'Pressure' affected Torquay in Hemel loss - Ball

Jimmy Ball lost for the second time since taking over as Torquay United manager last month [Shutterstock]

Torquay United manager Jimmy Ball says his side did not cope with the pressure as they lost 2-1 to play-off rivals Hemel Hempstead Town.

The defeat sees Hemel leapfrog Torquay into fourth place in National League South.

Fifth-placed Torquay must win at Tonbridge Angels in their final game of the season next week to guarantee a play-off place.

Three points separate second-placed Hornchurch from seventh-placed Weston-super-Mare, with Maidenhead United one point behind.

"Pressure and nerves change people, and it changed us today," Ball told BBC Radio Devon.

"I didn't recognise us today and I can't put my finger on it.

"It's not the way I asked them to play, but it's not a me and them, it's us, so we're going to have to address it and figure out why.

"Maybe we give credit to the opponents - they stopped us playing.

"They rattled us, ruffled us, took their counter-attack goal very well, which is everything we worked on, which is their style, which is good, and outrun us and outfought us."

Remaye Campbell gave Hemel an ninth-minute lead before Dean Moore equalised 10 minutes before half time.

But Mauro Vilhete got what proved to be then winner when he fired into the top corner from distance to secure three vital points.

"Up until the goal, there was nothing in it, but just really poor decision-making all around the goal.

"We looked nervy, we looked edgy, there was no reason to be, this was a just go and play today at home in front of nearly 5,000 people, just go and play, and the opposite happened.

"I need to watch it back before I make too many remarks, but we just didn't cope very well."

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