Rarely can the inevitable and the unexpected have collided with such dramatic consequences.

After the pre-match hype, it was perhaps written in the stars that Jake Robinson would play such an influential part in Torquay downing his parent club.

But the manner of this seaside defeat for shell-shocked Shrewsbury came like a bolt out of the blue.

Seven days on from the highs of Northampton, Town came crashing down to earth with the severest of bumps.

This truly was the Nightmare of Plainmoor. And not just because of the surprising omission of a clause to exclude Robinson from this encounter — in which he was to find the net twice – when the loan deal with originally struck with Torquay back in January.

On the ultimate bad day at the office, Town shipped five goals and played more than a half with 10 men following Jermaine Grandison’s rash tackle on Robinson.

There were times when circumstances conspired against them, a tight offside call and dubious penalty decision bringing Torquay’s first two goals at important times.

And if any moment summed up this miserable afternoon, it came five minutes from time when captain Ian Sharps saw an attempted block on a flowing Torquay move trickle agonisingly and unluckily into his own net.

But Town also played a very significant role in their own downfall with their poorest display of the campaign.

Other than around a 15-minute period in the first half and an eight minute spell at the start of the second, Town were second best from opening whistle to last.

They were to muster just one shot on target while their defensive efforts as a team left them struggling badly to contain on-song Torquay.

And what of Robinson?

We will never know how this encounter would have unfolded had the on-loan striker been denied the chance to line up for the play-off chasing hosts.

So poor were Town – and in control were Torquay – that it is unlikely it would have altered significantly.

Yet in an era where it has become commonplace for a loan deal to be accompanied by an agreement for the player to miss any fixture with his parent club, it was a major surprise that this proved the exception to the rule.

Town’s afternoon took a turn for the worst inside five minutes, Gavin Tomlin racing clear — there were some offside protests — before dinking Torquay in front.

Two fine saves from Ben Smith prevented further damage as Torquay remained on top before Grandison pushed the self-destruct button as a needless lunge on Robinson on the touchline produced an immediate red card. Grandison could have few complaints.

Ironically, that signalled Shrewsbury’s best spell of the game.

Lionel Ainsworth produced the sole effort on target before the visitors began the second period brightly.

But Robinson’s two goal salvo ended any hopes of Town mounting an unlikely fightback.

Firstly he smashed a 54th minute penalty into the top corner after Shane Cansdell-Sherriff was harshly adjudged to have handled a Chris Zebroski header.

And just two minutes later, he conjured up a goal that is his trademark when he is firing – cutting inside from the left flank before finding the net from just inside the box.

The misery didn’t end there.

Zebroski fired a 70th minute angled drive into the bottom corner to make it four before the unfortunate Sharps poked into his own net.

That left Shrewsbury comprehensively beaten and desperate for the final whistle which, when it eventually arrived, came with a smidgen of consolation in the shape of results elsewhere.

Thankfully days as miserable as this have been very rare throughout the campaign.

All is not lost for Shrewsbury but they simply can’t afford a repeat of this nightmare during the final 10 games if their dreams are to become reality.

Match analysis by JAMES GARRISON