United 2
(De Silva 48′, Jenkins Davies 73′)
Eastbourne Borough 2
(Kealy 38′, Sheriff 90+3′)
There was a rare draw at Plainmoor, as a late goal saw United held to a 2-2 draw by Eastbourne Borough.
Callum Kealy’s first-half opener gave Borough the lead, however Dillon De Silva swiftly levelled things up moments after the restart, and Will Jenkins Davies looked to have put the men in yellow on course for all three points. There was to be a late sting in the tail for United though, as Decarrey Sheriff netted a late leveller to see the points shared.
For their first match of 2024, manager Gary Johnson made one change to the side that went down to Truro City on Boxing Day, with Dillon De Silva replacing the injured Theo Williams in attack.
It was the visitors who settled the better, however, despite enjoying plenty of possession in United’s half during the first half-hour, The Sports were unable to translate that advantage into much in the way of clear-cut chances.
A successive of Torquay set-pieces did disrupt that pattern, however seven minutes before the break, Eastbourne took the lead.
With an aerial ball into the 18-yard box causing discomfort in The Gulls’ backline, a well-placed knock-down saw the ball delivered into the path of Kealy, who gleefully steered home a half-volley inside Mark Halstead’s near-post to break the deadlock.
United responded by making a number of forays into Eastbourne’s box, and although Lewis Collins was presented with a brief opportunity to restore parity just before the break, his effort was too high to trouble Ben Dudzinski in-between the sticks, to leave Gary Johnson’s men behind at the break.
Once things got back underway though, it wasn’t long before Torquay wiped out the deficit.
After picking up possession down the right-hand side, De Silva’s run took him inside, and after a retreating backline offered further encouragement, the Sri Lankan international weaved his way into the penalty box, before drilling a left-footed effort across goal and in off the post to make it 1-1.
Although back on level terms, The Sports continued to make it difficult for Johnson’s men, although gilt-edged openings in front of goal remained at a premium.
In the 73rd minute though, United put aside their frustrations to turn the match on its head.
Having already scored, De Silva’s next decisive move was to provide the assist for his side to go in front. Once again the goal came via the right wing, with De Silva’s run and low ball across the box finding Jenkins Davies unmarked fifteen yards out to make it 2-1.
With Torquay determined to hold on to three valuable points and Borough equally keen to salvage a point, it made for a very open end to proceedings, with Brett McGavin nearly adding to his already glorious collection of 2023/24 goals with a sumptuous 25-yarder that only just cleared the crossbar.
Just when it looked like Johnson’s men had done enough, they were undone in the third of eight minutes of stoppage time.
With a ball over the top seeing Decarrey and Moxey give chase, it was the Eastbourne attacker who just managed to squeeze the ball past the onrushing Halstead, and secure a late point for his team.
A frustrating outcome, but another point on the board.
UNITED: 1. Mark Halstead, 6. Ross Marshall (24. Calum Thomas, 90+1′), 10. Lewis Collins (8. Asa Hall, 87′), 14. Brett McGavin, 17. Dillon De Silva, 18. Will Jenkins Davies, 21. Dean Moxey (c), 23. Ollie Tomlinson, 26. Archie Harris, 30. Ethon Archer (3. Dan Martin, 81′), 32. Osman Foyo.
SUBS NOT USED: 22. Rhys Lovett, 35. Thomas Chastey.
Yellow Cards: Marshall 45+2′, Harris 50′
EASTBOURNE BOROUGH: 1. Ben Dudzinski, 3. Archie Proctor, 8. Jack Clarke, 11. Decarrey Sheriff, 15. Imran Uche (7. Siyabonga Ligendza, 64′), 16. Freddie Carter, 20. Leone Gravata, 22. Billy Vigar, 23. Sam Beard (c) (2. Scott Leslie, 53′), 25. Callum Kealy (5. Daniel Quick, 64′), 27. Michael Olarewaju.
SUBS NOT USED: 13. Harrison Foulkes, 17. Louis Collins.
Yellow Cards: Proctor 14′, Beard 35′, Vigar 68′, Clarke 79′, Dudzinski 90+5′
Attendance: 2,061 (14 away)