Ball wants improvement as Torquay start with draw

Torquay United manager Jimmy Ball says his side’s second-half performance cost them as they drew 1-1 with Horsham in their National League South opener.

Last season’s beaten play-off finalists took a 13th-minute lead when Deon Moore’s fortuitous effort found the back of the net.

Greg Luer levelled for Horsham nine minutes into the second half before Gulls debutant Isaac Westendorf had a 64th-minute headed goal disallowed after Dom Bernard’s cross was ruled to have gone out of play.

“The first half, definitely the first half-hour, I think we looked really good for it,” Ball told BBC Radio Devon.

“I think we restricted them to very, very, very little, if anything, in the first half hour, and we were causing problems; we were a handful, we were getting at them.

“We’ve just got to take more opportunities, the day we do someone’s in trouble because we create plenty.”

Ball said, however, that Torquay’s second-half showing did not reach the level of which they are capable.

“We didn’t keep the ball, we didn’t penetrate, we didn’t do lots of things. Too many balls bounced, too many second balls lost, it was just bitty,” he added.

“Second half wasn’t good enough. We fell off, which is disappointing so that’s what we’re going to look at, that’s what we’re going to arrest and work to improve.

“We’ve got to take a step forward every week and improve and improve and hopefully this group of players has got enough.”

Related internet links

• Torquay United