Missed chances prove costly for Torquay United in first home defeat

Torquay United slipped to their first home defeat in the National League Season on a day of missed chances at Plainmoor.

The Gulls struck first against visiting league leaders Hornchurch, Callum Dolan scoring from the penalty spot on 10 minutes, but the Urchins quickly levelled with a spot kick of their own, despatched by Henry Hearn.

Both sides created more chances in an entertaining first period before Hornchurch grabbed the lead through Angelo Balanta immediately after half-time.

From that point, United took control and carved out numerous opportunities to equalise, but wayward shooting from the edge of the box ultimately cost them a 2-1 loss.

“We are obviously very disappointed but I thought the performance was fantastic,” said United manager Paul Wotton. “We didn’t deserve to lose that game and whilst the result is bitterly disappointing, I can’t be unhappy with the performance.

“It was probably the best we’ve played at home this season, we created multiple chances and it was a game decided on moments. Our execution just wasn’t quite right.

“We started the game on the front foot, passed the ball really well and we were physically good. Hornchurch are obviously a good team but we were in the ascendancy and scored from the penalty.

“I felt that Hornchurch’s penalty was soft and we spoke about the quality Balanta’s got and the need to stop shots, which we didn’t do, but it’s a really tough one to take. The players gave everything, the crowd was driving us on, and we should have won the game.

“We had a massive chance to go 2-0 and a massive chance to go ahead again after their penalty. Our shooting from the edge of the box was poor and I’ll guarantee that was our highest stats of the season for shots.

“We were dominant in the second half but just wasteful with our chances. Anyone who knows football will know we played well and I think the fans appreciated that.”

The Gulls now move forward to a crucial double header on the road, Farnborough on Wednesday evening and then Maidenhead on Saturday.

Away form has been the major concern for Wotton and his team over the opening three months of the campaign, and these two games represent a massive chance to change that dynamic.

“Our away form has to get better because it’s putting a lot of pressure on our home form,” added Wotton. “We’ve now got two away games to adjust that.

“We have to keep doing the right things and a game on Wednesday that we need to win. If we keep playing like that [against Hornchurch], we will win games.”