Guts and desire for a huge Plainmoor crowd

Torquay United produced a rousing comeback victory at a bouncing Plainmoor with over 3,700 fans for a midweek fixture.

Crowd numbers have been consistently impressive since the arrival of the Bryn Consortium and Tuesday night games are always tougher for supporters to attend, but this incredible showing from the Yellow Army once again underlined the warm air of positivity surrounding the club.

The reward was an enthralling 2-1 win over a quality Worthing side, who more than played their part in a great advert for a league that now sees the Gulls sat in third, two points behind leaders Farnborough.

On a slick surface, Worthing moved the ball with pace and precision, conjuring their opening with a strike from Mo Faal that was gobbled up easily by James Hamon. United, however, enjoyed their own periods of control but without finding the mark with their final ball.

A header from Matt Carson did test visiting custodian Chris Haigh on 17 minutes but Worthing were the side to edge in front, Jack Spong unleashing a thunderbolt from 22 yards that gave Hamon no chance.

United switched things up at the break, introducing Omar Mussa and Will Jenkins Davies for Oscar Threlkeld and Carson, and the impact was immediate.

Mussa ran at the Worthing defence with purpose and when they retreated, he took the opportunity to curl a lovely finish into the bottom corner.

Plainmoor was in full voice and both sides threw men forward in search of a winner. Hamon just about grasped an effort from Danny Cashman before Jordan Dyer headed narrowly wide from a Lirak Hasani cross.

The decisive moment arrived on 72 minutes, when a whipped corner saw Jay Foulston bravely fling himself at a header to send the home crowd wild.

Worthing charged forward in search of a leveller and almost found it with a last-gasp Faal header, but the Gulls held on for three noisy points.

“It was a good game and thrilled with the three points,” said manager Paul Wotton. “Worthing are an excellent team; their shape causes a lot of problems and the pitch was so perfect that it allowed them to move the ball very quickly.

“The way the game panned out, we were excellent in the first half and had chances, while Worthing had one chance and one goal. Worthing had more chances in the second half.

“We needed to change at half-time because the work we had done prior to the game, defensively, we weren’t doing properly. We had to be brave, went 4-3-3 against their back three. It was a tactical switch and it worked.

“The last three goals we’ve conceded at Plainmoor have all been outside the box and the second half was all about guts and desire. Omar has come on and changed the game, scored the goal and created the second.

“I’m really happy with the three points, a really good night for the fans.”

United: 1 James Hamon, 2 Finley Craske, 3 Jay Foulston, 4 Jordan Dyer, 5 Sam Dreyer, 7 Lirak Hasani (21 Dean Moxey 84), 11 Brad Ash (17 Finn Tonks 90), 14 Matt Carson (10 Omar Mussa HT), 18 Oscar Threlkeld (c) (22 Will Jenkins Davies HT), 19 Cody Cooke, 20 Dan Hayfield. Subs Not Used: 9 Ben Seymour.

Yellow Cards: Hamon 90+3', Cooke 90+4'

Attendance: 3,701 (24 away)