Torquay's Jay hopes late win can kickstart away form

Matt Jay's late winner ensured Torquay in their first away game of the season [Shutterstock] Torquay United match-winner Matt Jay hopes his side's late victory at Chelmsford City can be a catalyst for better away form this season. Jay's 83rd-minute goal ensured a 2-1 victory for the Gulls, their first of the National League South season, in their first match away from Plainmoor. Torquay did not pick up an away win until early October last season. They went on to win 10 of their 23 away league matches before losing their final trip in extra time as they were beaten 3-2 at Hornchurch in the promotion play-off final. "We had to find a way, and maybe last year we wouldn't have won that game, so it was pleasing to come away with three points today," Jay told BBC Radio Devon. "The couple of years I've been here we've been really, really good at home and it's been the away form that hasn't been so good. "So we have to try and pick up some points away from home, especially when we come to difficult places like this, so it's huge for us." Torquay 'win fight' in late Tonbridge Angels victory The goal was Jay's first for Torquay since 10 March as he takes part in his third season for the Gulls. The former promotion-winning Exeter City captain has had an up and down time since moving to Plainmoor from Colchester United in January 2025 on a deal that runs until 2027. He scored seven goals in 20 games in his first half-season, including the winner at eventual league champions Truro City that helped the Gulls take the title race down to the final day of the campaign. But he found game-time limited last term as he scored four times. He started 22 games last and featured as a substitute in a further 18 league games but has made just four starts since Jimmy Ball took over as manager in March. "We knew that we had to find a way to win and I'm pleased for myself because it's been a long time coming," Jay added. "A bit of disappointment last year, I thought I could have done a bit more last year, so this season I feel really good and I want to be playing all the time. "I didn't start the last two, but hopefully it's in the manager's mind now and I'm delighted to score the winner, we needed that."
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