NICHOLSON LOOKING FOR SPIRIT OF SOUTHPORT AS GULLS LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK

If Torquay United manager Kevin Nicholson needs any inspiration as the Gulls aim to bounce back from their midweek defeat against Boreham Wood then he need look no further than their defeat to ten-man Guiseley last season.

After taking a first half lead through a 25-yard strike from Aman Verma, United gained a numerical advantage when Jake Lawlor was dismissed for the Lions. However, they still managed to bounce back and win as goals from Jake Cassidy and Will Hatfield ensured that Guiseley, managed by former Gulls' loanee Adam Lockwood, managed to return to West Yorkshire with all three points.

In his post-match interview Nicholson didn't mince his words when he said: “If it wasn’t my team and it wasn’t my football club, I’d probably find those goals quite amusing, it was that bad."

However, in their following fixture away at Southport Nicholson got his desired response as the Gulls returned from Merseyside with a morale boosting victory.

Luke Young opened the scoring in the first half for the Gulls before Jim Stevenson cancelled out Young's effort with an equaliser in the 47th minute, but United snatched victory through Ruairi Keating's first goal for the club right at the death.

A similar result and performance against Guiseley on Saturday would set the Gulls up nicely for a run of three home games from four, which sees Solihull Moors, Chester FC and Wrexham all visit Plainmoor. The first of those encounters which is against Solihull Moors on August Bank Holiday Saturday is then followed by a trip to Woking before Chester FC and Wrexham make the journey to South Devon in early September.

It represents an opportunity, should they seize it, for United to turn around what has been a majorly disappointing start to their National League campaign.

 

ARGYLE OPEN CHECKATRADE TROPHY CAMPAIGN WITH WIN

With a starting line-up made up of squad numbers 61, 43, 44, 46, 51, 52, 55, 64, 66, 67, 70 Chelsea's Under-21's line-up for their Checkatrade Trophy clash with Plymouth Argyle was a bingo caller's dream.

However, it was the Pilgrims who stole the headlines as they won 5-4 on penalties after drawing 2-2 in normal time and it was one of Argyle's own youngsters that proved to be the star of the show in the form of Alex Fletcher.

As well as scoring two late goals which sent the tie to a spot-kick shoot out, Fletcher also netted one of the Pilgrims' five penalties in their Southern Group D encounter.

Whilst the match itself drew a crowd of just over 4,000 with many staying away in protest over the introduction of under age Premier League sides in the competition, it will be interesting to see what interest Argyle's other group matches against Exeter City and Yeovil Town.

NICHOLSON FACING ACID TEST

After only picking up one point from their opening three fixtures against Tranmere Rovers, Aldershot Town and Gateshead, Torquay United go into their next two matches against Boreham Wood and Guiseley desperately needing points to get their season up and running.

Own goals from Ryan Higgins and Myles Anderson either side of Richard Peniket's strike for Gateshead saw the Gulls come away from the North East with nothing to show for their efforts.

As well as having only picked up one point, the Gulls have also only scored two goals - both of which came against Aldershot through Luke Young and Jon-Paul Pittman, another statistic that manager Kevin Nicholson will need to improve upon.

Nicholson also has a number of absentees through injury and illness to contend with as Liam Davis, Josh Gowling and Jordan Lee, on loan from Bournemouth all missing out. Lee's absence is a extra serious concern as he experienced chest pains, which he has underdone tests for.

On Saturday they were also joined by Jamie Reid, who was substituted with a suspected broken wrist in the first half against Gateshead.

Reinforcements have been made in the form of ex Barrow and Macclesfield winger Andy Haworth, who has joined on non-contract terms, but other signings in other areas may need to be made.

Last season both Boreham Wood and Guiseley completed the double over the Gulls and those two games will provide an acid test of how much United have improved over the close season and the beginning of the current campaign.

FOUR THINGS WE LEARNED FROM TORQUAY VS TRANMERE

1. Josh Gowling is a natural leader

Over the years many rugged, commanding centre backs have turned out for Torquay United from Wes Saunders to Alex Watson to Craig Taylor to Guy Branston to Aaron Downes and Josh Gowling can add his name to that list.
A former teammate of manager Kevin Nicholson from their days at Kidderminster Harriers, Gowling was the 'go to' man' for Grimsby Town manager Paul Hurst when the Mariners won promotion from the National League in the 2015-16 season. There are clear signs that he will perform a similar role for Nicholson in the 2017-18 campaign for the Gulls, in a display that earned him a place in the Non League Paper National League team of the week.

