Back to winning ways for Torquay United and the promotion dream is alive

Jimmy Ball celebrated his first victory as Torquay United manager with goals either side of half-time in a controlled 2-0 success over mid-table Horsham.

The Gulls stormed in front through Dylan Morgan on just six minutes and never looked in real jeopardy, adding a gloss to the victory with a second-half own goal.

It took 28 seconds of Non-League Day at Plainmoor for Jordan Young to skip inside from the right flank and clip a neat effort narrowly over the bar, swiftly followed by alert goalkeeping from Seb Stacey thwarting a Horsham counter.

The bright opening continued with the first goal for United, as Morgan exchanged passes in the penalty area before calmly sliding a composed finish beyond the advancing Lewis Carey.

Horsham quickly recovered their composure and asked a couple of set-piece questions but it was generally routine defending required from the Gulls, who returned to their attacking posture with a deep cross headed over by Deon Moore.

Plainmoor rose again on the half-hour, briefly celebrating what appeared to be a second bundled over the line by Moore, but the offside flag curtailed home joy in the chilly March breeze.

United ended the half in relative control, Jordan Dyer forcing a decent block from Carey, and that pattern continued after the restart with Sonny Blu Lo-Everton inches from applying the finishing touch to another decent cross from the right.

Young then had Carey at full stretch to tip over his searing drive before a sumptuous bit of trickery from Morgan saw him dance past two defenders and feed a pass toward Moore, who was blocked by a retreating defender.

In a stark demonstration of the improving squad situation after a bleak run of injuries, Ball made a triple substitution on the hour, introducing the attacking prowess of Callum Dolan, Louis Dennis and new signing Reece Evans.

More solid goalkeeping from Stacey preceded the decisive second for United, as a Lo-Everton free kick was diverted into the net by a Horsham defender with Dyer in close attendance.

Horsham responded with a skidding effort that flew narrowly wide but United controlled the closing 20 minutes to seal a confident victory.