GULLS CONTINUE FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL AGAINST SCUNTHORPE

When Torquay United met Scunthorpe United last October at Plainmoor, it was considered a relegation 'six-pointer'. 

As the two sides prepare to meet again at Glanford Park, both sides find themselves in the relegation zone and needing a win to lift themselves out of trouble.

In their meeting at Plainmoor, the Gulls drew 1-1 with Dan Martin opening the scoring for Torquay with his first goal for the club before birthday boy Alfie Beestin equalised for the Iron. A similar result this time around wouldn't be much good for either side. 

During their respective midweek fixtures both sides picked up positive results as the Gulls came away from Boreham Wood with a 1-0 win - courtesy of skipper Asa Hall's fifth goal of the season - and the Iron secured a goalless draw with fellow strugglers York City. 

One player who will be surely be looking forward to the encounter is Torquay's leading scorer Aaron Jarvis, who joined the Gulls from Scunthorpe during the summer of 2022. Jarvis, who has 14 goals in all competitions to his name for Torquay this season in all competitions, spent two seasons at Glanford Park scoring four times in 38 appearances. 

After facing Scunthorpe, the Gulls only one of their fellow relegation candidates still to play in the form of York City at home to April 15, but the Iron are due to face Gateshead away, Aldershot away and travel to Dorking Wanderers on the final day of the campaign. 

SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS DAGENHAM AND REDBRIDGE

1.    The games are running out.

With eight games left and being seven points adrift, the opportunities for the Gulls to pull themselves clear of trouble are very slim indeed.

United are currently on 31 points while Yeovil Town who, despite losing 1-0 to Bromley, have 38 points and occupy 20th place above the National League relegation zone.

Only a run of form in the mould of the Ian Atkins 2005-06 ‘great escape’ and a Devon Loch esque collapse from one of their rivals could save the Gulls now.

2.    Kevin Dawson a key performer for United again. 

Gloucester City loanee Kevin Dawson, who also played for Gary Johnson at Yeovil Town and Cheltenham Town, was a key performer in the centre of midfield for United. 

It was Dawson’s tenacity to win the ball that helped to set up Aaron Jarvis for the Gulls stunning opener and he was a commanding influence throughout the game. With the Irishman seemingly surplus to requirements at Gloucester, United should surely be looking to secure Dawson’s signature for next season – regardless of what division they find themselves in. 

3.    Was Ross Marshall’s header a turning point.

On 55 minutes, Aaron Jarvis nodded a free-kick from Dean Moxey into the path of centre back Ross Marshall for a header which the former Stevenage man nodded.

Had he scored, could United have gone on to draw, or possibly even win?

Sadly, we will never know for sure, but a 2-0 lead at that point, so early in the second half, could have made a difference.

4.    Conceding late goals. 

For the fourth time in recent weeks, United found themselves undone by a late goal. The Gulls also conceded in the last ten minutes against Bromley (H), Southend United (H) and Wealdstone (H), which have proved to be costly for the Gulls.
Just exactly how costly they will be only time will tell.

5.    A first glimpse of Frank Nouble.

Saturday’s game also saw a first glimpse of new signing Frank Nouble, who came on as a sub for Kieron Evans in the 67th minute.

On 89 minutes he found the back of the net with a goal that would have seen the Gulls regain their lead when he headed home Lewis Collins’ cross, only to see it ruled out for offside.

When he signed for the club, Nouble tweeted that United had nine ‘cup finals’ coming up, but now they have eight to go with a challenge that has now got a lot harder.

6.    The Yellow Army. 

Torquay United fans have been accused of lacking passion in the past in certain quarters, but to that yours truly says: ‘those who accuse those of being without passion are those without passion themselves.’ 

The Plainmoor faithful have shown incredible loyalty to the club and the fact that they continue in such numbers despite the circumstances they deserve a huge amount of credit.

GULLS SNAP UP NOUBLE

In their bid to avoid relegation from the National League, Torquay United have snapped former West Ham United forward Frank Nouble in a deal which runs until the end of the season. 

Nouble, 31, had been a free agent since his release by Colchester United earlier this month, where he was a teammate of Gulls midfielder Tom Lapslie.

In the first of his two spells with the U's, he helped them to reach the League Two play-offs in the 2019-20 season in which they lost to Exeter City in the semi-finals. 

With over 400 appearances to his name and having scored over 60 goals, Nouble has a wealth of experience which he will look to make count following his arrival at Plainmoor.

This isn't the first time that Nouble has plied his trade in Devon; he has a spell with Plymouth Argyle in the 2020-21 campaign prior to his return to Colchester. Other clubs that he has played for include West Ham United, Charlton Athletic, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ipswich Town, Gillingham and Newport County.

SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITER VERSUS WEALDSTONE

 1.    Losing Lewis Collins early on was a big as big a blow as losing Tom Lapslie.

Tom Lapslie’s seventh minute dismissal saw Torquay United play over 90 minutes, including injury time, with ten men, but it could be argued that losing Lewis Collins to injury on 21 minutes was equally damaging for the Gulls.

Collins, who is on loan from Newport County, was on target for the Gulls in midweek in their 3-2 defeat to Solihull Moors and has emerged as one of United’s best attacking outlets in recent weeks.

Hopefully he won’t be out for too long.

2.    Mark Halstead made a number of important saves. 

Not for the first time this season United goalkeeper Mark Halstead made a number of important saves, which helped to keep Wealdstone at bay until they found their late winner through Micah Obiero.
In the first half, Halstead made a point blank save to deny Obiero and even took a boot to the face which saw him sporting a bruise to his face after the match.
He continued this form into the second half as he denied former United striker Corie Andrews a goal against his former club in the 58th minute, but unfortunately he was eventually beaten by Obiero.
Purely for effort, he didn’t deserve to be on the losing side. 

