Platform point for Torquay United

A terrific top-corner finish from defender Finley Craske earned Torquay United a fully deserved point to launch a relentless schedule of eight games in the next month.

A trip to Eastbourne Borough is one of the tougher assignments in the National League South this season, with the Sussex hosts sitting a point above United in the play-off positions. League standings proved prophetic, as there was very little to separate the teams on the artificial surface.

FA Cup clashes has severely disrupted United’s rhythm over the past month and this was a first outing since the battling 1-0 win at Hampton & Richmond a fortnight ago, with the enforced break giving Jordan Dyer extra time to make his long-awaited return from injury.

The travelling army of United fans had to sit through a fairly stodgy start to the game, both sides feeling each other out in search of defensive gaps. One briefly appeared for the hosts but Eastbourne celebrations immediately curtailed by the referee awarding a foul in the build-up.

The Gulls were struggling to find any attacking potency in the early stages and Eastbourne took full advantage just past the half-hour, Pierce Bird whipping a dangerous cross into the six-yard box for George Alexander to just about force the ball over the line.

This setback swiftly galvanised the Gulls, as they moved the ball with precision to create room for Dan Hayfield to supply the perfect assist to Craske, who fizzed an excellent finish into the top corner from 16 yards.

The two-goal flurry in the space of four minutes was all the first-half had to offer, but Eastbourne came out with renewed vigour after the interval, Yahya Bamba forcing a decent save from James Hamon with his angled drive.

United replied with the ever-willing Cody Cooke finding room for a powerful strike that home custodian Joe Wright could only gather on the second grasp.

The Gulls turned to a trio of attacking replacements, Brad Ash, Lirak Hasani and Omar Mussa, to find further forward impetus, and it was Mussa who asked the most serious question, bundling his way past opponents before a deflected drive that drifted wide.

The subsequent corner prompted mild panic in an otherwise organised home defence but Eastbourne scrambled to clear. United continued to be the side pushing for a winner, Sam Dreyer thwarted by a late save from Wright to confirm a share of the spoils.