Gulls can enjoy a break before huge Notts game
TORQUAY United took another step closer to the National League play-off zone with a comfortable 3-0 against visitors Weymouth on Saturday.
The Gulls now sit just six points or seven if you take their poorer goal difference into account - off seventh place where Notts County currently hang out. And it is County who Torquay take on next after a Saturday off.
With nine games to go, the Gulls should have been at Stockport County next Saturday but the league leaders have an FA Trophy semi-final to play, so that game has been moved to a Tuesday night, and Torquay now have to wait until Saturday, April 9, for their next game - when they host County at Plainmoor.
Of course, much could have changed by then with all of the Gulls play-off rivals in action next weekend, and some on the following Tuesday night. But after two wins on the spin after last Tuesday night’s 4-0 home win against Aldershot Town, and seven goals and two clean sheets in five days, manager Gary Johnson comes across as a relaxed man right now.
He said: “Both the teams that we have played are teams that are trying to stay in the league - so they are fighting for everything. To be fair to Weymouth, we had a 20-minute cosmic spell but they kept themselves in it. They didn’t lay down and die for sure.”
Stephen Wearne opened the scoring in the 12th minute when he coolly slotted the ball past the Weymouth goalkeeper following a brilliant forward ball by Stephen Duke-McKenna.
It was 2-0 in the 19th minute when Ben Morgan fouled Armani Little in the penalty area and Little scored from the spot for his second goal in two games.
And the third goal came from the head of Danny Wright following a lovely cross by Tom Lapslie which was flicked on to the back post by Connor Lemonheigh-Evans. That goal came before a minute of the second half was up.
Johnson said: “We had two or three good opportunities in the second half but obviously the third goal was vital - just after half time. That happened against Aldershot too, that was the fourth one.
“Each time we win we get another couple of points closer to the playoffs, which we have done today, because not everybody can win every week.
“So it has been a good run for us and the boys are putting in the effort. You can see that because to play our game you have got to put a lot of effort in.”
Torquay played and beat Notts County in the play-off semi-finals at Plainmoor last season - it was a great game and the stadium was rocking. Johnson wants a similar atmosphere on Saturday week.
“The next game is like last year’s play-off game against Notts County,” he said. “This stadium should be full because that is a six-pointer for sure. It’s a big game for our club. If we treat it like a play-off game then hopefully we will get the same result.”
Meanwhile, Darren Sarll has left Yeovil Town after nearly three years in charge and has been confirmed as new Woking boss.
Saturday’s 2-0 win over Southend United was Sarll’s 134th and final match in charge and the Glovers issued a short statement at 10am on Monday morning with assistant Charlie Lee taking over the first-team in the interim period.