2. Ryan Clarke's experience in goal will make a big difference

Not since Andy Marriott have Torquay United had a goalkeeper in their mid-to late thirties - an age where many keepers reach their peak - between the sticks until the arrival in the summer of Ryan Clarke. Had Clarke's career taken a different path he could have joined the Gulls in 2006 when he was handed a trial by the then United manager Ian Atkins, after he was released by hometown club Bristol Rovers. However, he made his debut for the Gulls against Tranmere Rovers on Saturday and made a number of important saves to deny James Norwood and Liam Ridehalgh in the opening minutes, which helped him to win the sponsor's Man of the Match award.

3. Sam Chaney is an able understudy at left-back to Liam Davis

A longstanding heel problem has so far prevented Liam Davis from appearing in pre-season for the Gulls, let alone the full season. Nevertheless Sam Chaney - a midfielder by trade - has proved to be a more than capable understudy for Davis. He produced an assured display on Saturday against Tranmere and offered an extra option on the overlap, and even survived a strong challenge from Rovers right-back Adam Buxton.

4. The opening day attendance was a healthy figure

The crowd of 3,162 for the Gulls' opener with Tranmere was the fourth best attended fixture in the National League behind Wrexham vs Macclesfield Town (6,115), Hartlepool United (3,962) vs Dover Athletic and Sutton United vs Leyton Orient (3,198). It was also bigger than four League Two fixtures, including Accrington Stanley vs Colchester United (1,625), Crawley Town vs Port Vale (2,270), Morecambe vs Cheltenham Town (1,450) and Stevenage vs Newport County (2,650).

SORRY YEOVIL PLAYERS TO REFUND FANS

Following Yeovil Town's 8-2 opening day thrashing at the hands of Luton Town, the Glovers' players have agreed to refund the 258 fans who witnessed the fateful encounter.

Despite taking the lead through Otis Khan after seven minutes, Yeovil then found themselves trailing by five goals by half-time as the Hatters hit back through Ollie Lee, James Collins, Alan McCormack and a brace from Isaac Vassell.

They missed the chance to reduce their arrears to three goals as Khan had a penalty saved by Luton keeper and former Glover Marek Stech.

In the second half Collins completed his hat trick before Francois Zoko pulled one back for Yeovil, but the Hatters weren't finished as Elliot Lee rounded off the scoring with their eighth in injury time.

Club captain James Bailey and manager Darren Way both admitted collective responsibility for the side's failings and made a heart felt apology to the Glovers faithful to paid their money to watch the match.

Bailey said: "We know we let ourselves and the fans down. As a group, we want to apologise and give fans their money back."

Way added: "Saturday was never going to be easy but the manner of the defeat was totally unacceptable and I apologise to the supporters and take full responsibility for that.

"Paying supporters their money back is a collective decision - we're not happy with just apologising, but at the same time know our best apology will come on the pitch in the coming weeks."

To compound their misery, Luton are also managed by former Glovers left-back Nathan Jones - a former teammate and coaching colleague of Way's.

2017-18 SEASON: PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

Plymouth Argyle's opening game of the 2017-18 season against Peterborough United marked their return to League One for the first time in six years.

Under manager Derek Adams, the Pilgrims have gained a reputation for being a solid, well organised outfit with Irish playmaker Graham Carey adding a touch of extra flair.

Holding onto Carey, who agreed a two-year deal following speculation that he might try his luck in the Championship, has to be regarded as a major plus for Adams.

However, Carey isn't Argyle's only source of creativity as Adams looked to add a number of wide players, including Lionel Ainsworth, Joel Grant (who made the move from Exeter City), Reuben Lameiras and Gregg Wylde, who returns to Home Park for a second spell after being released by Millwall.

In defence, Ryan Edwards who joins from Morecambe has the potential to form a solid central defensive partnership with Sonny Bradley, who along with goalkeeper Luke McCormick and Carey was named in the League Two team of the season for 2016-17.

The last time the Pilgrims won promotion from League Two level under Paul Sturrock in 2002 their stay lasted for two years as they won League One title in the 2003-04 season, which marked the start of a six year stay in the Championship.

This time around for Argyle, in keeping with Chairman James Brent's policy of sustainable success, will no doubt be looking for consolidation as their first priority. A top ten finish is a realistic target for the Pilgrims, which could potentially followed up by a title in the 2018-19 campaign.


