Jordan Young inspires Torquay United to statement victory at Hornchurch

In a classic game of two halves, Jordan Young bagged a fantastic brace to earn Torquay United three precious points at promotion rivals Hornchurch.

The Gulls fell behind to an early Angelo Balanta strike and had to soak up plenty of pressure before Young restored parity early in the second period, and the same man struck a glorious winner to secure a statement three points.

United started the game brightly enough, Kieran Wilson heading wide from a Young corner, but Hornchurch quickly asserted control, Josh Rees and Charlie Pegrum both going close for the hosts.

The deadlock was broken on nine minutes and a cracking strike from Balanta, who pulled off a similar trick when the Urchins inflicted a first home league defeat on the Gulls in early November.

United responded with clever play from Sonny-Blu Lo Everton releasing Jay Foulston but he was thwarted by an excellent recovery tackle, and Hornchurch returned to the ascendancy with Balanta narrowly missing out from an inviting cross.

Arguably the best opportunity of the half for United fell to Dylan Morgan on 26 minutes but his header was too high, and only fine work from goalkeeper James Hamon prevented former Gull Rees from doubling the lead following a defensive error.

After a tricky first half, United needed a response, and it arrived within three minutes. Young was the architect and the finisher, charging down a sloppy clearance and threading past the home custodian within three minutes of the restart.

The Gulls were suddenly in control, Cody Cooke, who replaced Morgan at the interval, coming within inches of getting the decisive touch from a long throw by Nashe Sundire, and there was more to come.

Lo-Everton was the instigator on this occasion, slipping the ball out wide to Young midway through the second period, and he pulled off his customary trick of cutting inside and fizzing a fabulous strike into the back of the net.

The closing stages were full of Hornchurch pressure and United had to defend with discipline and courage, but they did the job to set up another big test at Dover in midweek.