BOX OFFICE VERSUS ARTHOUSE

If Wrexham's approach to the 2021-22 National League campaign can be described as box office then Torquay United's methods under Gary Johnson are surely arthouse. 

The Red Dragons have made plenty of headlines since Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Rob McElenney took over the club. As well as appointing Phil Parkinson, a former EFL Cup finalist with Bradford City in 2013, as manager, the duo have also splashed out big fees and wages on the likes of Paul Mullin, League Two Player of the Year for 2020-21 with Cambridge United, and Ben Tozer, who reportedly arrived from Cheltenham Town - who won the League Two title in 2020-21 - for £200,000. 

Meanwhile Johnson - whose previous body of work includes promotions with Yeovil Town, Bristol City and Cheltenham Town, not to mention his National League South triumph with the Gulls in the 2018-19 season - has been looking to create a sequel to a story that ended in penalty shoot-out heartache at Ashton Gate.

The Gulls kicked off their current campaign against Altrincham only 62 days had passed since they were beaten on penalties by Hartlepool United in the 2020-21 National League Play-off final. During that time Johnson has looked to rebuild his squad after Lucas Covolan (Port Vale), Kyle Cameron and Aaron Nemane (Notts County) and Ben Whitfield (Stockport County) headed for pastures new. 

However, despite their departures, Johnson, who has a knack of unearthing unpolished diamonds, currently has a potential A-lister on his hands in the form of Sinclair Armstrong. A Republic of Ireland youth international, who arrived at Plainmoor on loan from Queens Park Rangers, rumoured to be on the radars of the likes of Manchester City, Celtic and Hoffenheim, Armstrong marked his debut with a goal against King's Lynn and is definitely a player to watch for United. 

 

SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS KING'S LYNN TOWN

1. Remember the name...Sinclair Armstrong. 

Queens Park Rangers loanee Sinclair Armstrong showed exactly why a whole host of clubs, including Manchester City, Celtic and German side Hoffenheim, have been keeping tabs on him on his debut for Torquay United. Armstrong, a Republic of Ireland youth international, had a chance to open the scoring in the third minute - but was denied by King's Lynn keeper Paul Jones. 

However, Armstrong did eventually find the goal that his display merited on 41 minutes after the Linnets' defence failed to deal with a long throw from Dean Moxey - and Joe Lewis nodded the ball down to Armstrong, who duly fired home.A powerful, pacey centre forward, he potentially has a big future in the game and he definitely ranks alongside other successful loanee strikers the Gulls have signed in recent seasons, a list which includes the likes of John Marquis, Shaquille Coulthirst, Kieffer Moore and Saikou Janneh. 

2. Harry Perritt is settling in well. 

Sinclair Armstrong wasn't the only loan signing who excelled for the Gulls against King's Lynn Town. Centre back Harry Perritt, who joined on loan from Accrington Stanley, produced a solid display alongside Joe Lewis in the heart of the United defence and was instrumental in helping the Gulls keep a clean sheet. 

3. Joe Lewis on target - again.

Having not scored during his initial loan spell from Swansea City in the 2019-20 season or in the subsequent 2020-21 campaign, after joining the Gulls permanently, Joe Lewis has now netted his second goal for United. While it wasn't as spectacular as his solo effort against Wealdstone, as he turned the ball home after Linnets' keeper Paul Jones failed to gather the ball following a goalmouth scramble, it was no less important. His effort puts him level on two goals for the 2021-22 campaign with Dan Holman, Tom Lapslie, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Klaidi Lolos. 

4. Community Day a big success. 

The Gulls' performance on the pitch wasn't the only success for Torquay United football club on the day. As part of the club's Community Day 1,000 were made available to various youth groups, sport clubs and individual across Torbay to help attract new supporters to the club. All those who witnessed the match would have gone home happy with the win as well as forming a positive impression of the club.

