GULLS EASE WORRIES WITH FOUR-STAR DISPLAY

Torquay United eased their relegation worries by producing a four-star display to secure their first home win since the opening against promotion chasing Forest Green Rovers.

The Gulls hadn't won in front of their own fans since beating Macclesfield Town back in August, and their wait for a win looked set to continue when Keanu Marsh-Brown opened the scoring for Rovers in the 20th minute.

However, the host's response was sharp and swift as Tyrone Marsh turned home a cross from Andre Wright two minutes later, as linesman Andrew Rickett adjudged that the ball had crossed the line despite the best efforts of Forest Green keeper Steve Arnold.

Marsh netted his second of the match in the 37th minute, when he headed home a cross from in-stand skipper Courtney Richards.

With seven minutes to go, right-back Durrell Berry scored his first goal for the club when he slotted home after substitute Louis Briscoe had been denied by Arnold in the Forest Green goal.

Nevertheless, the Gulls weren't finished there as Wright burst through the Rovers' back line to score his fourth goal during his loan spell from West Bromwich Albion as United secured what was also their first league win since mid-October.

A few facts about today's game:

• The Gulls equalled their biggest ever winning margin against Forest Green Rovers - equalling their 3-0 win over Rovers in the FA Cup second round win in the 1999-00 season.

• It was the first time that United have won a game after conceding first since September 2014, when they beat Wrexham 2-1.

• Durrell Berry's 83rd minute strike was his first goal for the Gulls in either of his two spells at the Launa Windows Stadium.

• It was also the first time that United have scored four or more goals in a game since beating Bromley 4-0 in the FA Trophy second round on January 19th 2015. 





PILGRIMS ARE LEAGUE TWO'S CHRISTMAS NUMBER ONE

Plymouth Argyle are currently top of League Two at Christmas, ahead of what promises to be a very prosperous new year for Derek Adams's side.

A 2-1 win away at Hartlepool United, which was secured thanks to goals from Carl McHugh and Kelvin Mellor, moved Argyle back to the summit of the division ahead of Northampton Town on goal difference.

As well as being the league leaders, the Pilgrims also have the joint best defensive record in League Two having conceded 19 goals - a record which they share with Oxford United and Portsmouth.

This record has been achieved despite injuries to goalkeeper Luke McCormick, who James Bittner and loan signing Christian Walton have filled in for, and Peter Hartley was absent recently with a hamstring injury.

Argyle would surely have added to the 33 goals that they have scored if Reuben Reid hadn't succumbed to a hip injury at the end of October. Had this not been the case, then Reid would surely have added to the six goals that he has scored this season that places him second in the Pilgrims' goal scoring charts behind summer signings Graham Carey and Jake Jervis.

Over the festive, Argyle host Yeovil Town on Boxing Day, who are currently managed by Plymouth-born caretaker Darren Way whilst the Glovers' board search for a successor to former Pilgrims' manager Paul Sturrock, before travelling to Newport County on Bank Holiday Monday for their final fixture of 2015.

The Exiles are currently managed by former Argyle boss John Sheridan, who left Home Park last summer after guiding the Pilgrims to the League Two Play-offs.

It will the first time that Argyle have crossed paths with Sheridan since his departure and it will be interesting to see what kind of reception he gets from the 'Green Army.'

However, it shouldn't be forgotten that relegation from League Two was a very real possibility for the Pilgrims at the time of his arrival in January 2013. Snce his departure Argyle have gone from strength to strength under his successor Adams and they are now in a position where a title challenge in 2016 is now a realistic goal.

THE GULLS' WINTER OF DISCONTENT

Following their 4-1 defeat at the hands of Chester City, Torquay United player-manager Kevin Nicholson has vented his frustrations on social media.

The Gulls' board are due to meet before Christmas to discuss the growing situation at the club - United are now second bottom in the Vanarama National League after Saturday's result. A testing festive schedule lies in wait for them with home and away clashes with Nicholson's former club Forest Green Rovers, who are currently second in the table, and league leaders Cheltenham Town awaiting them.

With one win in 21 league games, Torquay desperately need to start winning as they are now seven points adrift of safety and the threat of playing regional football for the first time since the 1926-27 season - the campaign prior to their election to the Football League for the first time ever - looms large.

The Gulls also haven't won in front of their own fans since the opening day of the season against Macclesfield Town.

Nicholson took to his Facebook account to quash suggestions that his squad haven't been paid, took issue with the recruitment policy of his predecessor Paul Cox, spoken out about the players driving in their own cars to certain away games and defended the club's decision to leave the training base at Seale Hayne.

He also spoke out against the suggestion that the club keeps turning down help - after former Manager and Chief Executive Colin Lee publicly offered his assistance to the club- saying that he would be willing to listen to any advice Lee is prepared to provide.

As well as the on-field matters, the board will need to address fans concerns regarding their proposed ground share with Truro City, as well as the exact details of the involvement of Chairman Peter Masters and his son Jason, and the emergence of a group led by former directors Shaun and Keira Roberts who issued a statement raising several questions about the decisions made by the current board over the weekend.

When the Gulls do meet Forest Green on Boxing Day, it is likely that the football could prove to be a side-show event.

