Jack Midson made a sensational return for Oxford United at Plainmoor.

The striker came in from the cold and hit a remarkable hat-trick as Chris Wilder’s much-changed team bounced back in style from their defeat by Southend.

The U’s led 2-0 and 3-1 but looked as though they would have to settle for a draw as Torquay came storming back in an action-packed match.

But Midson had the last laugh with a stoppage-time winner, stroking home delightfully from Potter’s pass as United counter-attacked in devastating fashion.

A brilliant individual effort from Tom Craddock got the U’s up and running and Midson then struck either side of half-time with two typical goalscorer’s goals.

Midson, who had also two goals in his previous npower League Two game, while on loan for Southend at Cheltenham, was making his first Oxford United start since September.

The win vindicated Wilder’s decision to make eight changes following the poor New Year’s Day performance.

Only Ryan Clarke, Harry Worley and Simon Clist kept their places.

McLaren came in for his debut as the central holding player, with Clist and Asa Hall, this time operating on the right, either side.

The U’s boss had always said he would freshen the side up with some changes, so it was no surprise to see Damian Batt and Tonkin come in at fullback.

But there was a shock up front as James Constable and Steve Maclean dropped to the bench and Midson came in from the cold to lead the line.

Matt Green, brought back in to face his old club, was making his first start since November 7.

Craddock’s goal came ten minutes before half-time after Torquay had enjoyed the lion’s share of possession until then.

The former Luton forward used an overlapping run by Anthony Tonkin as a decoy, as he cut back inside and curled a superb shot from outside the area past Gulls keeper Scott Bevan and into the top right corner Oxford made it 2-0 seven minutes later as new signing Paul McLaren’s corner was met by a fine header at the back post from Harry Worley, and Midson turned it in with a poacher’s finish.

If only they could have kept it like that until half-time, they would surely have been able to look forward to a more comfortable second half, but Torquay pulled a goal back just 40 seconds later.

Elliot Benyon, who has proved a scourge to Oxford United in the past, stabbed the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal, from Eunan O’Kane’s pass, to put the home side right back in it.

And former U’s striker Chris Zebroski almost levelled the scores before the break, with a shot past the right post.

Hall, who was booked for a late challenge early on, fired in a shot that Bevan saved.

Torquay had not been in the best of form, but in Kevin Nicholson, they have a very good deliverer of set pieces, and one Nicholson corner was cleared off the line by Worley.

O’Kane tried a spectacular shot after shaking off Craddock, which flew past the post, and Clarke saved from Ashley Hemmings.

McLaren was booked at the start of the second half for a late challenge on Zebroski.

Nicholson curled a free-kick from outside the box narrowly wide before Alfie Potter came on for a tiring Green for the visitors.

Midson then stunned Torquay with his second of the afternoon, a shot from inside the area fizzing into the bottom right corner of the goal.

Zebroski was booked for a nasty challenge, and then Torquay produced a barnstorming finish.

Billy Kee’s shot was saved by Clarke, but Benyon pounced from inside the six-yard box to make it 3-2.

There were 11 minutes remaining when the Gulls struck again to draw level.

Benyon provided the assist and Kee fired home from the edge of the area.

But in one of the most dramatic finishes to an Oxford United game since the Play-Off Final win over York at Wembley, Midson completed his hat-trick.

Oxford Utd: Clarke, Batt, Worley, Wright, Tonkin, Hall, McLaren (Heslop 77), Clist, Green (Potter 61), Midson, Craddock (Maclean 80). Subs not used: Constable, Eastwood, Payne, Gaughan.