WATKINS ON SONG FOR ENGLAND AGAINST IVORY COAST

Former Exeter City striker Ollie Watkins marked his first start for England with his second goal for the Three Lions against Ivory Coast. 

Watkins gave England the lead in the 30th minute when he finished from close range after being set up by the captain for the night Raheem Sterling. 

Five minutes before the break, the visitors were reduced to ten men after former Tottenham Hotspur defender Serge Aurier was dismissed when he was shown a second yellow card for dissent. 

On the stroke of half time, Sterling added a second before Watkins' Aston Villa teammate Tyrone Mings struck with a third in second half injury time. 

While Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham won a lot of plaudits for his display in the centre of midfield for England, Watkins certainly gave manager Gareth Southgate plenty of thought with regard to his attacking options. 

Competition for a place in England's roster of strikers is likely to be fierce, with Roma's Tammy Abraham, Patrick Bamford of Leeds United and Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin competing to be alternatives to Harry Kane in Southgate's squad. However, a strong end to the season with Villa could help Watkins seal a place on the plane to Qatar.

WYNTER AND LITTLE FEATURE IN ENGLAND C DEFEAT TO WALES

Torquay United duo Ben Wynter and Armani Little both featured for England C as they stumbled to defeat against their Welsh counterparts. 

A brace apiece from Will Evans (Bala Town) and Aeron Edwards (Connah's Quay Nomads) saw Wales C run out as 4-0 winners; all four goals came in the first half as the Welsh ran riot at the Oval, the home of League of Wales side Caernarfon Town. 

While Wynter completed the full 90 minutes, Little was substituted by Three Lions manager Paul Fairclough in the 73rd minute and was replaced by Notts County's Matty Palmer.

By featuring for England C, Wynter and Little become the third and fourth contracted Torquay United players to appear for the non league Three Lions. They follow in the footsteps of Kevin Nicholson and Nicky Wroe, who appeared for them in 2008 and 2009 respectively.

SARLL LEAVES GLOVERS FOR CARDS

Yeovil Town are on the lookout for a new manager as Darren Sarll swapped Huish Park for the Kingfield Stadium to join Woking. 

Sarll had spent nearly three years in charge of the Glovers after he was appointed following their relegation from the Football League at the end of the 2018-19 season. 

In his first season in charge, the 2019-20 campaign, Sarll led Yeovil to a fourth place finish in the National League, which saw them reach the play-offs where they were beaten by Barnet at the first eliminator stage. While on the face of it it may not seem that big an achievement, it was the first time that the Glovers had secured a top finish since they won promotion to the Championship in the 2012-13 season. 

This was followed by a 16th place in the 2020-21 season, which came with a number of challenges. Yeovil spent the majority of the campaign playing behind closed doors and then there was the tragic death of skipper Lee Collins, which overshadowed their entire season. 

Then in the 2021-22 campaign, Sarll had to contend with a variety of financial issues surrounding the ownership of Scott Priestnall and the loss of assistant manager Terry Skiverton to Charlton Athletic. However, he still managed to steer a young side to mid-table respectability and at 39 years of age he may still be relatively young manager, but he has to deal with challenges many managers with greater levels of experience haven't had to contend with.

SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS WEYMOUTH

 1. Two in two for Stephen Wearne. 

Sunderland loanee Stephen Wearne made it two in two as he followed up his goal against Aldershot Town by scoring the Gulls opener against Weymouth. In the 12th minute, QPR loanee Stephen Duke-McKenna set him away down the left hand side and Wearne then cut inside and slotted home into the right corner to give United the lead. Wearne's effort was his third of the campaign and there's more to come from him between now and the end of the season. 

2. Armani Little scores his first goal of 2022. 

Armani Little's 19th minute penalty was his 11th goal of the 2021-22 campaign, which keeps him top of United's goal scoring charts, but remarkably it was his first of 2022. Little's tenth of the season came away to Eastleigh on December 28, 2021, which saw the Gulls lose 2-1. He is now three short of last season's top scorer Asa Hall's goal haul of 14.

2. A display Frank O'Farrell would have approved of. 

After paying tribute to former manager Frank O'Farrell, who passed away recently at the age of 94, on Tuesday night against Aldershot Town, when they won 4-0, the Gulls followed up that display with another win versus his former club Weymouth. Six points from two games and seven goals scored without conceding, the Irishman would certainly have approved of United's displays over their last home fixtures. 

3. MacDonald in fine form yet again. 

Although United found the back of the net three times without reply, goalkeeper Shaun MacDonald still earned his money at the other - especially in the first half. MacDonald was called upon to deny Bradley Ash, Cameron Murray and Ben Thomson at different times, as he kept a second successive clean sheet.

