Pools pile misery on Gulls
Torquay remain rooted at the foot of League Two, seven points from safety, after a 3-0 thumping at Hartlepool.
The Gulls lacked a threat up front and Pools controlled the game for long periods.
Visiting right-back Antony O'Connor drew a diving save from keeper Scott Flinders in the 15th minute, but Pools took the lead just after the half hour mark.
Jack Barmby, on loan from Manchester United, took the ball down in the penalty area under pressure, picked out the top corner and fired in from 14 yards in style.
In the run down to half time the Gulls did threaten but Flinders was only troubled once.
Kevin Nicholson, Elliott Benyon and Shamir Goodwin tried their luck from distance before Benyon was picked out by debutant Enoch Showumni and his shot towards the top corner was well saved by Flinders.
Pools doubled their lead in the 55th minute when Barmby's low corner was flicked in by top scorer Luke James at the near post for his 14th of the season.
And nine minutes later experienced striker Marlon Harewood got his first goal for his new club, breaking away from the halfway line and cheekily slotted the ball through the legs of advancing keeper Michael Poke.
Source: PA
