HARGREAVES TO FACE FORMER TEAMMATE IN NEXT MANAGERIAL TEST

Shortly before Torquay United’s Conference Play-off final victory in 2009 over Cambridge, Chris Hargreaves was one of four special guests at a question and answers evening held at Plainmoor.

The evening was organised the club’s Supporters Trust and Hargreaves’ fellow guests of honour included former manager Frank O’Farrell, ex goalkeeper Kenny Allen and club record appearance holder Kevin Hill.

During the course of the evening, which was also attended by several members of the first team squad at the time, Hargreaves quipped that he would not regard himself as a Torquay United legend unless he had helped the club win something.

Fast forward to the final itself and Hargreaves captained the Gulls to victory over the U’s, scored the opening goal of the match - which United won 2-0, as Torquay bounced back into the Football League after an absence of two years.

Now- in 2014- as manager of the Gulls, Hargreaves will no doubt be aware if in the future if he is to be held in the same regard as manager, he needs to achieve some success with the Gulls.

The last Gulls’ promotion winning captain to take on the manager’s job- Wes Saunders, who led Torquay to their Division Four Play-off triumph against Blackpool in 1991- enjoyed a two-and-a-half year spell in charge, between 1998 and 2001, which ultimately proved to be unsuccessful as he was sacked by the then Gulls’ Chairman Mike Bateson and replaced by Colin Lee.

However, prior to taking on the manager’s role, Saunders had spent five years working for his family’s clothing firm. Hargreaves, in contrast, had spent the time between the end of his playing days in 2010 and his appointment at Plainmoor earlier this year learning his trade as coach of Exeter City’s Under-16’s and working under Eddie Howe at AFC Bournemouth as first team coach.

It is fair to say that Hargreaves had done everything that he could to prepare himself for his first managerial vacancy.

Next up for Hargreaves’s Gulls is a trip to Kidderminster Harriers, who include one of his team-mates from those two years spent battling to get United out of the Conference, Kevin Nicholson.

After making over 300 appearances for United over seven years, Nicholson was released by Torquay following relegation from the Football League.

Over the course of those seven years, Nicholson’s ability from set pieces proved to be an important weapon in United’s armoury, but the Gulls have now found a player whose delivery from dead balls is every bit as dangerous in Luke Young, who returns to the Gulls’ side after missing last week’s FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round defeat at the hands of Aldershot Town.

 

 

 

 

WILLAND UP FOR THE CUP

All eyes will be on the Stan Robinson Stadium tomorrow as Willand Rovers, the lowest ranked club left in the FA Cup, host Gosport Borough, of Conference South, as they aim to reach the first round of the competition for the first time ever.

Willand, managed by Scott Rogers- who scored the winning goal for Tiverton Town in their FA Vase final against Bedlington Terriers in 1999, have made it through five rounds of the competition having beaten Radstock Town, Odd Down, Saltash United, Blackfield and Langley- after a replay- and Aveley.

As the sole representative in the cup from the Toolstation Western League, Willand are the lowest ranked team left in the competition.

Their opponents, Gosport Borough, play three leagues above them in Conference South and, like Rovers, they are also bidding to reach the first round proper for the first time in their history.

To reach this stage of the competition 'The Boro' have beaten Larkhall- also of the Western League- and Maidenhead United, after a replay.

DEFENSIVE FRAILTIES LEAVE GULLS STUCK

Following yesterday's defeat at the hands of Grimsby Town, Torquay United have now conceded 14 goals in their last five Vanarama Conference fixtures.

The Gulls fell behind to a strike from Lenell John-Lewis strike in the 38th minute before Luke Young equalised with a sweetly struck from the edge of the box five minutes later to score his sixth goal of the season.

Grimsby then provided a sucker punch to the hosts as Craig Disley restored their lead-following a misjudgement by goalkeeper Martin Rice- on the stroke of half-time.

In the second half, the Gulls levelled when Aaron Downes headed home a corner from Young to score his fourth of the season on 61 minutes.

However, the Mariners hit back again when a header from John-Lewis crept over the line- despite the best efforts of Torquay keeper Rice- to complete his brace in the 70th minute, which ensured that the visitors returned home to Humberside with all three points.

It could be argued that the Gulls could have been three goals ahead before John-Lewis opened the scoring for the Mariners, as Luke Young (twice) and Ryan Bowman forced fine saves from James McKeown in the opening exchanges.