4. Six point gap between the play-off places. 

United's victories over Aldershot and Weymouth have now cut the gap between themselves and the top seven to six points. Gary Johnson's side are currently on 53 points while Grimsby Town, who occupy seventh place in the table, are on 59 points. The Gulls' next National League fixture is against Notts County, who themselves are in sixth place with 60 points, and should United repeat their play-off semi-final heroics against the Magpies then they can reduce the gap further.

5. Fourth double of the season. 

By completing the double over Weymouth, the Terras have become the fourth side that the Gulls have won both home and away against. The other three are Yeovil Town, King's Lynn Town and Dover Athletic.

ENGLAND C CALL UPS FOR WYNTER AND LITTLE

Torquay United duo Ben Wynter and Armani Little have been called up for the England C side to face Wales C next week. 

The match takes place at the Oval, the home of Welsh Premier League side Caenarfon Town on Wednesday 30 March. Their opponents are drawn exclusively from the JD Cymru Premier - hence the absence of Joe Lewis and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans. 

Their call-ups cap a memorable campaign for the pair. 

Right back Wynter made his 150th appearance for United in their 4-0 win over Aldershot Town, and he also celebrated becoming a father for the second time, when his partner gave birth to son Theo. 

Vice-captain Little is currently the Gulls' leading scorer with ten goals from the centre of midfield. 

They are set to become the third and fourth Torquay United players to represent England C, following in the footsteps of Kevin Nicholson, in 2008 and Nicky Wroe in 2009. United defender Dean Moxey has also represented England C earlier in his career. 

A FINE FAREWELL FOR FRANK

On the night that Torquay United paid tribute to the memory of former manager Frank O'Farrell, the Gulls honoured their former boss in the best way possible as they put Aldershot Town to the sword. 

The crowd of 1,831 impeccably observed a minute's silence in his memory before the game, which was attended by members of O'Farrell's family, as well as Bruce Rioch, who was mentored by O'Farrell early in his managerial career at Plainmoor. 

United edged ahead on 13 minutes when the Shots defence headed a corner from Armani Little back towards the Gulls skipper, and his cross found Dean Moxey, who headed home his first goal of the season. 

Three minutes later, United doubled their lead when Connor Lemonheigh-Evans picked out QPR loanee Stephen Duke-McKenna on the right wing, and his low cross found Sunderland loanee Stephen Wearne who struck from six yards. 

Lemonheigh-Evans had a hand in the Gulls' third on the half hour mark when, after being caught between two minds of whether to shoot or not, he knocked the ball past two Aldershot defenders - only for Bradley Webb to slice an attempted clearance into his own net. 

Two minutes into the second half, the match was effectively ended as a meaningful contest when Danny Wright got the better of an overstretched Aldershot back line and teed up Lemonheigh-Evans for a simple tap-in for his eighth goal of the campaign. 

United were denied a fifth in the 88th minute - which would have equalled their biggest win of the season - when Duke-McKenna picked out Little at the far post, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

It was a display that O'Farrell, who guided United to promotion in his first season in charge in the 1965-66 campaign before leading the club to its highest ever league finish of fourth in what is now League One two years later, would have approved of.  

Next up for the Gulls is the visit of Weymouth, another of O'Farrell's former clubs, as they will be hoping for more of the same.

SOUTH WEST SIDES PROMOTION CHANCES ASSESSED

It's that time of the season when end-of-season run-ins are being expertly scanned and potential points returns are being calculated by fans up and down the country as the 2021-22 season enters its final furlong. 

We will now take this opportunity to assess the promotion and play-offs prospects for Plymouth Argyle, Exeter City and Torquay United from League One, League Two and the Vanarama National League respectively. 

Plymouth Argyle (Sixth in League One):

In what is arguably the strongest League One campaign in years, Plymouth Argyle currently occupy the division's fourth and final play-off spot (Sixth place) with 65 points. In recent seasons at least 74 points is usually enough to secure a play-off spot in League One, but the Pilgrims will probably need somewhere in the region of 78 to seal a place in the top six. 

Argyle's remaining ten fixtures sees them host Portsmouth (10th), Oxford United (4th), Sunderland (5th) and Milton Keynes Dons (3rd) and travel to Ipswich Town (9th), Wycombe Wanderers (8th) and Wigan Athletic (2nd) - fixtures that will all go a long way to determining their destiny. 

Nevertheless, even if the Pilgrims were to miss out on the play-offs they can certainly look back on a successful campaign. They survived the departure of Ryan Lowe to Preston North End and his assistant Steven Schumacher has proved to be more than able replacement. They also gave a good account of themselves in the FA Cup third round against Chelsea - only losing out in extra time.

Exeter City (Fifth in League Two):

While Forest Green Rovers seem set to clinch the title in League Two, the two remaining automatic promotion places for finishing second and third remain up for grabs.  

