TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

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MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Torquay United versus Hornchurch

Competition: National League South

Venue: Plainmoor Stadium, Torquay

Date: Saturday 1st November 2025

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Torquay: 1
Draw: 0
Hornchurch: 1

CURRENT FORM (LAST 6)

Torquay (W2 – D1 – L3):
W 1-0 Ebbsfleet United H
W 1-0 Salisbury FC A
D 0-0 Dagenham & Redbridge H
L 0-1 Chesham United A
W 3-0 Chippenham Town H
L 1-3 Dorking Wanderers A

Hornchurch (W3 – D3 – L0):
D 1-1 Ebbsfleet United A
W 5-2 Slough Town A
D 0-0 Dover Athletic H
D 1-1 Horsham H
W 3-2 Bath City H
W 2-1 Hampton and Richmond Borough H

TOP GOAL-SCORERS

Torquay: Jordan Young (8)

Hornchurch: Angelo Balanta(6)

HORNCHURCH FACT FILE

Year founded: 1881 (reformed in 2005)
Home ground: Hornchurch Stadium, Upminster
Nickname: The Urchins
Last season’s league finish: 9th in National League South
Notable honours:
FA Trophy:
Winners: 2020-21
Isthmian League:
Premier League winners: 2023-24

MANAGER – DARYL MCMAHON

A brief spell at Port Vale then followed before he was signed for Leyton Orient by former Gulls’ boss Martin Ling in 2005. In his first season at Brisbane Road, the 2005-06 campaign, he was part of the Orient side that won automatic promotion from League Two.

McMahon later had spells in non-league football with Stevenage, Cambridge United, Farnborough, Boreham Wood (twice) and Ebbsfleet amongst others before entering management with Ebbsfleet in 2015, following a spell as caretaker manager.

In the 2016-17 season, he led Ebbsfleet to promotion from National League South via the play-offs and then guided them to the National
League play-offs in the 2017-18 campaign.

After leaving Ebbsfleet by mutual consent in November 2018, he was appointed as manager of Macclesfield Town in August 2019 – in succession to Sol Campbell. He then resigned from the Silkmen before he took charge of Dagenham & Redbridge in January 2020, a role which he held until February 2023.

He took charge of the Urchins in January 2024 and led them to the Isthmian Premier League title at the end of the 2023-24 season.

PLAYER PROFILE – ANGELO BALANTA

Born in Colombia, Angelo Balanta moved to England at the age of five and joined the youth system of Queens Park Rangers before progressing to their first team – signing his first professional contract with the R’s in 2008, where he made 25 appearances and scored three goals. He later enjoyed loan spells with Wycombe Wanderers, Milton Keynes Dons (three times) and Yeovil Town before signing for Bristol Rovers in 2014.

During his time at the Memorial Stadium, Balanta helped the Pirates helped the Pirates to win promotion back to the Football League at the first attempt and scored in their penalty shoot-out win in the National League play-off final against Grimsby Town. Following their play-off
final victory, he opted to join Carlisle United, where he remained for one season before returning to the non-league scene to sign for Boreham Wood. He stayed with the Wood for two years and helped them to reach the National League play-off final in 2018, where they were beaten by Tranmere Rovers.

Balanta joined Dagenham & Redbridge in 2018, where he remained for five years until 2023 when he re-joined Boreham Wood before signing for the Urchins a year later.

PLAYER STATS:
Position: Attacking Midfielder
DOB: 01/07/90
Height: 1.79m
Previous Clubs: QPR, Wycombe, MK Dons, Yeovil, Bristol Rovers, Carlisle United, Boreham Wood, Dagenham and Redbridge
NLS Stats 25/26: Appearances: 13, Goals 6, Assists 1, Yellow/Red Cards 0/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: None

Hornchurch: Josh Rees

LAST MEETING

Last meeting: Saturday 15th February 2025, Torquay United 2 Hornchurch 1

After paying tribute to the memory of former striker Tony Bedeau, Torquay United kept their promotion bid on track with a win over
Hornchurch.     

In the fourth minute, the Urchins went close through Darren McQueen who was denied by the reflexes of United keeper James Hamon.
However, the Gulls edged ahead on 12 minutes when a Jordan Young free-kick was nodded across the penalty area by Ed Palmer into the path of Finley Craske, who scored his first second goal for the club.

Three minutes later, Jordan Thomas went close with an angled effort which was palmed behind by Hornchurch keeper Mason Terry, following good work from Matt Jay and Cody Cooke. In the 30th minute, the Urchins were awarded a penalty after Craske was
adjudged to have felled Will Greenidge, which Hornchurch skipper Tom Wraight stepped up to take – but it was saved by Hamon.

The Gulls doubled their lead on 39 minutes when a cross from Young picked out Matt Carson who made a late run into the box before slotting home. In the second half, Charlie Pegrum had a shot turned around the post by Hamon in the 49th minute.

On 71 minutes, Thomas and sub Omar Mussa combined to tee up Thomas for a shot that Terry tipped over for a corner. With three minutes to go, Harry Gibbs headed against the post for the Urchins before Angelo Balanta pulled one back a minute later.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (4-2-3-1): James Hamon; Jordan Thomas, Jordan Dyer, Sam Dreyer, Jay Foulston; Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Matt Worthington; Jordan Young, Matt Jay, Callum Dolan; Louis Dennis

Hornchurch (5-3-2): Arthur Nasta; Josh Hare, Frankie Edwards, Giles Phillips, Harry Gibbs, Makai Welch; Josh Rees, Tom Wraight, Charlie Pegrum, Angelo Balanta, Henry Hearn

COYY – STEVE

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