Torquay are well set for National League finale
HERE we go – the run-in to the end of the season is upon us and, after a two-week break from playing, Torquay United have a massive game against Notts County at Plainmoor this Saturday, writes Richard Hughes.
Torquay beat Notts County in the semi-finals of the National League play-offs last season – 4-2 after extratime – but things are different now and the power dynamics have shifted a little, with Torquay chasing a play-off place and County sitting in sixth waving from the one they occupy above.
Without a game last weekend, because Stockport County who they were supposed to be playing took on Wrexham in an FA Trophy semi-final, Torquay started Saturday six points below the play-off zone and ended it nine points below.
So with nine games left to make up that gap and some pretty determined teams above them, it is almost vital that the Gulls win this weekend. Torquay have won the last two games 4-0 (at Aldershot Town) and 3-0 (at home against Weymouth) – so at least confidence will be high ahead of the game.
Manager Gary Johnson said: “All our thoughts, right from the end of the last game, have been on Notts County. We have had a lot of time to organise things and have had a look at what we want to do – and put it over to the lads. We gave them some rest as well – the old work, rest and play, that’s what I always say.
“And now we are fully focused on a normal week coming into Saturday’s massive game.
“They [Notts County] are up there in a play-off position and they are one of the teams that are favourites to go up. They probably feel they should be higher and competing for the top place. It’s going to be a tough game and we are going to have to earn the result – that’s for sure. You are not going to nick a result, you have got to go and earn it.”
Two weeks off might have been bad for winning momentum, but it will have been good for some of the players who are managing their season at the moment.
Key striker Danny Wright is 37 and the rest will have done him some good. Captain Asa Hall has missed recent games while his injury calms down following treatment.
But other than that – presuming there are no more injuries picked up in training this week – the squad seems to be pretty healthy.
“We didn’t have too many out but there are some of them that are not injured but still working on sharpness,” said Johnson. “So we will just have to wait and see how they go. But everybody at the moment is on the pitch. How ready they are we will have to wait and see.”
One player currently unavailable through injury is Kyle Cameron, who joined County from Torquay last season.