1. The National League title race is well and truly on.
Hartlepool's win over the Gulls yesterday moves them level on points with United on 47 points, after having trailed Gary Johnson's men by 11 points at the turn of the year. Sutton United's draw with Wrexham also moves them level with both Torquay and Hartlepool. Make no mistake about it, United are now in their closest title race since they locked horns with Alf Ramsey's Ipswich Town in their 1956-57 Division Three South campaign.
2. A need for speed.
Amongst the many of United's absentees that were keenly felt yesterday against Hartlepool was French winger Aaron Nemane - as they struggled to move the ball quicker. In recent years, United's side has been blessed with a number of pacey players, including Liam Davis, Kalvin Kalala, Jamie Reid and Saikou Janneh. However, out of the Gulls' starting XI yesterday only right-back Ben Wynter and left midfielder Ben Whitfield could genuinely be described as being quick and many the sooner that Nemane is available again for United the better.
3. The back ups for the back ups.
When reading an article about Liverpool's injury woes under Jurgen Klopp this season, one thing your correspondent came across was the fact that the Reds have often been deploying back ups for their back ups. The same could also be said of Gary Johnson and United this season; for example, Dean Moxey was signed in the summer following his release by Exeter City due to the unavailability due to injury of Liam Davis. However, since then Moxey has succumbed to injury so left midfielder Jake Andrews is now filling as a makeshift left-back.
4. Boden settling in well.
With Danny Wright still waiting to return to full fitness, Chesterfield loanee Scott Boden made his full debut up front for the Gulls and proved to be one of the few plus points for the Gulls. Boden, 31, led the line well - forcing a save from Hartlepool keeper Ben Killip in the first half and then seeing an effort deflected behind for a corner by Pools right-back James Sterry. Had Ben Whitfield's cross in first half injury time not been intercepted by Hartlepool defender Gary Liddle then Boden may have managed to get himself on the scoresheet.
5. MacDonald strengthens his claims.
Due the loan signings of James Hamon and Marcin Brzozowski from Truro City and Queens Park Rangers respectively, Torquay United currently have four goalkeepers on their books - thus increasing the competition for the position. Following his return from a one-match suspension, MacDonald produced a creditable display and his save to deny Hartlepool leading scorer Luke Armstrong in the 83rd minute, following a corner, helped to keep United in the game. Had he not made that the save, the game as a contest would have been as good as over.
6. 20 years and waiting.
After beating Hartlepool 5-0 at Victoria Park last October, there were high hopes that the Gulls might have been able to secure their first win over Hartlepool since October 20, 2001 when a David Graham strike secured a 1-0 win for Roy McFarland's Gulls. If you had said at that point that United would still be waiting over 20 years later for their next home win over the Pools, then few would have believed you.
