TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS ST ALBANS CITY

1. Penalty claim. 

United had a penalty appeal late on for a challenge on Omar Mussa turned down which many in the ground thought was a stonewall penalty, including Gulls boss Paul Wotton. 

However, whilst Wotton was frustrated with the decision he admitted after the game that he didn't want to be 'that' manager who bemoans officials, but once again the question of officiating in the non-league game has reared its head again. 

One point which I personally believe to be a valid one is that the standard of player at National League level, and National Leagues North and South, is that the standard of player plying their trade at these levels is improving the standard of officiating needs to improve as well.

2. Injuries. 

Although Paul Wotton was able to welcome Jay Foulston and Dan Hayfield back into the starting line-up following their recent absence through injury, he saw both Ed Palmer and Omar Mussa suffer injuries. 

Palmer was elbowed in the face by Zane Banton, six minutes after he had equalised for St Albans, which earned him a red card and Mussa needed to be stretched off following the challenge mentioned under penalty claim.

3. The return of Will Jenkins Davies. 

During the week, Paul Wotton moved to strengthen his squad with the loan capture of Will Jenkins Davies on loan from Plymouth Argyle for what is a third seperate loan spell at Plainmoor. 

Jenkins Davies entered the field of play in place of Lirak Hasani in the 61st minute and brought a new level of energy and drive to the Gulls' midfield and even came close to scoring in the 74th minute. 

His loan spell will last at least until January 2025 and he will surely be pushing for a starting spot when United return to league action against Hampton and Richmond Borough on October 5. 

4. Sam Dreyer was imperious in defence. 

Once again Sam Dreyer was a man mountain in the centre of the Gulls defence and rightfully earned the sponsors man of the match award. In the first half, he blocked a shot from a tight angle from Zane Banton, who would open the scoring for the Saints in the second half, on the line on 37 minutes. He was also responsible for sniffing out the threat of St Albans City striker Sean Jeffers, who netted twice when the two sides met at Plainmoor last season, and he is fast establishing the reputation of being one of the best centre backs in National League South. 

5. Ben Seymour off the mark. 

After netting 16 times for Hampton and Richmond Borough in the 2023-24 season, Ben Seymour had found goals hard to come by since his summer move to Plainmoor. However, he finally got off the mark for United against St Albans in the 50th minute when he attempted to tee up strike partner Cody Cooke but his pass was cut out and fell invitingly into his path and he duly slotted home to open his account for the club. 

Hopefully it will turn out to be the first of many. 

6. Crowds holding up. 

Despite the disappointment of the Gulls' FA Cup exit to Bishops Cleeve, the Gulls maintained their record of attracting 3,000 plus crowds for all of their league games so far in the 2024-25 season. 

Their fixture with St Albans City attracted an attendance of 3,287, which included 35 St Albans City fans.

RESPONDING TO A SETBACK

 At what point does a setback become a crisis? 

While Torquay United have made a promising start to the managerial reign of Paul Wotton, which sees the Gulls occupy the play-off zone, but were dealt an unexpected blow in the FA Cup second qualifying round where they were beaten by Bishops Cleeve of Southern League Division One South. 

It was certainly a result that no United fan would have expected, in fact not even the most ardent of Bishops Cleeve fans would have thought that they would win 3-0. 

Therefore Wotton's post-match reaction was probably not surprising when he said:"It was humiliating and embarrassing. We were second best, in fact we weren't even that. There was absolutely zero credit to be had, Bishops Cleeve should have won by more."

Since the Bryn Consortium's takeover of the club in the summer, United have got so much right off the field in terms of supporter engagement, ranging from the new signing videos on social media, record season ticket sales, new home and away shirts that have sold in high volumes and a community share issue with the club's Supporter's Trust which has surpassed its fundraising target. 

So therefore a result like last Saturday is not in keeping with the renewed positivity surrounding the club.

Whilst Bishops Cleeve are lowest ranked side that the Gulls have lost to in the FA Cup in recent years, they are two divisions above the Mitres, which isn't the biggest divisional gap between United and one of their FA Cup giant killers. There was a divisional gap of three leagues existed between the Gulls and Hinckley United, who knocked United out of the cup in the 2004-05 season. At the time, the Gulls were in League One and Hinckley were in National League North. 

However, United bounced back from their premature cup exit at the hands of the Midlanders, as they went and won 2-1 at Port Vale with goals from Kevin Hill and Leon Constantine and then beat Wrexham 1-0 at Plainmoor thanks to a Tony Bedeau strike. 

Up until now the idea of a crisis at Plainmoor has been on par with what the Cobbolds of Ipswich Town would have regarded as one - namely the boardroom running out of wine. 

