Ball encouraged as Torquay draw with leaders Dorking
· Yahoo Sports
New Torquay United manager Jimmy Ball says he is encouraged by what he saw as his side drew 2-2 with National League South leaders Dorking Wanderers.
The point moved the Gulls up to sixth place in the table and they remain 10 points behind their opponents with six games left to play.
Visit biznow.biz for more information.
It was Ball's first home game in charge of Torquay since being appointed as Paul Wotton's permanent successor last week.
Jordan Young went close twice in the early stages before Alfie Rutherford gave Dorking a 13th-minute lead.
It was a lead they held until substitute Callum Dolan - returning to play for the first time since suffering what was thought to be a season-ending knee injury - levelled with a 20-yard effort in the 78th minute.
Two minutes later, Dolan volleyed in at the far post to put the Gulls 2-1 up, only for Sam Pearson to make it 2-2 four minutes later.
Dolan and Louis Dennis both had chances to get a winner in stoppage time but could not convert.
"I'm gutted that we weren't able to have a memorable night tonight with a win but I think the performance was encouraging," Ball told BBC Radio Devon.
"I think we've got to get a bit more gritty, we've got to have both sides of the game.
"We've got the beautiful football, pretty side of the game... We need a bit more ugly, a bit more dirty when we have to be, in this league.
"Defences win leagues and the goals are regrettable but we've got to work on those things together.
"We've had three training sessions together and there's lots of work to do so I'm excited about that and I think the team can only get better."
Jimmy Ball got his first point as Torquay boss following a 1-0 loss at Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday [Shutterstock]Having already added Deon Moore to his squad last week, Ball is hoping he can make more additions to Torquay in the coming days.
A long injury list was one of the reasons Torquay have struggled in the last six weeks as they dropped from top of the table to seventh place.
And while Dolan and Dennis' return from injury has boosted the squad, Ball says he wants to add to it further before Thursday's non-league transfer deadline.
"I'm trying to bring bodies into the football club but that's got to be done in a real measured manner," he said.
"I'm speaking with players and I think they think Torquay United's the Bank of England - it's not and I won't let take players take liberties with wages.
"We'll do things right and it'll be the right people coming to the club for the right reasons and not to take the money.
"When I land people, it'll be for the right reasons.
"So hopefully I can bring some reinforcements and help this squad out because it's been stretched and when you've been stretched for a long period (...) it's the repercussions of what comes with their bodies when they've been to the max for a long period of time."