Brilliant Dartford moved in the National League South top-10 with a first-half demolition of Torquay at Princes Park on Saturday.

Boss Alan Dowson made two loan signings in the week - and both scored as the visitors were put to the sword.

Boosted by their new faces, the Darts had much more balance to their play and produced their best 45 minutes of the season so far.

They had four attempts at goal in the first seven minutes and all that was missing was a shot on target. Once they found their scoring boots, they didn’t look back.

George Alexander headed over, as did Joash Nembhard before Tyrell Miller-Rodney fired wide from a Luke Coulson lay-off, after promising play between the new front pair of Alexander and Harvey Bradbury.

The introduction of Alexander on loan from Bromley certainly gave the Darts a fresh dimension in attack, his willingness to run down the channels, come short when needed and still prove a nuisance as a target man proved the perfect foil for Bradbury.

It took Torquay 20 minutes to register their first meaningful attack, keeper Ryan Sandford making a decent save before the resulting corner had to be cleared at close range by the alert Darts defence.

The visitors had a great chance on 22 minutes as Theo Williams beat the offside trap but his lob went over both Sandford and the bar.

Dartford felt they should have had a penalty moments later when a low Miller-Rodney shot was blocked by a hand. But referee Emily Heaslip can’t give what she couldn’t see in a crowded penalty area and the end result was a Darts corner and a yellow card for Miller-Rodney’s protests.

That apart, it was a decent performance from the referee - a refreshing change to recent standards in this league - and she didn’t fall for any of Torquay’s gamesmanship tactics.

Nembhard was booked for a late challenge and Bradbury saw yellow after tangling with keeper Rhys Lovett.

Dartford missed a great chance to go ahead on the half-hour when Alexander slotted wide from a RIchard Chin cross.

But the breakthrough soon arrived in style from on-loan Charlton man Chin. He cut inside on his left foot and found the top corner with an unstoppable 20-yard drive to give his side a 31st-minute lead.

The hosts doubled their advantage on 40 minutes, Alexander’s touch from a right-wing centre was sublime to get away from his marker, the second was a devastating finish into the far corner.

Dartford were in dreamland a minute before the break when they went 3-0 ahead. Coulson’s free-kick found the Torquay defence playing musical statues and Moussa Diarra nipped in to volley home.

The visitors should have pulled a goal back in stoppage time but Williams inexplicably blazed over from six yards out when it seemed easier to score.

No wonder Torquay’s fans hurled abuse at manager Gary Johnson and the away following booed their team at the half-time whistle. But take nothing away from a stunning first half for Dartford.

Torquay made a double change at the break with Lewis Collins and Jack Stobbs introduced.

Alexander was sent clean through seven minutes into the second half but Lovett made a fine save to deny him as he tried to round the keeper on the edge of the area.

The visitors barely registered a meaningful attack after the break, one shot fizzed wide but the Darts were in cruise control.

The excellent Chin ran himself into the ground and was replaced by Brandon Barzey for the final 10 minutes.

Dartford: Sandford, Statham, Nembhard, Diarra, Oduadu (Altintop 86mins), Chin (Barzey 80mins), Wynter, Miller-Rodney, Coulson, Alexander, Bradbury (Allen 88mins). Subs not used: Wall, Woods.

Torquay: Lovett, Crowe (Collins 46mins), Hall, Ash, McGavin, De Silva (Stobbs 46mins), Williams (Archer 74mins), Dolan, Moxey, Tomlinson, Marshall. Subs not used: Halstead, Harris.

Referee: Emily Heaslip.

Attendance: 1,101.