Torquay inflicted a stunning 5-0 home defeat on leaders Rochdale thanks to inspirational two-goal hero Elliot Benyon, who also won a penalty.

Lowly United soaked up early pressure to turn this match on its head in an electric six-minute first-half spell before cantering to their biggest win of the season.

Targetman Scott Rendell got the decisive breakthrough in the 29th minute and Benyon rose to head home a second following a diagonal ball into the penalty area from the left by skipper Nicky Wroe.

Benyon swooped for his second in four minutes, using his head to redirect Ellis' header for his 10th league goal of the season.

Dale skipper Gary Jones dipped a 30-yarder just over the bar but United forged further ahead after soaking up early second-half pressure when Frank Fielding brought down Benyon and Wroe tucked away the 62nd-minute spot-kick.

In the 77th minute Mustapha Carayol raced into the box and ghosted past his marker before sweeping the ball into the far corner to make it 5-0.