Forest Green lead the division with 68 points, but only four points separate second placed Northampton Town, who have 60 points, and ninth placed Mansfield Town, on 56, who themselves are just three points ahead of tenth placed Port Vale. 

Exeter City are currently in fifth place with 58 points, as they look to banish the memory of three play-off final defeats in the space of five years (2017, 2018 and 2020) by achieving automatic promotion. 

One of the hallmarks of a promotion winning side from the fourth tier is a strike partnership who can find the back of the net between 30 and 40 times in a campaign. Grecians skipper Matt Jay has found the back of the net 12 times, while his centre forward Sam Nombe has struck nine times, and City boss Matt Taylor will be hoping that the hamstring injury suffered by Nombe in their recent 0-0 with Salford City isn't too severe.

Torquay United (11th in the National League):

After their heartbreaking defeat to Hartlepool United in the National League play-off final at Ashton Gate last season, Torquay United now have a chance of making the play-offs again. 

It may seem like a long shot for the Gulls, who are currently eight points off the play-off zone, but if they can secure eight wins and a draw from their final 12 National League fixtures that could be enough to see them seal a top seven finish. 

However, it is worth noting that United have only lost once in the calendar year of 2022 - against Solihull Moors in January - and they remain the last side to secure wins over the league's current in-form sides Stockport County and Wrexham. 

One of the Gulls' great strengths is that they have goals running throughout their side, with midfielders Armani Little and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans currently leading United's goal scoring charts with ten and seven goals respectively. Next in the list comes centre back Joe Lewis, skipper Asa Hall - a midfielder by trade - and striker Danny Wright with five goals apiece. Wright recently netted a brace against King's Lynn Town, and if he can continue in that vein he can help inspire the Gulls to a strong finish to the campaign.

SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS BROMLEY

 1. A fourth successive draw. 

Torquay United's draw with Bromley was the fourth game in succession where the Gulls had been forced to settle for a share of the spoils. United had previously drawn 2-2 with Barnet, 0-0 with Boreham Wood and 1-1 with Wealdstone. However, they will certainly look on it as a point gained after Joe Lewis' 38th minute dismissal for a professional foul on Bromley's George Alexander, which meant that they played most of the match with ten men.

It is also the third time that United have drawn four league games on the trot; they also picked up four successive draws towards the end of the 2010-11 season and they also drew their final four fixtures of the 2020-21 campaign as well.

2. Wynter on song against his former club. 

Featuring as a makeshift centre back instead of his usual right back position, Ben Wynter played a key role in keeping his former club Bromley at bay - after the Gulls were reduced to ten men. 

He made a number of key blocks and interceptions in the second half, as United stuck their remaining ten men behind the ball. In the first half, he also picked out Tom Lapslie with a cross on 27 minutes which the former Colchester United midfielder nodded harmlessly wide.

Wynter also ended up having three different centre backs over the course of the afternoon. He started the game alongside Joe Lewis and then spent the remainder of the first half alongside Dean Moxey, who moved inside from left back. He then spent the majority of the second half playing with Ali Omar, who came on in place of the injured skipper Armani Little in the 47th minute. 

3. Tom Lapslie was a tigerish presence in midfield.

If any player summed up the desire shown by the Gulls to compete against Bromley with a numerical disadvantage then it was central midfield Tom Lapslie. The former Colchester man protected United's makeshift back four with a steely determination and fought hard to win the ball back on numerous occasions - and even tried to turn defence into attack as United looked to hit the Ravens on the counter. 

4. Shaun MacDonald was on top form again between the sticks. 

When he was called upon, United keeper Shaun MacDonald made a number of crucial saves to keep Bromley at bay. In the first half, he rushed off his line to clear the danger when Jude Arthurs appeared to be through on goal for the Ravens, which was swiftly followed by a tackle to Scott Wagstaff. 

In the second half, he stood strong to deny Bromley sub Liam Trotter and then in injury time he made a point blank save to deny Trotter's fellow sub Luke Coulson, which proved to be crucial in securing a hard earned point for the Gulls. 

5. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans was United's liveiest attacking threat. 

Prior to United being reduced to ten men, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans could have given United the lead twice. In the 11th minute, the former Wales Under-21 international hit the side netting and on 22 minutes, he connected with a cross from Stephen Wearne and his header seemed destined to find the target. Even after Lewis's dismissal, Lemonheigh-Evans hit the side-netting again moments afterwards. Had United been able to adopt a more attacking approach in the second half he could have had more such chances.

6. The gap between United and the play-offs is still in single figures. 

After yesterday's draw with Bromley, United are now nine off the National League play-off zone. Their next three National League fixtures, which sees them travel to King's Lynn Town before two successive home games against Weymouth and Aldershot Town, represents an excellent chance to reduce the gap further. Fortunately, there are only set to be without Joe Lewis for their trip to Norfolk, as a red card for a professional foul only results in a one-match ban.