TROPHY WIN PROVIDES BOOST TO UNITED

Torquay United's FA Trophy first round replay win over Chesham United provided the Gulls with a timely boost going into their Christmas and New Year schedule.

Two first half goals from West Bromwich Albion loanee Andre Wright proved to be the difference for United at the Meadow. His first came after he latched on to a backheel from the returning Alex Fisher and he completed his brace after turning home a corner from Kevin Nicholson.

Their reward will be a home tie with Wrexham in mid-January 2016, which will be the seventh time in the last two seasons that Gulls and the Red Dragons have faced each other.

Meanwhile, United return to the bread and butter of Vanarama National League on Saturday with a trip to Chester FC, which comes ahead of home and away clashes with second placed Forest Green Rovers on Boxing Day and New Year's Day respectively. And sandwiched between those two fixtures is a visit to league leaders Cheltenham Town on December 28th.

However, following the turn of the year Torquay's league fixtures do start to become slightly easier, on paper at least, with the months of January, February and March being a key period for the Gulls.

During this time, United are due to face five of their fellow bottom seven sides (Welling United, FC Halifax Town, Altrincham, Kidderminster Harriers and Southport). They are also away to Boreham Wood, who currently occupy 21st position in the table.

For the Gulls, they are all games that the outcome of which will prove crucial in helping to ensure that they beat the drop. The January transfer window will also be a vital one as manager Kevin Nicholson looks to strengthen his squad with players with the necessary quality and experience to help them do just that.

In the other news, the Gulls are also set to share to the Launa Windows Stadium with Truro City next season, and have secured a new training ground at Torquay Academy School in Torquay.

LADY GLOVERS CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS

The fact that Sky Bet included Yeovil Town Ladies manager Jamie Sherwood as a 50/1 outsider in its list of potential replacements for Paul Sturrock goes a long way to recognising the job that Sherwood has done for the Lady Glovers.

Whilst the big brother at Huish Park is struggling at the foot of the League Two table, after experiencing relegation from League One, the little sister - at the Jones Stadium - has been near the top of the class in the FA Women's Super League Two in the 2015 season and it showing signs of rising further when the 2016 campaign gets underway next summer.

After England's successful Women's World Cup campaign in Canada earlier this year, which saw Mark Sampson's Lionesses finish third, the trickle down effect of their success was felt in South Somerset, as Huish Park hosted two of the Lady Glovers league encounters.

The first was a 1-0 win against Millwall Lionesses, which was secured courtesy of a 20th minute strike from Natasha Knapman, that attracted a club record attendance of 722; the second was a goalless draw with Everton Ladies, who had been relegated from WSL One during the previous campaign.

Another notably sign of progress was their 4-2 away win over Reading Women, Fran Kirby and all - prior to her departure for Chelsea Ladies. After conceding first, the Lady Glovers hit back through Player of the Year Helen Bleazard and Alys Hinchcliffe before Kirby looked to have rescued a point for the Royals with an equaliser. However, leading scorer Corinne Yorston struck to put them 3-2 up, before Hinchcliffe completed her brace to seal a memorable victory.

A fourth placed finish was an improvement on their debut, and they will be looking to improve again when the 2016 campaign.

Over the close season, the Ladies have been busy as goalkeeper Charlotte Haynes and midfielder Ellie Curson have committed their futures to the club, and Welsh international Lauren Townsend has joined following her release by the newly rebranded Bristol City Women (formerly Bristol Academy).

When the action does get underway, Yeovil Town Ladies are likely to start the campaign amongst the favourites for promotion to WSL One, and it will would be a brave person that would bet against them!

LUGGY LEAVES ROCK BOTTOM GLOVERS

Paul Sturrock's managerial love affair with the West Country has come to a temporary halt following his sacking as manager of Yeovil Town.

Last Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Northampton Town, which extended the Glovers' winless run to 12 games, proved to be the end of his 30-match tenure at Huish Park.

After replacing Gary Johnson towards the end of the 2014-15 campaign, Sturrock overhauled the squad that inherited and drafted in 14 new faces over the summer as he sought to mould a side in his own image.

It was also the first time in a long time that Sturrock had taken charge of a club, apart from his brief spell in charge of Southampton, without either of his trusted lieutenants - namely John Blackley (St Johnstone, Dundee United, Plymouth (twice), Sheffield Wednesday and Swindon), Kevin Summerfield (Plymouth (twice), Sheffield Wednesday and Swindon) or Graham Coughlan (Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday as a player and Southend as a player-coach) alongside him.

Instead, he was assisted by his predecessor Terry Skiverton and Darren Way, the latter of the two has taken charge as interim manager following his departure.

Injuries to a number of his signings, including Ryan Dickson, Ben Tozer and Jack Compton, as well as to some of the ones he inherited - Simon Gillett and Kevin Dawson - haven't helped matters; nor has the fact that the Glovers have used 60 players during the course of the calendar year to date.

The former Dundee United man's dismissal is symptomatic of the problems facing Yeovil who - after celebrating promotion to the Championship for the first time ever over 1,000 days ago - are currently staring the possibility of a third straight relegation in the face.

Another demotion would result in the club losing the league status that it fought so hard to win during the 2002-03 season, and a relegation into a Vanarama National League which is a very different beast to the one that won promotion from.