[OS] REPORT: United 2 – 1 Hornchurch

[TorquayFans.com]

United 2 (Craske 12′, Carson 39′) Hornchurch 1 (Balanta 88′)   On a day a true Gulls legend was remembered, United secured three vital points at an emotional Plainmoor. After Finley Craske’s early strike opened the scoring, Matt Carson doubled the advantage before the interval to put The Gulls in charge. Angelo Balanta’s late goal put the result back in the balance, but United did enough to hold on for another important victory. Boss Paul Wotton made two changes to the starting line-up that drew at Worthing in midweek, with Dan Hayfield and Matt Jay recalled in place of Oscar Threlkeld and Dylan Morgan, whilst the substitutes bench heralded the welcome return of Will Jenkins Davies. Having paid tribute to TUFC great Tony Bedeau prior to kick-off,  the match was twelve minutes old when United took the lead. Torquay actually had to soak up a lively start from the visitors during the first ten minutes, however, after winning a free-kick just past the halfway line, Jordan Young’s delivery provided Wotton’s men with the breakthrough. Young’s ball was pumped into the box with precision, and after Ed Palmer rose to divert the ball into a packed goalmouth, Craske was well-placed to smash the ball high into the roof of the net from ten yards out. It was a goal even Bedeau himself would have been happy with. On the half hour, Hornchurch had the perfect opportunity to level things up, as Craske was adjudged to have fouled him man inside the box. United’s contingent weren’t convinced, and James Hamon made it all irrelevant in stunning style, as he lept to right to keep out Thomas Wraight’s spot-kick with a fine parry. Wotton’s men exploited that let-off by making it 2-0 nine minutes later. A neat attacking move ended with a low ball being drilled across the face of the Hornchurch goal, and with Carson timing his run to perfection, he duly finished with aplomb by lashing the ball home from close range to put his side in firm control at the break. It was perhaps unsurprising that being two goals down, the visiting side upped the ante following the change of ends, and United had to be alert to ensure their two-goal margin remained intact. The Gulls remained a threat themselves though, and they continued to create some decent chances themselves whilst soaking up any pressure exerted by the Urchins. Hamon produced two more fine stops to add to his first-half heroics, as Charlie Pegrum and Angelo Balanta were both denied by the United No.1. Two minutes from time though, Hamon was finally beaten. With a through-ball finding Balanta darting in behind United’s backline, his diagonal finish across gaol found the bottom corner to make it 2-1 and set up a nervy finish. Wotton’s men showed desire and spirit in abundance in the last few minutes though, as they held on for an important win in their continued battle for promotion. After an testing week on and off the pitch, that was some achievement.   UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 2. Finley Craske, 5. Sam Dreyer (c), 7. Lirak Hasani, 8. Jordan Young (10. Omar Mussa, 55′), 14. Matt Carson (21. Dean Moxey, 68′), 16. Ed Palmer, 19. Cody Cooke, 20. Dan Hayfield (18. Oscar Threlkeld, 52′), 26. Jordan Thomas, 27. Matt Jay (22. Will Jenkins Davies, 62′). SUBS NOT USED: 29. Dylan Morgan.   HORNCHURCH: 1. Mason Terry, 2. Nathan Bertram-Cooper (18. Tommy Wood, 77′), 3. Giles Phillips (6. Ryan Scott, HT), 5. Harry Gibbs, 8. Thomas Wraight (c), 10. Angelo Balanta, 11. Myles Weston (7. George Saunders, 67′), 12. Darren McQueen, 14. Charlie Pegrum, 15. William Greenidge, 20. Sean Scannell. SUBS NOT USED: 16. Makai Welch.   Attendance: 4,460 (126 away)The post REPORT: United 2 – 1 Hornchurch first appeared on Torquay United.

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