- Torquay United are 2-1 ahead on head-to-head after three competitive meetings
- Torquay United have beaten Horsham twice already at Plainmoor
- Torquay United have played five pre-season friendlies, four wins, scoring 24 goals in July.
Gulls look too good for Horsham’s away day
Torquay United's opening fixture in the National League South is all about sending an early statement to the rest of the division and Horsham FC are in the right place at the wrong time. The Gulls are in fine form and ready to roll as one of the promotion favourites to come up this season after last season's play-off heartbreak.
Horsham will arrive in the South Coast looking to spoil the party and make their own mark in a brand new season that they start on 0 points. Dom Di Paola's side can be hard to crack when they sit deep, hit fast, and deliver with set pieces, but there is a clash of styles on Saturday that could suit Torquay more than the visitors.
Jimmy Ball's side play a front-foot style of possession football, with high pressing and quick transitions when possession is turned over. And there is a bit of a buzz about the hosts at the moment with four pre-season wins from five and 24 goals scored in July.
Betting on the goals could be a better angle
Torquay are a short odds of 3/10 to take all three points on Saturday with Horsham 36/5 and the draw 18/5, which leaves the market looking a bit uninspiring and the home side as the only real play. But there are a few angles on the game that could be a little more rewarding.
The Over 2.5 goals price of 11/20 certainly appeals for a game in which Both Teams to Score is set at a touch of evens (17/20). It's clear that Torquay's superior quality will eventually tell in this and both teams to net: No also has some appeal, although the most likely outcome is still a home win.
Deon Moore is the danger man for the Gulls after bagging six goals in his final four appearances of 2025-26, including a brace in each leg of the play-off semi-final and final. Jordan Young can also be a constant outlet, while new boys Callum Morton and Toby Savin can also add extra bite and security.
Surging Gulls can outlast the Stags
Horsham have done some good work of their own in pre-season, but a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace's U21 team has been followed by a 3-0 loss at Worthing in a game that puts a little doubt over their momentum. Jack Brivio provides leadership and control, James Hammond the set-piece threat and Leone Gravata can sting the opposition late as he showed when he put Horsham 2-1 up at Plainmoor last August. Horsham will be looking to make a mark in the South and can do so if they nick it from a set-piece or counter-attack, but it's unlikely they will be able to resist Torquay's pressure for 90 minutes. A home victory is the preferred selection because the visitors are a disciplined, compact unit and have already shown they can hurt the Gulls. Horsham's last competitive run ended with a 3-2 win over Chippenham Town, but prior to that had lost in the National League South with defeats away to Salisbury and Weston-super-Mare. So although they are 2-1 ahead on h2h, Horsham can get on the scoresheet with a set-piece goal on a day when the hosts will need to earn their win.
