Torquay frustration at absence of striker

PERHAPS the biggest frustration of Torquay United’s season so far is the continued absence of striker Aaron Jarvis.

Jarvis, who signed in the summer from Scunthorpe United as a replacement for Danny Wright, looked decent in pre-season – strong and knowledgeable – but picked up two dead legs and has missed the start of the National League season.

Johnson has reported that the 24-year-old is back in training but this weekend’s fixtures – today’s trip to Maidstone United and Monday’s visit by Woking – may be too soon, but if the Gulls can get at least four points from those two games, and then welcome Jarvis into the team, things suddenly feel a lot better.

Johnson explained: “We wanted to go into the season with three big and strong strikers – with Corey Andrews and Jarvis, and Will Goodwin – and any two from three or even three from three would have been good for us.

“But unfortunately he [Jarvis] got a double dead leg, and a double haematoma is obviously quite a big injury, because he did take a bit of stick in the pre-season friendlies. Because that’s the way he plays as well.

“But I think we have turned the corner. He feels better and I don’t think it is going to be like tomorrow – but he definitely feels more comfortable with his injury. I am pretty sure now the injury is more or less cleared up and it is now just getting the fitness.”

Two defeats in the last two games means the four points won from the first two don’t look as good, but the defence has been tight. Torquay might have only scored one goal (Brett McGavin’s strike in the win at FC Halifax Town) but they have only conceded two as well – in the 1-0 defeats by Bromley and Boreham Wood.

Goals change games, and had Ali Omar’s on-target strike in the firsthalf against Boreham Wood gone in instead of being saved well by Nathan Ashmore, and had they been awarded the penalty they should have won in the second half, Torquay might have seven points going into this busy Bank Holiday.

Johnson revealed in the week that Andrews is not fully fit but he has had to give the player gametime, and he was delighted to see the forward play the full 90 minutes against Boreham Wood.

Tom Lapslie and Asa Hall have also had to come into the team sooner than they otherwise might have – but Dan Martin’s ankle injury might keep the left-wing back out for a little longer yet.

Against Maidstone Andrews will again have to put himself about up front, alongside Goodwin, while there may be a return at centre back for Ross Marshall after his onegame ban. That could see Shaun Donnellan move into midfield – but the squad will obviously be tested with two games in three days and a long trip to Kent and back.

Maidstone were beaten heavily by Wrexham last weekend, but they are better than that.

Like Torquay, they won four points from their first two games, but then were beaten 4-2 by Dorking Wanderers, and 5-0 by Wrexham. They certainly let in goals and that should have Andrews and Goodwin rubbing their hands together.

Johnson said: “You just have to keep going and hope that one of your strikers suddenly hits a vein of goalscoring form. Or a midfielder, or even a centre-half from set plays.

“We have tried to look at that and see what we need to do, what we need to work on, and a lot of our sessions are working on forward play, and forward intensity.

“We have got to score on our first or second chance – that gives you a chance in the game and we haven’t been taking our first or second very good opportunity.”

The message is clear – get the job done early at Maidstone, and come back fresh for Woking.