Ralph & Co have difficult job as the games come thick and fast

The full impact of the Plainmoor groundshare deal between Torquay United and Truro City is starting to hit home, now that we have run into the ‘Cup Phase’ of the season.

Both clubs entered the Emirates FA Cup at the second qualifying round stage last weekend, both away from home.

That was some consolation for the Gulls’ head groundsman Chris Ralph. But only just because, sure enough, one of them (Truro) drew at the first attempt, producing tonight’s replay against Hereford at Plainmoor.

With five home league games each, plus a recent FA Youth Cup tie for United, the Truro-Hereford tie was the 12th match to be held on the Plainmoor pitch in less than eight weeks of the new campaign.

And the pressure is only likely to increase from now on.

The FA Cup takes in the weekends of October 6 and 20, and of course we’re all hoping that at least United keep going right up to the first round proper (November 10) and beyond

With a busy league programme continuing each week, the Buildbase FA Trophy also starts on the weekend of November 24-25.

Ralph and his assistant Julian Gouldthorpe must be the only Gulls fans who aren’t that bothered if the Gulls are drawn away in either competition.

But the biggest worry is the one which reared its head from the first day that the agreement between United and the White Tigers was suddenly announced just before the start of the season.

That’s the ‘nightmare’ scenario of both clubs being drawn at home over a cup weekend or, possibly, both clubs needing home midweek replays.

It was interesting that Truro’s replay date against Hereford was put back to tonight well in advance, so that United could have played last night if they had needed another go against Lymington Town.

Brett Williams celebrates one of his two goals at Lymington on Saturday

But that still throws up the very real possibility of Plainmoor having to stage two games in the space of 24 hours – not once but several times this season – with a total workload of nearly 60 games over the season.

United are also, and naturally, keen for their Academy Under-18 team to play FA Youth Cup ties at Plainmoor whenever possible, and their second qualifying round tie against Slimbridge will take place there next Tuesday night.

Ralph’s pitch has held up brilliantly so far, drawing glowing praise from all concerned despite the extra number of games and justifying the money which United’s owners spent on re-draining and relaying it during the summer. But he’ll be in the lap of the weather gods from now on.

Good luck to him...

BETTER NEWS FOR RYAN

There were some worried faces round the Seale Hayne treat- ment room at the end of last week, after already-sidelined midfielder Ryan Dickson was told that a scan had revealed that he had actually broken a bone above his ankle in a training-ground tackle.

But now, after further scrutiny by a consultant, the ‘break’ fear has been allayed and Dickson hopes to be back in action for the Gulls in another fortnight.

DOING THEIR BEST

Under the website headline ‘Travel Information For Wednesday’s Replay‘, Truro City have offered their team coach to supporters wanting to get to tonight’s tie against Hereford, which is, of course, at Plainmoor.

YOUNG GULLS MAKE JPL SQUAD

Six members of United’s Academy have been picked for the Junior Premier League Under-15 Representative Squad.

They are Tom Burt, Jack Winsor, Alex Cherry, James Rowe, Oliver Hardiman and James de Selincourt.

FA YOUTH CUP DATE

After their 6-0 defeat of Wells City away last week – Olaf Koszela scored a hat-trick – United will meet Gloucestershire side Slimbridge in the second qualifying round of the FA Youth Cup at Plainmoor next Tuesday evening (7pm).

THEY ALL FEEL LIKE ‘HOME‘

United’s terrific away support has now seen the club have at least half the gate at recent matches at Gloucester City, Hungerford Town and Lymington Town.

They took nearly 400 to Hungerford (attendance 620), nearly as many to Lymington (639) and club officials are hoping for a gate around 2,500 for new manager Gary Johnson’s first home game against Woking on Saturday.

FELLOW MISERS

The only other club, outside of Liverpool, Manchester City and Middlesbrough, which can match United’s defensive record of only four goals conceded so far this season is NL North leaders Chorley.

And Liverpool, City and Boro have all played fewer games than the Gulls and Chorley.

Gareth Davies/PPAUK