HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS FOR THE GULLS, BUT AWAY FORM IS IMPORTANT

 So far in the 2025-26 National League South campaign, home is very much where the heart for Torquay United under Paul Wotton. 

The Gulls made it five home wins out of five with their 1-0 win over Ebbsfleet United, which is the first time that they have completed the feat since the 1982-83 season under Bruce Rioch. The previous occasion that United won their opening five league encounters at Plainmoor was in the 1968-69 under Frank O'Farrell - putting Wotton into very good company indeed as a manager. 

However, there is another category of Torquay United manager that Wotton will be looking to join, and that's the group of United managers who have won promotion - which includes Eric Webber, O'Farrell, John Impey, Leroy Rosenior and Paul Buckle. 

The latter two on the list above both won promotion in their season in charge, Rosenior in 2003-04 and Buckle in 2008-09, and Wotton will be aiming to emulate them by doing so in 2025-26 - whether that be automatically as champions or through the play-offs. 

While the Gulls' have a 100% record at home they are still awaiting their first victory on their travels. United's record on the road currently reads played four, drawn two, lost two and won none. 

Their next away fixture will be against Salisbury FC in just over a week's time, in what will be United's first league encounter of the campaign. 

Parallels can be drawn with the 2008-09 season under Buckle, when, after a slow start, the Gulls finally recorded their first away win of the campaign in early September with a 1-0 victory over Cambridge United - which was also their ninth fixture of 2008-09. 

Against Ebbsfleet, Wotton was able to call upon Louis Dennis and Callum Dolan following injury whilst Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Dylan Morgan returned from the bench; the latter two also got more minutes in their legs against Brixham AFC in the St Luke's Devon Bowl. 

With the quartet likely to start in Wiltshire, United have an excellent chance to finally end their away day hoodoo. 

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS EBBSFLEET UNITED

 1. Five out of five for the first time in the league since 1982-83.

By beating Ebbsfleet United 1-0, Torquay United made it five wins out of five for the first time since the 1982-83 season when they won their opening five home encounters in the Fourth Division under Bruce Rioch. 

The previous season to that which saw the Gulls win their first five home league fixtures came in the 1968-69 season in the 'old' Third Division, shortly before Frank O'Farrell's move to Leicester City. 

So United manager Paul Wotton now finds himself in good company. 

2. Callum Dolan's return. 

During his six-match loan spell from Fleetwood Town in 2023-24, Callum Dolan became something of a talisman for the Gulls and his performance against Ebbsfleet was like a throwback to that time. Playing on the left of an attacking three, his cross was turned home by Jordan Young to score United’s goal and, especially in the first half, he looked as though he could make something happen every time he touched the ball.

If he can replicate the display that he showed on what was his first appearance of the campaign, he can be a big player for United. 

3. A first clean sheet. 

Clean sheets were something of a speciality for the Gulls this time last year; however, they have proved to be harder to come by, but United managed to keep their first shut out against Ebbsfleet with a performance reminiscent of some of their displays in 2024-25. 

Across the Gulls' back four left-back Jay Foulston and centre back Sam Dreyer produced arguably their best displays of the season, and right-back Denzel Akyeampong once again showed why he is making the position his own

As Paul Wotton said in his post-match interview if the Gulls can keep the ball out of the net they are a real threat going forward, so with the talents of Jordan Young, Louis Dennis, Callum Dolan and Dylan Morgan, not to mention Cody Cooke, at his disposal there are plenty of goals in this team. 

4. Jordan Young's sixth of the campaign. 

Jordan Young's 21st minute strike increased his tally for the season to six, and he could even have scored a seventh in injury time, but was denied by Fleet keeper Mark Cousins. 

After finding the back of the net 16 times for Yeovil in the 2023-24 campaign and 11 times for the Gulls last season, Young is well on his way to scoring double figures for three successive seasons. 

5. A two-week break. 

Owing to their FA Cup exit at the hands of AFC Totton, United now have a two-week break to prepare for their next National League South fixture, which sees them travel to Wiltshire to face Salisbury FC. 

The only competitive match between now and then will be their St Luke's Devon Bowl tie with Brixham AFC - which Paul Wotton has said he will give a run-out to some of his fringe first team players and those who are returning from injury to improve their match fitness. 

GULLS KEEN TO MAKE THE MOST OF HOME COMFORTS

 Whilst it won't be at the forefront of the player's minds when they take to the field on Saturday, Paul Wotton's Torquay United will be creating a small piece of history should they emerge victorious against Ebbsfleet United. 

Not only will the Gulls be extending their home record to five league wins out of five, they will also be emulating Bruce Rioch's class of 1982-83, who also won their opening five encounters in the league at Plainmoor. 

Of greater importance to Wotton would have been the return to training of injured midfield men Callum Dolan and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, winger Dylan Morgan and forward Louis Dennis. What role the quartet end up playing on Saturday remains to be seen, the danger of rushing them back to soon needs to be taken in account. 

It is therefore likely that Wotton will have more options available from the bench. However, one player won't be featuring United will be young striker Jaydn Crosbie who has joined Dorchester Town on loan. 

