Bristol City cruised to a comfortable 4-0 win on Saturday over lowly Torquay United. The game was pretty much over as a contest after star striker Leroy Lita netted three times in the space of 12 first half minutes.
Lita's first was an audacious lobbed shot from 35 yards out that flew into the left hand bottom of the goal.
The game began with severe sea mist sweeping across the Gulls Plainmoor ground. City's away following of 1,600 just about managed to cram into a packed away terrace where the atmosphere was outstanding from the start. The mist meant that City's faithful support could only just about make out the goalposts at the other end of the pitch, where City scored three of their four goals.
City didn't waste any time in stamping their authority on the game and it was Lita who proved to be in scintillating form after being omitted from the recent England under-21 squad. After his brilliant first effort, the Congo born striker got his head to a Scott Murray cross and buried the ball in exactly the same place that his first had landed.
Then, in the 21st minute the ball broke free in the Torquay penalty area and Lita was on hand once again to stab the ball in from close range to complete his first senior hat-trick. It wasn't all one-way traffic and City 'keeper Steve Phillips was called upon on at least three occasions to make excellent reflex saves. Had it not been for Phillips alertness, Torquay may have cut the first half deficit.
Lita didn't make it out for the second half after sustaining an injury, but his understudy and second half replacement, Paul Heffernan, proved that he was more than up to the task. The Northern Irish striker took just nine minutes to signal his entrance to the field with an excellent finish in front of the jubilant away support from Bristol.
The game petered out after that strike, with the result in little doubt. It was a good return to form for City, however they have considerably tougher games to deal with between now and the end of the season if they are to maintain a play-off challenge. City's entire Easter fixture list has been wiped due to the internationals, therefore they next face Port Vale at Ashton Gate on 2nd April, 3pm kick-off.
In other news this week it has been reported that young City starlet Cole Skuse has received interest from two Premiership clubs, one of them being Alan Curbishley's Charlton Athletic. Skuse, a product of City's FA licensed youth academy is thought to be in discussions with City boss Brian Tinnion in a bid to keep the youngster at Ashton Gate. Meanwhile, promising right-back Kevin Amankwaah left the club on Wednesday to join League Two club Yeovil Town.
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