United 2
(Ash 49′, Hayfield 67′)
Horsham 0
United continued their Isuzu FA Trophy journey with a 2-0 win over Horsham at Plainmoor.
Second-half goals from Brad Ash and Dan Hayfield were enough to see Paul Wotton’s men through to the 4th round and a step closer to a Wembley return, with a trip to Gosport their next opponents.
Gulls boss Wotton made three changes to the starting eleven that triumphed 4-1 at Enfield ten days ago, with the suspended Lirak Hasani, Sam Dreyer and Cody Cooke replaced by Oscar Threlkeld, Ed Palmer and Ash.
A goalless first-half was largely dictated by a strong wind, although the visitors enjoyed the better of the few goalscoring openings.
Following the change of ends, it took United juts four minutes to get in front.
After Ash’s hard work won his side a corner, the quickly taken set-piece allowed substitute Matt Carson to whip in a delightful left-footed cross into the box, where Torquay’s number 11 glanced a header past Horsham goalkeeper Lewis Carey to open the scoring.
To their credit, the side from Sussex roused themselves after falling behind and put United on the back foot, until a second goal sealed progress midway through the second period.
Another dangerous delivery from Carson did the trick, and although the ball was initially repelled out of the 18-yard box, it fell perfectly to Hayfield, who took a touch into the box before rifling home a low drive to double The Gulls’ advantage.
United’s opponents kept going, and although James Hamon had to make a couple of fairly routine gathers, Wotton’s men always appeared to have the measure of The Hornets, as they made same passage through to Round 4 in January.
UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 3. Jay Foulston (14. Matt Carson, HT), 4. Jordan Dyer, 8. Jordan Young (21. Dean Moxey, 55′), 10. Omar Mussa, 11. Brad Ash (30. Keke Jeffers, 82′), 16. Ed Palmer, 18. Oscar Threlkeld (c) (17. Finn Tonks, 77′), 20. Dan Hayfield, 22. Will Jenkins Davies, 26. Jordan Thomas,.
SUBS NOT USED: 5. Sam Dreyer.
Yellow Card: Foulston 14′
HORSHAM: 1. Lewis Carey, 2. John Elliott, 4. Danny Barker, 5. Isaac Philpot, 6. Jack Strange, 8. Charlie Hester Cook (7. James Hammond, 81′), 12. Bobby Joe-Taylor (10. Daniel Ajakaiye, 87′), 15. John Brivio (c) (14. Joel Daly, 70′), 16. Montel Agyemang, 17. Lucas Rodrigues (19. Chris Dickson, 58′), 18. Reece Meekums (11. Ola Ogunwamide, 70′).
Yellow Card: Hester Cooke 67′
Attendance: 1,172 (55 away)