Match Report: Eastbourne Borough 1 Torquay United 4

Torquay United picked themselves up from the depths of Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Dartford to beat ten-man Eastbourne Borough with a display of pacy passing at all-weather Priory Lane. 
Gary Johnson’s Gulls were already 2-0 up through early shots from range by Callum Dolan and Brett McGavin when the Sports had Lucas Defise sent off for a second yellow card in the 25th minute. 
There was a moment or two of worry for United’s most dedicated travelling fans when Eastbourne pulled a goal back through Callum Kealy’s penalty in the 61st minute. 
But Torquay made their extra man count in the closing stages, with more spectacular goals from McGavin – his fifth of the season – and an eighth of the campaign for striker Brad Ash. 
The result lifted Torquay from 12th place in the NL South up to sixth. 
Johnson made fives changes. Mark Halstead returned in goal and Tom Lapslie and Jack Stobbs in midfield for the injured Asa Hall and Dillon De Silva. 
AFC Bournemouth loanee Archie Harris was given his first start at left wing-back, with Lewis Collins recalled for Theo Williams in attack. 
Still not involved were Kevin Dawson, Aaron Jarvis, Finley Craske, Dan Martin, Shaun Donnellan and Ryan Hanson. 
United went closest to scoring early on, as both sides tried to keep the ball on the artificial surface. 
Dolan, working hard on and off the ball, set up Stobbs for a cross from the right and Ash headed wide – he should have hit the target. 
Two minutes later, United took the lead with a splendid strike by Dolan. 
The on-loan midfielder made the most of a crisp move down the left, hitting a rasping right-foot shot from 22 yards that had Harrison Foulkes well beaten... 1-0. 
Harris had been involved in the build-up, and he got forward down the left wing whenever he could. 
It was a worry when Dolan, who had started well, needed treatment for what appeared to be a foot injury, but he was able to continue. 
In the 22nd minute, United stretched their lead. 
If you give McGavin room and a sight of goal, it’s as good as a party invitation to the Gulls’ playmaker – 20 yards out, right foot low into the bottom left-hand corner... 2-0. 
A couple of minutes later Defise, booked earlier, fouled Ash clumsily and referee Harry Wager did not hesitate to show a second yellow and send him off. 
United played some nice stuff as they set about making their extra man count, McGavin nearly getting Lapslie in on the right. 
Ash fired wide and then couldn’t quite get on the rebound after Dolan took a pass from Harris and forced a parry from Foulkes.  
But in first-half stoppage-time Stobbs was unlucky not to make it 3-0 when he hit the top of the bar from 25 yards. 
Eastbourne, with nothing to lose, made changes at the interval, but they had another escape when Ash crossed from the byline and Stobbs was denied by a goalline clearance. 
Johnson sent on Williams for Lapslie around the hour mark, but the Gulls went off the boil for a short spell and paid the price. 
In the 61st minute, Moxey was penalised for a push on George Brown and Mr Wager pointed to the spot. 
Kealy’s penalty was not convincing, but it squeezed under Halstead...2-1. 
For a while Eastbourne threatened what would have been an unlikely comeback, but it didn’t last long. 
Williams’ pace had given United’s attack a boost, and he shot just wide on a Stobbs pass. 
In the 70th minute Ash was fouled just outside the area after another good build-up. 
The Gulls took their time over the free-kick, but when McGavin eventually hit it, it was top-drawer, in off the bar... 3-1. 
Eleven minutes from time, after Dylan Crowe had replaced Marshall in defence, Williams was involved again and Ash finished with a sweetly-struck dipping shot from just outside the area... 4-1. 
Archer took over from Dolan, who had put in a proper shift, near the end, before Ash nearly made it five, Brown clearing his effort off the line. 
Eastbourne Borough (4-4-2): Foulkes; Carter, Brown, Clarke (Vigar 68)Sesay; Remy, Collins, Uche, Defise; Holman (Gravata 46), Kealy; subs not used – Leslie, Procter, Beckford 
Sent Off: Defise 25. Booked: Defise 14, Foulkes 23. 
Torquay United (3-1-4-2): Halstead; Marshall (Crowe 74), Tomlinson, Moxey; McGavin; Stobbs, Lapslie (Williams 59), Dolan (Archer 77), Harris; Ash, Collins; subs not used – De Silva, Lovett. 
Booked: None. 
Referee: Harry Wager (Kent).