second and third goals. His cross field ball picked out the Welshman to restore the Gulls' two-goal cushion on 77 minutes and he got the better of the Magpies in the 85th minute to tee up Lemonheigh-Evans for the goal that completed his hat-trick. On another day Little could conceivably been voted as man of the match himself. After today his goal tally for the 2021-22 season stands at 13, one short of the 14 that last season's top scorer Asa Hall managed to score.
4. Danny Wright's role as a focal point shouldn't be underestimated.
He may not have managed to get on the scoresheet himself, but Danny Wright's importance in United securing their victory over Notts County shouldn't be discounted. Wright played an important role in setting up Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and his presence and know how played a part in bringing United's more attack minded midfielders into the game. His experience and know how proved to be invaluable for the Gulls, and will continue to be for the remainder of the campaign.
5. Seven points off seventh place.
United's win over Notts County moves the Gulls within seven points of seventh place - the National League's final play-off spot. The result also means that the Gulls have now won four of their last five league matches, and they have recorded three successive league wins since December.
6. Ending 56 years of hurts.
Aside from an FA Cup win in 2005-06 and last season's play-off semi-final win, Torquay United hadn't recorded a league victory over Notts County since May 9, 1966. On that occasion goals from John Benson and Tommy Spratt proved to be decisive for United, who went on to win promotion with a draw against Darlington under Frank O'Farrell, who passed away recently. The year 1966 proved to be a memorable year for both the Gulls and England - could the same be true in 2022?
