A positive day for Torquay United built on aggression and the front foot

Torquay United manager Paul Wotton cited an increase in tempo and aggression as the catalyst for a 2-1 win at Hornchurch that saw the Gulls leapfrog their hosts at the top of the National League South table.

The Gulls were marginally off the pace in the first half and punished by a super strike from Angelo Balanta but turned the game on its head with a double from Jordan Young.

As well as a different mindset after the break, the introduction of Cody Cooke gave United a more determined outlook in the vanguard.

“It was a very good game, very competitive game, and I actually thought we played well first half but we weren’t at it physically,” said Wotton. “We didn’t win enough headers, didn’t win enough tackles and it was a bit too easy for Hornchurch.

“However, we had two or three really good chances to score. Balanta does what he does, he’s an excellent player, and Hornchurch are a very good team.

“I said to the boys at half-time that they were playing ok but this was a top of the table game, and we had to be much more aggressive, much more on the front-foot and play ten yards higher up the pitch.

“We made a change because we needed Cody’s physicality and Kieran [Wilson] went out on the left. In the second half, we were really good, restricted Hornchurch to very little and scored two very good goals.

“It was a positive day for Torquay United, I’m pleased for the players because they responded very well to going 1-0 down to the league leaders and pleased for the fans after a long trip.”

United’s equaliser early in the second period stemmed from the more aggressive approach, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Young forcing the hosts into a mistake, while the second was a super strike from the number eight in yellow.

“The first goal was more pleasing for me because that’s what we wanted to do in the first half,” said Wotton. “Sonny presses the centre-half, who plays a short ball and Youngy pounced on it to score, so we got our reward for the press. It was what we spoke about at half-time.

“For the second goal, we’ve gone from the edge of our box to scoring in about six or seven seconds. Great bit of play from Jay Foulston and Sonny, and then a clinical fantastic finish from Youngy.

“The boys defended the closing minutes really well, Hammy’s [James Hamon] not really had to make a save. It was two good teams and the boys are tired, as you should be after any game of football.”

And a final word for the travelling Yellow Army.

“It’s not cheap to come all this way and I’m pleased for them because a long trip on the way home is a lot easier if you’ve got three points,” said Wotton.

“We take belief from the performance because we are a good team and we have to keep doing what we’re doing.”