United 1
(Moore 14′)
Horsham 1
(Luer 54′)
United had to settle for an opening day draw on Saturday, as Horsham pegged Torquay back at Plainmoor.
Deon Moore’s early opener got United’s season off to a flyer, before Greg Luer’s second-half leveller meant The Gulls had to be happy with one point, instead of three.
United took the lead in the 13th minute – unlucky for some, but not for the men in yellow.
After being forced wide of goal, Moore’s ball back across goal looked to be more of an intended assist rather than a shot at goal, but nevertheless, the effort had enough on it to cause visiting goalkeeper Sam Howes trouble, and it was ultimately to Moore’s delight that the ball squeezed through the Horsham stopper and over the line before Howes had time to correct the error.
Ball’s side generally looked the more cultured on the ball, but they didn’t seriously threaten again for the remainder of a stop-start second half.
Horsham were back on level terms nine minutes after the restart.
A ball from the Horsham left found Luer lurking at the far post, and although Torquay glovesman Toby Savin got his hands to the diagonal shot, it wasn’t enough to keep the strike out.
United thought they had found a second on 67 minutes.
Dom Bernard’s cross – superb in itself – was expertly headed home by Isaac Westendorf eight yards out, but much to Torquay’s dismay, Bernard’s delivery was ruled to have left the field of play.
In truth, it was the Hornets who looked more threatening for the majority of the time that was left, although injury time did provide a couple of gilt-edged chances for The Gulls, with substitutes Matt Jay and Cody Cooke just unable to provide the finishing touch.
Not the win we all wanted, but a point on the board on day one.
UNITED: 1. Toby Savin, 2. Dom Bernard (4. Jordan Dyer, 72′), 3. Tyler Hill, 5. Sam Dreyer, 6. Munashe Sundire, 10. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (11. Dylan Morgan, 55′), 12. Harry Shield (39. Callum Morton, 55′), 14. Deon Moore (27. Matt Jay, 90′), 16. Jake Wannell, 18. Matt Worthington (c), 19. Isaac Westendorf. (9. Cody Cooke, 77′)
SUBS NOT USED: 13. Zak Baker, 20. Dan Hayfield.
Yellow Card: Westendorf 20′, Worthington 32′, Moore 38′, Wannell 42′
HORSHAM: 13. Sam Howes, 4. Charlie Hester-Cook (5. Ronan Silva, 81′), 7. James Hammond, 8. Danny Barker (3. Harvey Sparkes, 70′), 9. Ashley Nadesan, 11. Jamie Yila (18. Reece Myles Meekums, 81′), 12. Greg Luer, 15. Jack Brivio, 17. Archy Taylor (2. Jake Elliott, 70′), 19. Ryan Bartley, 20. Lee Harding.
SUBS NOT USED: 6. Jack Strange, 21. Lucas Pattenden, 27. Marco Haigh.
Yellow Card: Harding 35′, Hester Cook 38′
Attendance: 4,219 (145 away)
