Moore to come from Deon and two new signings for Torquay United

More reinforcements have just arrived, but it’s a player whom new manager Jimmy Ball made his first signing who’s bringing a growing smile to the faces of Torquay United fans with six games to go in the National League South promotion race.

Heading into Saturday’s test against Horsham at Plainmoor, centre-forward Deon Moore is still waiting for his first Gulls goal after scoring 12 for divisional rivals Maidstone United.

That hasn’t dismayed supporters, who have been impressed by his all-round play in two matches so far.

But Ball says: “Deon is disappointed with his performances, and everybody seems quite pleased with them.

“That excites me, because there is more to come from him.

“He knows he can do and give a lot more.”

The 26-year-old Londoner has been a timely addition with Cody Cooke out with a shoulder injury and Sonny Fish still trying to break through as a regular starter.

At Thursday’s press conference Ball announced that two more signings were all but agreed, and 20-year-olds Reece Evans from Reading and Charlie Osborne from AFC Bournemouth are now on board in time to face Horsham.

Ulster-born striker Evans and midfielder Osborne, who has followed Ball from a loan spell at AFC Totton, are both with United to the end of the season.

“We’ve got 17 outfield players fit at the moment, and two more will bring it up to 19,” said Ball, “and we’re going to need them all between now and the end of the season, whenever that may be.”

Tuesday’s rousing 2-2 draw with leaders Dorking Wanderers not only helped sixth-placed United’s chances of making the Play-Offs, but it kept Dorking within range of the chasing pack.

Dorking are five points clear, but only eight points cover Worthing in second place down to Weston-super-Mare in eighth, and Weston have two games in hand over most of the teams above them.

“You can’t call a result in this league,” says Ball.

“You can’t slip up. We’ve got six cup finals ahead.”

Since Jordan Thomas’ injury and the release of Denzel Akyeampong, United have had to mix and match at right-back.

But that situation has now eased – Thomas is fit again, Matt Worthington is available to play there if needed after serving a three-match suspension and Sutton defender Will Tizzard has just extended his loan to the end of the season.

With an international break, Saturday is ‘Non-League Day’ and United are offering £10 admission to fans of Premier League, Championship clubs and Plymouth Argyle, who don’t have a game (details on the club website).

Promoted as Isthmian League champions last season, Horsham have more than answered long-serving manager Dom Di Paola’s call for consolidation.

They reached his 52-point safety target with eight games to spare, helped by a 2-1 win over the Gulls back in August.

Another memorable campaign for them has included a run to the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy, where they lost 2-1 to favourites Southend.

Former Lewes and Eastbourne forward James Hammond is the leading scorer with 12 goals, and the pace of Reece Myles-Meekums has been a concern for opponents all season.

Their squad also includes two ex-Gulls loanees in forwards Rhys Murphy and Shamir Fenelon, as well as experienced winger Greg Luer (Woking, Eastbourne).

There are plenty of ‘six-pointers’ among the upcoming fixtures elsewhere.

On Saturday, Dorking host Hemel Hempstead, who are up to third place on the back of six straight wins.

Worthing (2nd) travel to lowly Enfield Town, Hornchurch (4th) are at relegation battlers Farnborough and there’s a tasty match-up between Maidenhead (5th) and Weston (8th) at York Road. Ebbsfleet (7th) also entertain Slough.

On Monday night Chelmsford, tenth but with games in hand, host AFC Totton.

And Tuesday evening sees Maidenhead at home to Bath, who have just appointed former Weston and Eastleigh boss Scott Bartlett as their new manager, and another six-pointer between Weston and Hemel Hempstead.

Saturday’s referee at Plainmoor, Jordan Crossley, hails from Littleborough in Lancashire.