Decarrey Sheriff’s stoppage time strike earned Adam Murray a point in his first game in charge of Eastbourne Borough.
In the dugout after just two training sessions, there were clear signs the new Borough boss had already started to get his message across at Torquay United.
Borough went in front at the break courtesy of Callum Kealy’s fine strike, but found themselves behind entering the final 15 minutes.
But the Sports dug deep, and got their just rewards when Sheriff bundled home in the third minute of stoppage time – giving the 14 fans who made the 450-mile round trip something to go home happy about.
It wasn’t perfect by any means, but there was plenty of encouraging moments for the Sports as they reduced the gap on 20th place Weymouth.
Murray’s first starting line up saw five changes from the team that started on New Year’s Day. Ben Dudzinski returned in goal, whilst there were starts for Freddie Carter, Sheriff, Imran Uche and Jack Clarke. New signing Siya Ligendza started on the bench.
Led out by skipper Sam Beard, the Sports started on the front foot and nearly went ahead within thirty seconds.
After winning the ball back from kick off, Sheriff was released down the right. He crossed in to Billy Vigar, but he couldn’t get enough on his header to really test Mark Halstead.
The Sports enjoyed more of the ball in the first half at Plainmoor – frustrating the home crowd in Devon.
However, they couldn’t turn that advantage into clear-cut opportunities – with Leone Gravata firing just over before the winger played in Vigar, but Halstead saved well at his near post.
There was a moment of confusion, though, after the half hour mark. Beard was shown a yellow card, before a red by referee Ashley Clarke. Thankfully, though, parity was restored when he realised he hadn’t shown the wide man a yellow yet – instead booking Archie Procter earlier on.
And Borough deservedly broke the deadlock seven minutes before half time. Beard fired in a ball from the left and it was knocked back into Kealy, who from just inside the area drilled his first-time effort into the bottom corner.
Torquay looked for a response, but Lewis Collins volleyed high and wide when well placed to give the Sports the lead at the break.
Vigar went close to doubling the visitors’ lead moments after the restart, but it was Torquay who drew level after 48 minutes. Dillon De Silva was given room to cut inside from the right, and he drove towards goal before seeing his low effort go in off the post from the edge of the area.
Borough looked to fight back though, with Vigar and then Sheriff having shots on goal blocked before they were dealt an injury blow. Archie Harris went in with a reckless and high challenge on Beard, and was only shown yellow despite the Borough skipper being unable to continue.
Kealy then held the ball up well and found Gravata in room in a central area, but his shot was beaten away by Halstead before the hosts went in front.
De Silva’s low ball across picked out Will Jenkins Davies in space and his clinical first time finish gave Dudzinski no chance.
The Sports needed to dig deep, and almost drew level when substitute Ligendza got in behind the defence but only to see his shot blocked by the recovering Dean Moxey.
Brett McGavin then had a dipping shot go just over for the hosts with two minutes to go, but it was Borough who had the last laugh in the third minute of stoppage time.
Vigar played the ball over the top and Sheriff stayed onside to break through, and one on one with Halstead bundled it past the keeper to equalise.