A response akin to the Gulls' class of 2004-05 would go a long way to maintaining that status.

BRINGING THE CROWDS BACK TO PLAINMOOR

 As well as their improved showings on the pitch, one of the hallmarks of Torquay United's 2024-25 campaign has been the crowds that have poured into Plainmoor to witness the Gulls in action. 

For the first time since the 2004-05 season, when United plied their trade in League One under Leroy Rosenior, Torquay United have attracted attendance above 3,000 for their opening four home games of the campaign. 

After attracting a crowd of 3,827 on the opening day of the season against Enfield Town, United followed this up with attendances of 3,566 against Dorking Wanderers, 3,263 against Aveley and then 3,087 against Chippenham Town.

In 2004-05, United drew a crowd of 3,973 for their first home game against Hull City, which was followed by 5,005 against Sheffield Wednesday in their second home fixture and 3,791 saw them face Walsall and 3,456 witnessed them draw 2-2 with Brentford. The season would ultimately end in relegation for the Gulls following their 2-1 defeat to Colchester United at Layer Road on the final day of the campaign, but their average attendance of 3,511 - this remains their highest seasonal average since United were relegated from the 'old' Third Division in the 1971-72 season under Jack Edwards. 

Since then the Gulls have only recorded seasonal average attendances above 3,000 on nine occasions, with the most recent being in the 2007-08 season, which stood at 3,125. A parrallel with that season can be found with the present day, as the Alex Rowe-led local consortium took over the club in the summer of 2007, just as the Bryn Consortium completed their takeover of the club in the close season.

Like in 2007-08, the Bryn Consortium, headed by co-chairman Michael Westcott and Mark Bowes-Cavanagh, have shown what can be achieved if you can create an enthusiasm amongst the United faithful for the club and make people want to come to Plainmoor. And if they can better the figure of 3,125, then it will be another tick on the list of things that they have got right since taking charge.

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS AVELEY

 1. Matt Carson makes his mark. 

Fresh from signing a one-year extension to his existing contract at Plainmoor, left wing-back Matt Carson scored his second goal as he attempted a cross, but instead it flew past Aveley goalkeeper Carey Bloedorn and into the far corner. Throughout the game, Carson was one of the Gulls' best attacking threats and he was one of United's stand-out performers. 

2. More goals required. 

When former United manager Dave Smith was asked what was needed to win promotion, he replied 'score goals, lots of them'. It is probably no surprise then that current United boss Paul Wotton expressed his disappointment that his side didn't work the Aveley keeper enough throughout the course of 90 minutes, and said he considered the result as two points. 

A feature of the Gulls' last four promotion winning sides has been a strike partnership who have scored 30 or more goals over the course of the campaigns in question; Dean Edwards (19) and Tommy Tynan (19) in 1990-91, David Graham (23) and Jo Kuffour (11) in 2003-04, Tim Sills (20) and Elliot Benyon (11) in 2008-09 and Jamie Reid (32) and Saikou Janneh (19) in 2018-19. 

Messrs Ash, Cooke, Seymour and Crosbie over to you. 

3. Sam Dreyer was imperious in defence. 

Centre back Sam Dreyer has been one of the Gulls most consistent performers so far this season and he was amongst United's star performers again against Aveley. 

Not only was Dreyer a commanding aerial presence, he also looked comfortably on the ball, and even could have won the Gulls a penalty as he had his shirt tugged in the box. 

At age of 20, his performance belied his relatively tender years.

4. A third crowd above 3,000.

For the third successive game, United had an attendance of over 3,000, and it is the first time in recent memory that the Gulls had achieved this feat. 3,263 witnessed United's 1-1 draw with Aveley, following on from the 3,837, who witnessed their opening day win over Enfield Town and 3,566 saw them follow up that result with a 1-0 victory over Dorking Wanderers. 

United attracted 3,000 plus crowds in two of their opening three fixtures in the 2007-08 and 2009-10 campaigns. However, this is the first time that they have managed it in all three of their opening home fixtures since the 2004-05 season under Leroy Rosenior. In 2004-05, they drew 3,973 for their first home game against Hull City, 5,005 against Sheffield Wednesday and 3,791 against Walsall.

5. A contrast from United's last meeting with Aveley. 

Despite the disappointment of not winning the game, there is no question that the mood around Plainmoor is better than it was when the Gulls last faced Aveley in February 2024, shortly after Clarke Osborne announced his intention to put United in Administration. Under the ownership of the Bryn Consortium, the only way is up for the Gulls and they have the perfect opportunity to make amends on Tuesday night against Chippenham Town.