3.    Kevin Dawson impressed on his home debut. 

After appearing in United’s recent away games against Aldershot Town and Solihull Moors, many of the Plainmoor faithful got to see new loan signing Kevin Dawson in action for the first time.
Irish midfielder Dawson, 32, played under Gary Johnson at both Yeovil Town and Cheltenham Town and has joined the Gulls on loan from National League North side Gloucester City on loan until the end of the season.
Dawson was an authoritative presence in the heart of United’s midfield and always looked to get on the ball and showed a good range of passing. He also displayed good leadership skills, giving both encouragement and instructions to his younger colleagues.
The Irishman was also part of Johnson’s Glovers side who won promotion to the Championship against the odds and his experience looks set to be crucial in the end of season run-in. 

4.    Kieron Evans on target. 

While there was some debate as to whether Shaun Donnellan got the final touch on his free-kick which found the back of the net against Barnet in the FA Trophy, there were no such arguments about his equaliser against Wealdstone.
Stones keeper Sam Howes rushed off his line to make a clearance, which fell invitingly to Evans and he found the back of an empty net from 25 yards.
Since he switched from playing in the centre of midfield to the wing, Evans has added more end product to his game in terms of assists and goals, which will both be valuable commodities between now and the end of the campaign. 

5.    Asa’s back.

Saturday’s encounter with Wealdstone also marked the return of club captain Asa Hall when he appeared as an 83rd minute substitute in place of Ross Marshall.

Hall, who remains United’s third top scorer in all competitions with five goals, remains an important figure for the Gulls if he can get fully fit and stay fit it will be of enormous benefit to manager Gary Johnson.

6.    A big effort required in United’s final ten games.

United’s defeat against Wealdstone now leaves them in 22nd place in the table and they are now only above 23rd placed Scunthorpe United on goal difference.

To complete yet another ‘great escape’ the Gulls need to emulate the form that they displayed under Ian Atkins in the 2005-06 season when they won six, drew one and lost three of their final ten league fixtures to stay in League Two.

JARVIS AND WORTHINGTON RECEIVE ENGLAND C CALL UPS

There is set to be representation from the South West in Paul Fairclough's England C squad as Torquay United striker Aaron Jarvis and Yeovil Town midfielder Matt Worthington have been named in the provisional non-league Three Lions squad to face Wales C at Altrincham on March 21. 

Jarvis, 25, joined the Gulls in the summer of 2022 following his release from Scunthorpe United and has found the back of the net 13 times in 33 appearances in all competitions in the 2022-23 season. 

If selected, he would become the fifth Torquay United player to appear for England C; it's a list that includes Kevin Nicholson, Nicky Wroe, Ben Wynter and Armani Little.

Worthington is one of the Glovers longest serving players having arrived permanently in January 2019 from AFC Bourenmouth, after previously appearing on loan at Huish Park in the 2017-18 campaign. 

Should he feature for Fairclough's side, he would join a long list of former Yeovil players to have appeared for England C, and their predecessors the England semi-professional XI, including Jerry Gill, Warren Patmore, Terry Skiverton, Chris Weale, Lee Johnson and Darren Way amongst others.

Goalkeepers: Sam Howes (Wealdstone), Magnus Norman (Oldham Athletic), Harrison Male (Worthing).

Defenders: Tyler Cordner (Aldershot Town), Vince Harper (Eastleigh), Harry Phipps (Dagenham & Redbridge), Kenton Richardson (Gateshead), Dan Gallagher (Dorking Wanderers), Jesse Debrah (FC Halifax Town).

Midfielders: John Lundstram (Altrincham), Darren Oldaker (Chesterfield), James Daly (Woking), Ryan de Havilland (Barnet), Regan Booty (Maidstone United), Matt Worthington (Yeovil Town), Gus Scott-Moriss (Southend United), Olly Dyson (York City).

Strikers: Dennon Lewis (Boreham Wood), Cameron Wilson (Scunthorpe United), Sam Dalby (Wrexham), Emile Acquah (Maidenhead United), Joe Sbarra (Solihull Moors), Macauley Langstaff (Notts County), Aaron Jarvis (Torquay United).

GLOVERS LOOK TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET UNDER NEW STEWARDSHIP

After several difficult years the future is beginning to look brighter for Yeovil Town after SU Glovers have taken stewardship of the Glovers. 

The company, headed by Matt Uggla, who is listed as a director along with his mother Julie-Ann, have stated that they will be making all major decisions at Huish Park and will be taking over former chairman Scott Priestnall's 80% majority shareholding of the club, with incumbant director Stuart Robins retained his 20% stake. Former England Rugby Union international Paul Sackey is set to take on a role with the club. 

Both Uggla and Sackey were unveiled to the Huish Park faithful on Saturday, which saw former manager Darren Sarll return to Yeovil for the first time with his Woking side, who returned home to Surrey with all three points with a 1-0 victory. 

Funds have already been made available to current Glovers boss Mark Cooper to bring new players to the club. Jordan Stevens arrived from Cooper's former club Barrow on Friday and he has since been joined by Scott Pollock, a prolific goal scoring midfielder from National League North side Boston United, and striker Reo Griffiths joins on loan from Doncaster Rovers. 

Nevertheless, while there has been a flurry of new arrivals, one of the most important asset that could potentially have in their possession is having Mark Cooper as manager.

With a promotion from the National League on his CV from earlier in his career with Forest Green Rovers in the 2016-17 season, one of Cooper's long term objectives could be to add a second one to that list.