But, it could also be argued that Grimsby could have scored a third shortly after Downes' equaliser- when Scott Neilson- the grandson of the former Spurs and Wales winger, Cliff Jones- raced through on goal and fired a shot straight into the arms of Rice.

Nevertheless, Torquay's record in their last five Vanarama Conference reads: Played five, won one, drawn 0, lost four, scored ten and conceded 14.

This alarming slump has now seen the Gulls drop down to ninth place in the Vanarama Conference table , and what was looking like a promising promotion bid is in danger of becoming derailed.

It now leaves manager Chris Hargreaves with some serious food for thought.

FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN SEES GRECIANS LOOKING UP RATHER THAN DOWN

It's often said in football that winning can change everything, and that is something that is no more evident than at Exeter City at the moment.

Not that long ago, the Grecians found themselves in the League Two relegation zone and the possible threat of a return to the Conference was a genuine fear for the St James Park faithful.

Some fans even launched an online petition to remove long serving manager Paul Tisdale from his post, such was the strength of feeling in certain quarters.

However, after four consecutive wins against Cambridge United, Tranmere Rovers, Bury and- most recently- Dagenham Redbridge have lifted City up to 14th in the table.

New signing Graham Cummins has made a big difference- scoring three times in nine appearances, and loan signing Alex Nicholls- prior to his recent recall by the Cobblers- has also given the Grecians a different dimension.

The progress of youngsters Christy Pym and Matt Grimes also points to a brighter future as well, as the duo retained their places in Aidy Boothroyd's England Under-20 squad after making their debuts against Romania last month.

A FAB FIFTH FROM YOUNGY GETS GULLS BACK ON TRACK

Luke Young picked the perfect time- and perfect way- to score his fifth goal of the season for Torquay United to ensure that the Gulls defeated Wrexham to get their promotion bid back on track.

A Louis Moult effort, which came after he had successfully charged down a goal-kick from Martin Rice, had given the Red Dragons the lead in the first half before Torquay gradually gained a foothold as they hit back through Louis Briscoe.

The Gulls and Young then saved the best for last as he unleashed a volley from 25-yards, which went in off the post, to score one of the best goals seen at Plainmoor in recent years to seal a win that moves the Gulls back up to third in the Vanarama Conference table, and also sees the Gulls' skipper top the club's goal scoring charts with five goals.

It was a perfect antidote to back-to-back defeats at the hands of AFC Telford and Forest Green Rovers.

GULLS SUSPENSIONS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHERS

Despite experiencing back-to-back defeats against AFC Telford and Forest Green Rovers, Torquay United remain in the Vanarama Conference Play-Off zone, as well as having three players and their manager dismissed.

As well as picking up no points, the Gulls also saw three players sent off- Aaron Downes and Toby Ajala against Telford and Courtney Richards against Forest Green- and manager Chris Hargreaves also received his marching during their trip to the New Lawn at half-time, following a disagreement with match referee Rob Whitton for reasons unknown to the Gulls' boss.

Downes received a straight red- and three match ban, which he will complete a week on Saturday against Alfreton Town- whilst Ajala and Richards received two yellow cards.

Striker Duane Ofori-Acheampong also picked up his fifth yellow card of the campaign- thus ensuring that he sits out their next fixture against fellow Play-Off chasers Wrexham, as well as Richards.

Although the bans have come as a blow to Hargreaves, it also presents others within the Gulls' squad with an opportunity to stake their claim.

Last year's Player of the Year Krystian Pearce slotted straight in for Aussie defender Downes on Tuesday night and will do so again against the Red Dragons.

Similarly Ajala's two yellows saw a recall for the fit again Louis Briscoe in the right wing berth.

On Saturday, the absence of Ofori-Acheampong and Richards presents opportunities for Josh Wakefield and Ashley Yeoman to stake a claim for a first team spot.

Wakefield, currently on loan from AFC Bournemouth, opened his account for the Gulls in their 4-3 defeat at Telford and is currently odds on favourite to partner Luke Young in the centre of the park; Ben Harding, who is now fit again, could also feature.

Yeoman, who enjoyed a sustained run in the Gulls' first team at the end of last season as United fell short of retaining their Football League status, now has the chance to establish himself as a recognised strike partner alongside current joint leading scorer Ryan Bowman.

A prolific scorer during loan spells with Bideford and Dorchester Town, Yeoman now has the opportunity to go on a lengthy scoring streak with the Gulls.