Johnson calls on Gulls fans to get Plainmoor ‘roar’ going again

GARY Johnson says Torquay United have ‘certainly given themselves a great opportunity’ of staying in the National League after four wins on the trot.

With York City at Plainmoor today (KO 3pm), the Gulls need more points yet to escape the relegation zone, but the simple maths are – if they accumulate three more points than both Aldershot Town and Yeovil Town from their remaining four games, they will avoid the drop.

It has been quite a turnaround, but Johnson has finally been able to field a team that looks strong, balanced and confident, with the wins against Eastleigh and Maidenhead United over the weekend were achieved without much drama. The

Gulls looked the better and more composed team throughout the both of them.

The Minstermen, who have three games remaining, aren’t out of trouble themselves yet, but a win at Plainmoor might just be enough, so the game is important for both teams.

“You have got to hit form at this time and the good thing is I think we are joint third in the form table from the last six games,” said Johnson. “That was a discussion we had with the lads a few weeks ago, to say that we must hit form before we go into the last few games. So we have certainly given ourselves a great opportunity, and teams are looking over their shoulders – definitely.

“I can’t wait now for Saturday because that is a big, big game and I think everybody sees and knows that.

“If we can get that Plainmoor roar going again, which we did against Eastleigh, and the lads talked about it for a couple of days afterwards, that really does get us going. So the fans can be a big part again on Saturday.”

There were some walking wounded after the 3-1 win at Maidenhead United, where strikers Aaron Jarvis and Frank Nouble (two) got the goals. Both look set to continue their flourishing partnership up front, while Tope Fadahunsi has to wait in the wings because you can only have five loan players in any one 16. For the last two games, those five have been Nico Lawrence, Kevin Dawson, Jack Stobbs, Lewis Collins and Kieron Evans – but should one of those struggle to be fit for a game, Fadahunsi must be ready to step straight in – and Johnson confirmed ‘he has been sharp’ in training.

Winger Stobbs came off at halftime against Maidenhead after feeling a groin strain when crossing the ball for Jarvis’ end-of-first-half headed opener. He was being assessed this week. Ben Wyatt did OK when he came on for the second half.

York, six points above the Gulls with two other teams – Maidenhead and Dorking Wanderers – on 49 points, have two former Torquay players in their ranks, defender Mark Ellis and striker Mani Duku. Ellis was on loan at Torquay from Barrow earlier this season, before returning to his parent club and then joining York, who are closer to his home. Duku, who was a sub in the last game, a 3-0 home defeat by FC Halifax Town, had a rather unremarkable 15-game spell at Plainmoor in the 2019-20 season, when he scored just one goal. But in 30 appearances for York this season, he has seven. Their top goalscorer is the one to watch, Lenell John-Lewis, while eight-goal Shaqai Forde has also had a good season.

Their assistant manager, Tony McMahon, talked to the York newspaper The Press this week and said: “There’s nine points up for grabs and if we can get through Saturday then that puts us into an unbelievable position going into the last two.

“And if Torquay can get the three points then they’ll be thinking they’ve dragged a few teams back into it here.

“It’s not about what other teams do, it’s about what we do and we’ve got to make sure we get points on the board to retain our status in the league. “