Despite finishing bottom of the National League, Ebbsfleet, now managed by former Scunthorpe and Crawley midfielder Josh Wright, are expected to be amongst the league's big hitters. 

Experienced skipper Max Ehmer was a teammate of Wotton during a spell with Yeovil Town in 2010-11 and other figures such as goalkeeper Mark Cousins, midfielder Toby Edser and former Exeter City striker Josh Coley have crossed paths with the Gulls in recent years. 

Although they've only scored eight goals this season, the Fleet have only conceded seven and won their opening three matches of the campaign. 

This potentially rules out the kind of goal fest that the Plainmoor faithful witnessed in the Gulls' last league encounter with Slough Town, which United won 4-2, but don't forget the last meeting between the two sides in January 2020 was a goalless draw after they had conceded 117 goals between them in 2019-20. 

WEBB WEAVES HIS WAY TO HUISH PARK

 Yeovil Town have appointed former player Danny Webb as their new manager in succession to Mark Cooper. 

Webb, who was previously employed as assistant manager to Paul Cook at League Two side Chesterfield, played seven times for the Glovers in the 2006-07 and is the son of former Yeovil manager Dave Webb, who famously scored the winning goal for Chelsea in the FA Cup final replay against Leeds United in 1970. 

Since his retirement in 2014, Webb worked with the youth teams at Leyton Orient before working with the first team, which included 12 games in temporary charge of the first team in 2017. He then returned to the club's backroom staff where he worked alongside Justin Edinburgh as they won promotion back to the Football League in 2019. 

He joined Chesterfield in 2021 and assisted Cook as the Spireites won promotion from the National League in the 2023-24 campaign. 

Webb has agreed a contract until 2027 in what will be his first permanent managerial role.  

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS SLOUGH TOWN

 1. 100% home record remains intact. 

United made it four wins out of four at Plainmoor by beating Slough Town 4-2, making the Gulls one of only two teams in National League South with a 100% home record (the league leaders Hornchurch are the other). 

It is the first time that United have won their opening four home league games of the campaign since the 1982-83 season under Bruce Rioch when they beat Stockport County 3-0, Aldershot 4-2, Darlington and Hartlepool United 3-2. 

2. A virtuoso display from Louis Dennis. 

He might only have been on the pitch for the duration of the first half, but Louis Dennis had a hand in all four of the Gulls' goals against Slough. After squaring the ball to Jordan Young for United's opener, he then headed home a corner from Young to restore the Gulls' lead five minutes later, shortly after Jared Myers had equalised for the Rebels. 

Dennis then saw his low cross inadvertently turned home for an own goal by Slough's Johnny Goddard to make 3-1 before he provided another low delivery, which was tapped home by Cody Cooke. 

He was replaced by Dan Hayfield before the start of the second half, but manager Paul Wotton will be hoping that he will be fit to face AFC Totton in the FA Cup. 

3. Jordan Young's fifth of the campaign. 

Jordan Young made it five for the 2025-26 season when he turned home from close range in the eighth minute after being teed up by Louis Dennis. 

Young found the back of the net 11 times in the 2024-25 campaign for the Gulls, as he won the club's player of the year award. He also finished the 2023-24 season as Yeovil Town's top scorer with 16 goals, you would bet against him ending the current campaign as United's leading scorer. 

4. Denzel Akyempong solid at right back. 

In the wake of a successful trial in pre-season, Denzel Akyempong recently joined the Gulls on a prove yourself deal, and he produced a solid display at right-back. 

As well as being strong defensively, he is also a good athlete and has a long throw which United can utilise to good effect when required.  

5.  An eighth game in 28 days. 

Games early on in the season in English football often come thick and fast and Torquay United's clash with Slough Town was their eighth in 28 days. It is also a schedule that United have faced with injuries to up to six players at any one time. 

However, with midfielder Callum Dolan and winger Dylan Morgan set to return before the end of the month, so manager Paul Wotton will have more options available to him.  

 

TORQUAY UNITED 4 SLOUGH TOWN 2

 Torquay United maintained their 100% home record in National League South thanks to a stunning first display that saw them hit four past Slough Town.

The Gulls looked to be in front after 40 seconds when Cody Cooke poked home from close range following good work from Matt Jay and Louis Dennis, but he was adjudged to have been offside.

United eventually edged ahead in the eighth minute when Dennis squared the ball to Jordan Young, who slotted home his fifth of the campaign.

The Rebels levelled matters three minutes later as Jared Myers raced beyond the Gulls defence before finding the back of the net with an angled effort.

Two minutes later, United restored their lead as Young’s corner was headed home by Dennis.

In the 27^th minute, the Gulls extended their advantage when Slough’s Johnny Goddard inadvertently turned a cross from Dennis into his own net.

Dennis was the architect again on 32 minutes when his low cross was tapped home by Cooke.

Four minutes before the break, Wiktor Makowski pulled one back for the Rebels after he latched onto a long punt down field from keeper Adam Desbois.

In the second half, Young and Jordan Dyer both went close for the Gulls as they saw the game out to clinch a fourth home win out of four.