5. Three home league wins out of three. 

After losing their opening three home league games of the 2020-21 campaign, Torquay United have now reversed that trend, as their victory over King's Lynn Town was their third home league win in succession. This sequence also includes a 1-0 win over Southend United and a 5-0 win over Wealdstone.

6. Unbeaten record remains intact. 

Saturday's meeting with King's Lynn Town was only their third encounter with the Gulls - and they are yet to taste victory against them. Last season's clashes saw a goalless draw at the Walks, which was the first ever fixture between the two sides, and a 1-0 win for United at Plainmoor - courtesy of a 46th minute effort from Chesterfield loanee Scott Boden. 

 

FOUR TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS HAVANT & WATERLOOVILLE

 1. Both sides have to do it all again. 

Torquay United and Havant & Waterlooville will meet again on Wednesday at the Hawks' Westleigh Park home to decide who progresses to the first round proper. The prize for reaching the first round of the competition will be a trip to former Premier League side Charlton Athletic, who are currently 22nd in League One. 

In truth neither Gary Johnson or Paul Doswell, the Havant & Waterlooville boss, would have wanted a replay - especially as due to the fact that it's taking place on Wednesday means their preparation for their respective fixtures next weekend. The Gulls host King's Lynn Town while Havant face Slough Town at Westleigh Park.

2. Jake's back. 

Jake Andrews marked his first appearance in a Torquay United shirt since the Gulls' National League Play-off final defeat to Hartlepool United with United's second goal, which looked to be enough to seal the Gulls' place in the first round. However, Havant had other ideas as Tommy Wright smashed home a last gasp equaliser. Andrews' goal scoring returns from the last three seasons reads: 12 (2018-19); six (2019-20) and five (2020-21). He was also the Gulls' third top scorer in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 campaigns and if Andrews can repeat those returns in the 2021-22 season he can help get United's campaign back up and running. 

3. Lolos' impact from the bench. 

One of the bright spots from United's clash with Havant and Waterlooville was the introduction of Klaidi Lolos at half-time in place of the injured Tom Lapslie. The former Greek Under-19 international, who joined United in the summer from Plymouth Argyle, always looked a threat for the Gulls throughout the second half and it was his good work that enabled Andrews to put United 2-1 with five minutes to go. There is definitely more to come from the player who Argyle manager Ryan Lowe said had the potential to be 'the best player in the National League'.

4. Joe Lewis continues to impress in defence. 

After finding the back of the net against Wealdstone with a goal not normally associated with central defenders, Joe Lewis produced another impressive display in the heart of the Gulls defence. The former Swansea City starlet carried the ball out of United's back three to good effect, but following the departures of Gary Warren and Kyle Cameron in the summer Lewis is now the most experienced of United's centre backs despite only just having turned 22 last month. 

FA CUP FOURTH QUALIFYING ROUND PREVIEW 2021-22

Torquay United versus Havant & Waterlooville

Since Gary Johnson was appointed as Torquay United manager in September 2018, the Gulls have won five out of the eight FA Cup ties that they have contested. It's a record that United will be looking to maintain when they host National League South side Havant and Waterlooville. 

Before then the Gulls had a pretty clean period in the competition - having failed to record a single win after beating Chesterfield in the first round in the 2011-12 campaign until they smashed Wessex League side Lymington FC 7-0 in a second qualifying round clash, which was streamed live on the BBC's Red Button service, in one of Johnson's early games in charge.

United might not necessarily be considered 'giants' - but Hawks manager Paul Doswell knows a thing or two about giant-killing. He famously lead Sutton United to the fifth round in the 2016-17 campaign, beating AFC Wimbledon and Leeds United enroute. His Havant squad includes a number of players with experience of the EFL and the National League - including three former Gulls in the shape of Scott Rendell, Joe Oastler and Paul Rooney. 

If United were to get through there would be the possibility of facing Sunderland, managed by Johnson's son Lee, or Sheffield Wednesday, who former Gulls' defender Darren Moore is currently in charge of. 