In: Ryan Edwards (Morecambe), Lionel Ainsworth (Motherwell), Jamie Ness (Scunthorpe United), Reuben Lameiras (Coventry City), Robbert te Loeke (Achilles 69), Joel Grant (Exeter City), Aaron Taylor-Sinclair (Doncaster Rovers), Gregg Wylde (Millwall),

Out: Ryan Donaldson (Hartlepool United), Connor Smith (Yeovil Town), Ryan Brunt (Exeter City), Jimmy Spencer (Mansfield Town), David Ijaha, Narus Bulvitis, Louis Rooney, Jordan Slew, Vincent Dorel

Signing of the summer: Ryan Edwards

After making over 100 career appearances for Morecambe, former Blackburn Rovers youth team player Ryan Edwards opted for a move to Argyle with the atmosphere of games at Home Park.
Edwards has the potential to form a formidable centre back partnership with Sonny Bradley, but faces competition with Yann Songo'o and Jakob Sokolik.

Player with something to prove: Antoni Sarcevic

On joining the Pilgrims in the January 2017 transfer window, Antoni Sarcevic made 17 appearances and scored twice to help Argyle win promotion from League Two. However, prior to his arrival at Home Park he had only made seven starts for his previous club Shrewsbury Town after having his contract cancelled. This time around with the Pilgrims he will be looking to ensure that his current spell in League One is more fruitful.

2017-18 SEASON PREVIEW: EXETER CITY

After losing to Blackpool in last season's League Two Play-off final, Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale will be looking to help the Grecians go one better in the 2017-18 campaign.

However, it won't be easy for City as the 2017-18 edition of League Two promises to be incredibly competitive.

All four teams who were relegated last season Swindon Town, Chesterfield, Coventry City and Port Vale are all capable making a big impression, whilst the two promotion winners from the National League Lincoln City and Forest Green Rovers definitely won't be there to make up the numbers.

Whether the Grecians are able to emulate their achievements of the 2016-17 season it will depend on whether or not they can fill the void left by Ollie Watkins' £1.8million move to Brentford. Watkins netted 16 times in 52 appearances in all competitions.

Nevertheless Tisdale has so far retained the services of last season's leading scorer David Wheeler and Tisdale will also be hoping that Reuben Reid can improve on his 13-goal haul of last season and emulate the 20 goal-a-season returns of his Plymouth Argyle days.

Reid's former Pilgrims' teammate Ryan Brunt also gives Tisdale another attacking option after completing a successful trial spell in the close season. Jamaican international winger Joel Grant travelled in the opposite direction to sign for Argyle.

Arguably City's highest profile summer signing has been the returning Dean Moxey who proved that Wayne Rooney wasn't the only player making a return to his boyhood club over the summer.

At the age of 31, Moxey, who has appeared for Derby County, Crystal Palace and Bolton Wanderers since leaving St James Park in 2009, will bring a high level of experience to the Grecians' squad and will surely prove to be an excellent role model for the next generation of Exeter youth products.


In: Dean Moxey (Bolton Wanderers), Luke Croll (Crystal Palace), Ryan Brunt (Plymouth Argyle)

Out: Ethan Ampadu (Chelsea), Joel Grant (Plymouth Argyle), Ollie Watkins (Brentford), Bobby Olejnik (Mansfield Town), Jamie Reid (Torquay United - loan), Toby Down (Dorchester Town - loan), Max Smallcombe (Bideford - loan), Tom McCready, Connor Riley-Lowe

Signing of the Summer: Dean Moxey

Wayne Rooney's return to Everton from Manchester United may have made all the headlines this summer but Moxey's return to the club where he began his career could prove to be no less influential. His experience gained from several seasons playing at Championship level will no doubt serve as an asset to Tisdale. He will be looking to add to the 196 appearances he previously made for City, and he will also be hoping to add to the two promotions that he won in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 campaigns.

Player with something to prove: Ryan Brunt

After missing the entirety of the 2016-17 season after damaging his cruciate knee ligaments when playing for Plymouth Argyle against Barnet in March 2016, Ryan Brunt is looking to get his career back on track after joining the Grecians. Brunt scored 13 times in 57 appearances for the Pilgrims and has netted for City already in pre-season and will be looking to playing for regular first team football again - possibly alongside former Argyle teammate Reuben Reid.