Western Morning News (Saturday)
Gulls boss calls for ‘calmness and intensity’ Torquay cannot afford to slip up in Stockport showdown in front of TV cameras
Plymouth Raiders’ missed out on a place in the BBL play-off final after a 20-point loss to London Lions in the semi-final second leg play-off gave the capital side an eight-point aggregate win
TAY calm and stay competitive’, that is the message from Torquay United manager Gary Johnson (pictured) ahead of tomorrow’s big televised game at thirdplaced Stockport County (KO12.30pm).
Torquay are one point behind leaders Sutton United at the top of the National League, with both teams having just three games left to play.
For the Gulls to take the title and win automatic promotion and avoid having to go through the play-offs, they have to do better than Sutton between now and May 29.
Realistically, that means winning all three remaining games and needing Sutton to slip up once. Any slip up by Torquay would need a further slip up by Sutton. Meanwhile, both teams will be hoping to avoid a poor run which could let Stockport County in at the last minute. Fourth-placed Hartlepool United, who have lost their last two games, would need an extraordinary turnaround to see them take the top prize, with even their manager conceding the title.
While Torquay wait to play Stockport tomorrow, Sutton are at Maidenhead United this afternoon. Given the recent form of both teams, it is a game they are expected to win.
With Seale Hayne under water, training for the Gulls has been at Plainmoor and South Devon College this week, and Johnson has been working on keeping the players ‘topped up’ and focused ahead of the Stockport game in front of the BT Sport cameras.
“It is just keeping them topped up, really,” the manager said. “We know our game and we know what we are doing and it just changes slightly depending on the team you are playing and the organisation that they play with.
“But generally we work on ourselves and we try and make sure that we hone in on our game, as it were. All the lads now know exactly what our game is and they just have to produce it.”
Stockport’s fine form may have come just a little late for the top spot – but they are the big spenders in the division and are on a 15-game undefeated run, with the appointment of the former Brighton & Hove Albion under-23s manager Simon Rusk in January certainly seeming to be working.
Midway through March they signed striker Paddy Madden on a three-year deal from Fleetwood Town for an undisclosed fee. He has now scored seven goals in 14 games. Fifteen goal John Rooney will also be a threat, while Alex Reid is their top scorer with 17.
Johnson, the National League Manager of the Month for April, said: “We are looking forward to the game. It’s on TV and so it should be because we are probably the two form teams over the last month or so.
“It’s a big game and I am seeing it like a proper Second Division game. They have got players that have been around and have been regulars in the Football League – and it won’t