FIVE GOALS by Billy Kee spearheaded the 8-0 rout of Tiverton Town at Ladysmead last night, taking the new Torquay United striker's pre-season tally to nine.

Kee, in irresistible form, fired a hat-trick inside the first 18 minutes, and he scored all five of his goals in the first half.

Every one of his finishes was emphatic in one way or another, and none of them was down to the fact that United were facing Zamaretto League opposition.

Chris Zebroski and substitutes Ashley Yeoman and Danny Stevens joined in the fun, adding well-taken goals.

Kee had scored a hat-trick in the opening friendly at Weymouth and a penalty at Bovey Tracey, but he would have hit the net against most opponents in the form he showed last night.

It was only a series of saves by Tivvy goalie Chris Wright which stopped United running up a double-figure score.

Gulls boss Paul Buckle announced that he has agreed a two-year contract with ex-Norwich City midfielder Damon Lathrope — and then stressed that it was his team's attitude which set up this victory.

Trialist Lathrope's deal was done before he played last night.

Buckle said: "He's done enough in his time here to deserve his contract.

"He has an abundance of quality on the ball, with two good feet and he has a good pedigree after two years at Norwich.

"Billy Kee is a natural goalscorer, but there's more to come from him yet.

"The key to the win was that the players didn't try to do anything that they wouldn't do in a League Two game.

"They made life easy for each other through their work-rate."

Buckle paired Kee with Zebroski up front – the first time they had started together.

Lloyd Macklin and Saul Halpin were the young wingers, either side of Lee Mansell and Damon Lathrope.

Mark Ellis was fit to return in central defence, alongside Kieran Charnock, after his head injury.

Chris Robertson and Lathaniel Rowe-Turner were at full-back, with Danny Potter in goal.

It was clear from the start that United's attitude matched their extra quality, for they challenged for every ball and gave Tivvy no time on the ball.

They had to wait only seven minutes for a breakthrough.

Kee chested down a loose ball on the left, beat Adam Faux on the turn, cut inside and fired a right-foot shot inside the far-post from 20 yards…1-0.

Tiverton did lift the siege in the 15th minute when left-back Russell Jee floated a long free-kick to the far post, where Adam Faux headed wide.

Normal service was resumed two minutes later.

Kee chased a long ball over the Town defence by Ellis, beat goalie Chris Wright's charge off his line and, after being pushed wide to the right, finished from a narrow angle…2-0.

Kee completed a quick-fire hat-trick in the 18th minute.

Zebroski crossed from the right, Kee controlled the ball, held off two defenders on the turn and fired a 15-yard shot past Wright's outstretched left hand…3-0.

Wright had to dash well out of his area to clear from Zebroski – Kee flicked the ball through for him that time – before Halpin wasted a good chance.

Halpin tried to chest down a Robertson cross, instead of shooting first time, and the opening was gone.

But in the 24th minute Zebroski benefited from another Kee 'assist', scoring with a right-foot shot…4-0.

Tiverton were forced to feed off scraps, but David Steele did well to work room for a cross in the 26th minute, and Joe Bushin glanced a header wide with Potter to beat from eight yards out.

But Kee was soon back on the scoresheet.

First he brought a fine save from Wright with a 22-yard free-kick.

Then, from Lathrope's corner moments later, Zebroski had a header blocked and Kee, with his back to goal, reacted in a flash to strike a sweet overhead kick into the roof of the net…5-0.

Ellis came up with a couple of good pieces of defending, especially to block a Bushin header before Kee struck again.

This time it was unstoppable opportunist volley…6-0 and his fifth.

When Kee headed wide from a Robertson cross in the 41st minute, it was hardly surprising that one fan gasped: "Blimey, he's missed one!"

Both sides made four changes during the interval.

United sent on Ashley Yeoman for Zebroski up front, Eunan O'Kane and Danny Stevens for Mansell and Halpin in midfield and Ed Palmer for Charnock at the back.

Former United starlet Dean Stevens was one of the new faces for Town, replacing Adam Mortimer on the left wing.

Dean Coppard, Colin Marshall and Tom Gardner also joined the action.

Yeoman wasted little time getting in on the goalscoring act.

In the 51st minute Rowe-Turner delivered a short, low cross from the left and Yeoman sidefooted home from close-range…7-0.

Kee, still thirsty for goals, tested Wright with a rasping left-footer, then headed another snap-chance over.

Yeoman also had Wright scrambling back to his line to smother a goalbound effort in a crowded goalmouth.

Only a fortunate deflection off Marshall stopped Stevens making it eight for United, from a well-worked free-kick involving Kee and O'Kane.

Kee's strength saw him pick himself up from a 'sandwich' tackle by two defenders, wriggle free and then shoot at Wright when he seemed certain to grab his sixth goal after a good break from midfield by Stevens.

He took a knock in the build-up, but continued without treatment.

O'Kane with a fierce drive blocked and Yeoman with a follow-up header kept up the barrage on the Tivvy goal.

Potter's main task at the other end was to try and maintain his concentration, but he still produced a steady flow of information and encouragement.

Stevens gave the home defence a torrid time on United's left, often cutting inside to pick out telling passes for his forwards.

Potter was at last called into action in the 65th minute when Marshall slipped Stevens away down the left for Tiverton, and Potter did well to tip away the winger's strong cross-shot.

Robertson and Ellis both went close for United, up for set-piece moves.

Town sent on veteran striker Mark Saunders for Bushin midway through the second half.

United continued to make chances at will, and they pulled out a purler in the 72nd minute.

Stevens started and finished it, with a beautifully weighted through-ball to Kee on the left.

Kee picked his moment as Stevens arrived on the edge of the area, delivered the pass and Stevens controlled the ball before volleying it past Wright…8-0.

It took a good save off his line by Wright to stop Kee scoring his sixth goal, and the Town goalie also dived to his left to smother a long-range effort by O'Kane.

Despite the scoreline, it was little surprise when Wright was announced as Tiverton's man of the match!