Torquay United 2 Worthing 1 - Gulls return to Plainmoor in winning style

Second-half goals from Omar Mussa and Jay Foulston gave Torquay United a 2-1 home win against Worthing that moved them up to third in the National League South table.

After a first half in which the Gulls struggled to get a grip on the game, and went 1-0 down, manager Paul Wotton made two changes for the second half, and substitute Mussa struck with a beautiful shot from just outside the area. Foulston then got the last touch on a corner for 2-1.

It was a backs-to-the-wall job after that. But Torquay survived and are now third in the table with 24 points, just two points below Farnborough, who are top with 26.

Wotton actually made two changes to the starting line-up from the weekend when Torquay drew 1-1 at Eastbourne Borough. Lirak Hasani came into midfield for Will Jenkins Davies, and Brad Ash replaced Ben Seymour up front.
An early mistake by Sam Dreyer gave Mo Faal a chance to shoot from the edge of the area but James Hamon got to the ball well.

Worthing kept possession well in the opening 10 minutes - but Finley Craske did well down the right and his low cross from inside the box was cleared. The rebound by Ash was held by the goalkeeper Chris Haigh. Ash had a good strike saved by Haigh in the 17th minute before Matt Carson had a header turned around the post. It was Torquay's best attack of the game so far.

Worthing were comfortable on the ball in the first half though - and a well worked move ended up on the foot of Jack Spong and he struck the ball past Hamon, into the far corner, in the 36th minute. Ash headed wide from a Carson cross, but Torquay were second best in the first half and the home crowd - all but 24 of the 2,701 in the ground - was as quiet as it has been this season.

At half time, Jenkins Davies and Omar Mussa came on for Oscar Threlkeld and Matt Carson. The formation changed from 5-3-2 to 4-4-2. In the 51st minute Mussa received the ball in space, took a few steps, and arrowed it home from 20 yards with a shot that beat the goalkeeper at full stretch. It was a great strike and it woke up the home fans.

Dannny Cashman broke for Worthing in the 59th minute and looked odds on to score but showed too much of the ball to Hamon who slid to take it at his feet. Spong shot wide with only Hamon to beat a couple of minutes later after a Torquay defensive mix-up. Hamon only half-held a Cashman shot and had to grab it at a second attempt.

Then it was Torquay's turn. Ash had a strike saved by Haigh in the 66th minute after good work by Mussa; Jordan Dyer headed wide with another good chance. An Ash shot was deflected into the goalie's hands. Foulston made it 2-1 with a header from a Mussa corner which was swung into the six-yard box right in front of the goalkeeper. The ball was met by a wave of attackers and defenders and it was the Torquay defender who got the final touch on it to force it home from the crowd.

With Worthing still showing signs of serious life, Hasani made way for Dean Moxey in the 84th minute and Torquay battened down the hatches. It was Worthing's time. Torquay were forced to defend for the last five minutes. In the 90th minute, Wotton threw on Finn Tonks for Ash as six minutes were added on.

Hamon was booked for time-wasting before making a save from a tame Faal shot. Cody Cooke also went into the book for a tasty challenge. And then Faal headed a brilliant chance wide from a corner. There was one final corner cleared before the referee put the whistle to his lips.