Herald Express (Torbay, Brixham & South Hams Edition)
Johnson: Next few matches could shape whole season
TORQUAY UNITED
Torquay United are about to tackle a spell of home games which could see them established as leading contenders in the National League South promotion race and still pitching in the FA Cup, says manager Gary Johnson.
Even though he took over the Gulls nearly seven weeks ago, this Saturday’s key match against second-placed Billericay Town will be only his third at Plainmoor.
Speaking before last night’s game away to bottom club Weston-super-Mare, Johnson stressed: “This is a big chance for us - not just against Billericay, but in a run of home games coming up.
“We’ve got Woking in the Cup (Nov 10), Concord Rangers (Nov 17), maybe a home game in the FA Trophy (Nov 24), hopefully another FA Cup tie (Dec 1) and then Welling here as well (Dec 1).”
Welling went into last night’s round of matches leading Billericay on goal-difference, with United five points behind in sixth place. Their impressive 3-0 win at fourth-placed Wealdstone last Saturday left them unbeaten in Johnson’s first seven games (W6 D1 L0), with a goal record of F25 A5.
“Our home fans haven’t seen much of us in the last few weeks,” said Johnson. “The team and our away fans have covered a lot of miles of late.
“I know that a run of home games stretches people’s pockets, but we can put ourselves in a really strong position in the next few weeks, and the bigger the support, the better.
“Christmas is coming up, I know, but my message would be ‘Please spend a bit of money on us this month!’”
The Gulls are expecting their biggest gate of the season for the visit of big-spending Billericay, including 12-goal leading scorer Jake Robinson, the former Gulls loan striker, and their headline-grabbing chairman Glenn Tamplin.
Robinson has already scored four times at Plainmoor this season - he hit all four in Town’s 4-0 win over Truro City here on the opening day of the campaign.
Johnson’s squad is rapidly returning to full strength. Midfielder Asa Hall is likely to be out for a couple of weeks with a knee injury, but Ryan Dickson and Samir Nabi have returned, talented Bristol City loanee Jake Andrews was hoping to play at Weston after a knee is- sue, and defenders Jakub Sokolik (knee) and Jamie Sendles-White (hamstring) joined last night’s squad ahead of hoped-for comebacks next week.
On-loan Portsmouth goalkeeper Alex Bass (knee) also hopes to return to Plainmoor in the next ten days.
Meanwhile, United announced this week that general manager Geoff Harrop has become the latest member of the club’s backroom team to leave following the recent departure of secretary Tim Herbert and the news that head groundsman Chris Ralph is soon to move to Devon neighbours Plymouth Argyle (full story, P.67).