Yeovil Town versus Weymouth

The fourth qualifying round has had the tendency to throw up a number of all National League clashes in recent years, and arguably no such tie could be considered more mouthwatering than Yeovil Town versus Weymouth. 

It will be the first FA Cup meeting in 34 years between the two sides - and the Terras will also be aiming to secure their first win at Huish Park in 33 years. In recent times, a gap of five divisions has existed between the two teams.

However, the Glovers will feel confident going into the tie after completing the league double over Weymouth in the 2020-21 campaign. Unfortunately no fans were allowed inside either Huish Park or the Bob Lucas Stadium to witness either encounter, thus making Saturday's meeting the first one in front of fans in over 22 years. 

 

 

 

 

 

SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS WEALDSTONE

 1. Joe Lewis's goal. 

Over the years many memorable Torquay United goals have been witnessed at Plainmoor. Steve McCall's long range strike against Scarborough in 1998, various goals scored by David Graham between 2001 and 2004, Kevin Hill's overhead kick against Macclesfield in 2004, Eunan O'Kane's 40 yard strike versus Plymouth Argyle in 2011 and Luke Young's volley against Wrexham in 2014 all spring to mind when the subject is discussed. However, Joe Lewis's 25-yards effort against Wealdstone must surely rank alongside them all. The former Wales Under-21 international, who was also voted as man of the match, international received the ball inside his own half and raced towards goal before blasting into the top corner from 25-yards to make it 4-0 to the Gulls. It looked like a move straight off the training ground, and there is no doubt that Lewis, 22, knew exactly what he was doing; it was the perfect way to score his first goal for the club. 

2. Dan Holman's brace. 

After he scored 16 times in 18 goals for Cheltenham Town during their 2015-16 National League title winning campaign, Torquay United manager Gary Johnson was fully aware of Dan Holman's capabilities as a striker. However, since he arrived at Plainmoor, Holman, who was looking to resurrect his career, had experienced a slow start but he showed the qualities that saw him score all those goals with his brace against Wealdstone. Holman didn't just show those qualities in terms of his finishing, but also in terms of his movement and he played a key role in the move that led to United scoring their opening goal through Tom Lapslie. 

3. Another goal for Armani Little. 

Central midfielder Armani Little is now starting to show his true potential with another goal, which takes his tally for the season to five, and an assist. It was his cross that provided the assist for Tom Lapslie's opener and he scored United's third when he headed home a deflected cross from Dean Moxey on the half hour mark. However, it could have scored a brace if he hadn't blasted his 38th minute penalty over the bar. 

4. Two in two for Tom Lapslie. 

During his time with Colchester United between 2015 and 2021, Tom Lapslie only managed to find the target four times in 170 appearances, but he is now halfway to emulating that figure with the Gulls. Lapslie was accredited with United's equaliser in their televised 2-2 draw with Chesterfield, and he followed this up by heading home the Gulls' opener against Wealdstone. Throughout the match he showed incredible energy levels and on another day he could have been man of the match. 

5. Gulls now unbeaten in three.  

By winning against Wealdstone, Torquay United have now extended their unbeaten run to three matches, a run which includes a 1-0 win over Southend United and a 2-2 draw with high flying Chesterfield. Prior to this, the Gulls had only won one of their opening six games, drawn one and lost the remaining four. One of the hallmarks of their upturn in fortunes has been a resolute defence; as well as securing two wins out of their last three games, they have also kept two clean sheets out of three in the process - since switching to a back three of Ben Wynter, Joe Lewis and Dean Moxey. This run has also coincided with the return of Shaun MacDonald in goal.

6. Biggest win since Boxing Day 2020. 

Saturday's win was the Gulls' biggest win since they beat Yeovil Town 6-1 on Boxing Day 2020, and it was also their first 5-0 win at Plainmoor since they beat Shrewsbury Town by that margin in March 2011.