CALDWELL REBUILT REPUTATION WITH GRECIANS

 Amongst his first words on returning as Wigan Athletic manager after leaving Exeter City were that we returns 'a better manager, a better person, far more experienced and ready for the challenge ahead.'

Caldwell has strong ties with the Latics, having captained the Latics' side that upset the odds to win the FA Cup against Manchester City in 2013 and then went on to lead them to the League One title in his first season as a manager in the 2015-16 campaign - his first full season in management. 

However, Caldwell was dismissed five months after leading Wigan back to the Championship and indifferent spells in charge of Chesterfield and Partick Thistle followed before he was appointed as Exeter City manager as successor to the Rotherham United bound Matt Taylor in 2022. 

At the time of his arrival the Grecians had just won promotion from League Two and were looking to re-establish themselves in the third tier with 14th, 13th and 16th placed finishes in the 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons respectively. 

In addition to this, he also guided City to the fourth round of the FA Cup in 2024-25, where they were beaten by Nottingham Forest on penalties, which was the first time that the Grecians had reached that stage of the competition since the 1980-81 season. 

Whilst he never won a promotion with the Grecians, Caldwell will be remembered for being the guiding light in  one of the club's longest ever spells in the third tier in modern times. All of this was achieved at the backdrop of the Grecians' Supporter's Trust owned model coming under threat. The club's run of 479 games with an academy graduate in the Grecians' starting line-up came to an end on his watch, as the challenge of unearthing another Ollie Watkins, Ethan Ampadu or Matt Grimes became increasingly harder. 

Caldwell's immediate priority at the Brick Stadium will be to keep the Latics in League One, as they currently lie 22nd in the table - two points adrift from safety. With the Grecians currently on 39 points, his successor at St James Park also has some work to do to ensure that they will be playing League One football in the 2026-27 campaign. 

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS MAIDENHEAD UNITED

 1. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton amongst the goals again. 

By being deployed further forward in the number ten role, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton has found himself amongst the goals as he took his tally for the season to three - and doubled his haul for the calendar year. 

Lo-Everton drilled home a strike from an angle on 41 minutes to give the Gulls what was at the time a richly deserved lead. 

It would some achievement if Lo-Everton managed to hit double figures for the 2025-26 season, but you wouldn't bet against him going close to it. 

2. Dan Hayfield a commanding presence in the centre of midfield. 

Dan Hayfield returned to the starting line-up in place of Jordan Thomas as Matt Worthington switched to right-back, and it was a decision that paid off for Gulls manager Paul Wotton as Hayfield produced a commanding display in the centre of midfield. 

He did the simple things well and came close to scoring on 26 minutes when he saw an angled effort parried away by Maidenhead keeper Jordi Van Stapperheof. 

With competition for places in central midfield hotting up after Matt Worthington and Monashe Sundire have returned from injury, Hayfield certainly staked his claim for one of the two starting berths. 

3. The penalty. 

Arguably the biggest talking point from Saturday was the penalty that wasn't given on 72 minutes for a challenge on Louis Dennis, which saw Dennis booked for diving. 

From a personal point of view, Dennis was bearing down on goal looking to score his 14th of the campaign and didn't need to dive in order to win a penalty. Whether referee Said Ouchane saw him fall at speed, which made his fall seem more unnatural, only he can answer. However, with no VAR available at National League South level, there was no way of having a second look at the challenge. 

Hopefully it will even itself out across the remainder of the campaign. 

4. Home and away. 

The Gulls' meeting with Maidenhead United was the 11th meeting between the two sides, but remarkably United's record against the Magpies is better away than it is at home. 

Torquay's away record against Maidenhead reads played five, won four, lost one, whilst their record against Plainmoor reads played six, won two, drawn two, lost two. 

If anyone knows of any other similar records, please get in touch. 

5. Still in contention. 

Despite drawing against Maidenhead, the Gulls are still in contention for automatic promotion from National League South. 

They dropped down to second place after Dorking Wanderers won 5-3 against Farnborough FC whilst Hornchurch moved to within a point of United after beating Tonbridge Angels 3-2. 

Dorking are due to face Hornchurch at the Meadowbank Stadium on Tuesday and all eyes will be on the outcome of that one. 

GULLS RETURN TO THE SUMMIT WITH A WIN OVER HORNCHURCH

 A second half brace from Jordan Young helped to earn Torquay United what could yet prove to be their most crucial victory of the season away to Hornchurch. 

United had trailed to an early curled effort from Angelo Balanta on nine minutes, but in the second half Young found himself in a one-on-one with Urchins keeper Arthur Nasta before slotting home the Gulls' equaliser on 50 minutes. Then, in the 69th minute, Young cut inside from the left and fired home to score his 15th goal of the campaign - which proved to be decisive. 

The result moves United to the top of the National League South table on goal difference ahead of Dorking Wanderers, who the Gulls are due to face at Plainmoor next Saturday. 

Had the outcome of the game gone against United, Hornchurch would have moved to the summit of the table instead of the Gulls, and they would also be five points clear of United with a game in hand. Therefore, come the end of the season in May, everyone could be looking back at this weekend as a turning point for Paul Wotton's side. 

With a midweek visit to Dover Athletic and next Saturday's clash with Dorking coming up, the Gulls have the potential to set themselves up for a strong finish to the campaign.