High flying Gulls wary of being ‘shot at’

TORQUAY United manager Gary Johnson says his team need to be wary of being ‘shot at’ now that they are flying so high.

The Gulls are five points clear at the top of the National League with another six-point gap between second-placed Sutton United and Notts County in third. They are at King’s Lynn Town this afternoon, a team who are playing their first season at this level, and who should really be there for the taking on the evidence of Torquay’s Tuesday night performance.

Although the 2-1 scoreline suggests a harder-fought win, the truth is, Torquay demoralised Maidenhead United at Plainmoor and once they were 1-0 up at half time, they never looked like losing the game. But nothing should be taken for granted.

“It’s still early, what is it? Twelve games now,” said Johnson. “Normally by Christmas-time you have played 28 games or something, so it is still early but we have certainly made a fantastic start.

“There are going to be teams that want to be up the top themselves. Before the season started, there were a few that were more favourites than us, if you like, so it’s good.

“But when you are up there you are up there to be shot at and everybody is going to try and beat the team that is at the top so that they can gloat that they beat the top-ofthe-league team.

“But we are hanging on in there and the boys are playing some great stuff really.”

‘Hanging on in there’ might be the understatement of the century. If he can, Johnson may be tempted to keep the same starting XI for the King’s Lynn game after two good wins against Wrexham and Maidenhead with players playing out of position but doing so well.

Right back and left back for those two games were centre back Sam Sherring and left midfielder Jake Andrews. Full backs Ben Wynter and Dean Moxey might have to wait to return to the team if they are fit.