Western Morning News (Saturday)
Torquay have goalkeeper concerns ahead of Trophy clash
TORQUAY United head for Surrey today to face old rivals Woking in the latest stage of their FA Trophy journey without goalkeeper Shaun MacDonald, who will serve a one-match suspension after being sent off at Solihull Moors on Tuesday.
McDonald’s absence meant some hard work behind the scenes at Plainmoor, with the squad’s other keepers also thought to be unavailable.
United are keeping their cards close to their chest - as ever - with regard to team selection, but Lucas Covolan has been injured and is thought to be a couple of weeks away from full fitness, while reserve keeper James Hamon is cup-tied, having played in the Trophy for Truro already.
The likelihood is that United will be seeking a last-minute loan keeper for the trip to Woking.
On the question of MacDonald’s availability, the Football Association confirmed: “Dismissals are not competition specific, and therefore the player has a one-game ban that commenced immediately on February 23, so he is banned for the cup match.”
The Cardinals are the opponents for the Gulls in the quarter-finals of the competition that took them to Wembley back in 2008.
United travel to Kingfield buoyed by a hard-working win at Solihull Moors on Tuesday night, which ticked a lot of boxes for manager Gary Johnson.
Torquay led 2-0 into stoppage time thanks to goals from Asa Hall and Billy Waters, but had MacDonald sent off after picking up two yellow cards in quick succession.
Hamon came on from the bench and conceded a goal almost immediately, but Torquay’s defence held firm in the face of a strong wind and a late bombardment by the home team to clinch a 2-1 win and strengthen their position at the top of the table.
Torquay continue to be dogged by one of the worst injury lists they have ever faced.
Ever-present defender Kyle Cameron limped off during the Halifax game and was not fit for the trip to Solihull. United mustered a bench comprising Hamon and four forwards for Tuesday’s marathon match, such is the state of the depleted Plainmoor squad. The referee added seven minutes of stoppage time which eventually stretched to 13 as a result of the MacDonald sending-off.
Johnson said: “Obviously we’ve still got a lot of lads at the minute who are playing because we’ve got to play them, and they’re not 100 percent fit.
“At the end, we had three of four players on the pitch that wouldn’t normally play 97 minutes, but we had to keep them on.”
He will want to see more of the same today, although there is little sign of the injury crisis easing.
Torquay have gone into recent matches without long-term casualties Liam Davis, Andrew Nelson and Danny Wright. The likes of Aaron Nemane, Dean Moxey, Armani Little, Covolan and Gary Warren have missed recent games, along with Cameron.
New loan signing Scott Boden will not play a part at Woking. He will also be cup-tied, having already played for parent club Chesterfield against Brackley in an earlier round of the FA Trophy.
The 31-year-old striker is at Plainmoor until the end of the season on a loan deal from Chesterfield. He has notched 114 goals in a long career north and south of the border, and brings experience to a frontline lacking some know-how since Danny Wright’s injury.
Johnson said: “He has scored a lot of goals at National League level, and in the league as well.
“He’s a very experienced goalscorer, which we’ve obviously been looking for, so I’m very pleased to bring him to our club.”
Defender Fraser Kerr is likely to be leaving Plainmoor, however.
Signed from Hartlepool, Kerr has played just seven times for the Gulls in a season blighted by injury and is understood to be keen on a move closer to home in the north.