Kalvin Kalala proved to be a super sub for Torquay United as he came off the bench to help the Gulls defeat ten man Billericay Town.
With the game looking destined to end goalless, the Frenchman broke the deadlock for United in the 80th minute, with his seventh of the campaign, after being set up by fellow sub Ryan Dickson.
Two minutes later, leading scorer Jamie Reid took his tally for the season to 26 goals with a shot from the edge of the penalty area - which proved to be decisive. A minute later, the hosts were reduced to ten men when defender Charlie Wassmer was dismissed for a 'headbutt' on Saikou Janneh.
The win keeps United level on points with leaders Woking, who won 2-0 against Chippenham Town, on 69 points, ahead of what looks set to be another crucial weekend in the National League South promotion race.
Next weekend, the Gulls host fifth-placed Dartford at Plainmoor while the Cards travel to third-placed Welling United, who currently have the best home record in the division.
For both sides, it looks set to be another fixture that looks set to be crucial in deciding the destination of the National League South title.
United are still currently awaiting a re-arranged date for their home fixture with Chelmsford City, which was rained off in midweek, and, of course, travel to the Kingfield Stadium to face Woking in early April.
Either side of that fixture, the Cards are away to Bath City and play host to Chelmsford, following the Gulls', visit in a run that could prove to be season defining.
Sunday, 10 March 2019
Sunday, 3 March 2019
FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS WESTON SUPER MARE
1. The Seagulls succeeded where others failed.
In beating Torquay United at home, Weston Super Mare succeeded where the likes of Woking and Billericay Town have failed in inflicting a home defeat on the Gulls under Gary Johnson reign as manager. Not since the final home game of Gary Owers' tenure on September 8th, 2019 have United tasted defeat at home in the league.
2. Friends Reunited.
As well as the United line-up featuring Jake Andrews, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Saikou Janneh - all on loan from Bristol City - the Seagulls also featured three loanees from Ashton Gate as well.
Their centre back pairing of Aaron Parsons and Tom Harrison are both on loan at Weston from Bristol City, along with their left winger George Nurse. Interestingly Harrison was also responsible for the foul on Janneh, which led to the awarding of United's penalty on 70 minutes that was converted by Jamie Reid!
3. Target practice required.
Throughout the 90 minute, the Gulls won seven corners, which they were unable to take full advantage from. United's centre backs Jean Yves Koue Niate and Kyle Cameron could do a lot worse than to learn from United's assistant manager Aaron Downes and first team coach Shaun Taylor on how to attack the ball in the box from a corner. Downes scored 15 goals in 109 appearances in playing career with the Gulls between 2012 and 2015 and Taylor famously scored 13 goals for Swindon Town in the 1992-93 season, when they won promotion to the Premier League, many of which came from getting on the end of corners and other set pieces.
4. Packing in the crowds.
United's crowd of 2,682 was the highest crowd in Vanarama National Leagues North and South, apart from Stockport County versus Spennymoor United which attracted 6,311. The attendance at Plainmoor was also bigger than any crowd in the National League other than Eastleigh versus FC Halifax Town (3,323) and Wrexham versus Chesterfield (7,106).
5. It's a funny old game!
Despite their defeat United remain top of the league, albeit on goal difference, as Woking failed to beat Hungerford Town. Other promotion hopefuls Chelmsford City, Welling United and Bath City all drew with Concord Rangers, St Albans City and Truro City respectively while Billericay Town lost away to East Thurrock United. In fact no side in the top half of National League South managed to record a victory. As former Spurs and England striker Jimmy Greaves would say: "It's a funny old game."
In beating Torquay United at home, Weston Super Mare succeeded where the likes of Woking and Billericay Town have failed in inflicting a home defeat on the Gulls under Gary Johnson reign as manager. Not since the final home game of Gary Owers' tenure on September 8th, 2019 have United tasted defeat at home in the league.
2. Friends Reunited.
As well as the United line-up featuring Jake Andrews, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Saikou Janneh - all on loan from Bristol City - the Seagulls also featured three loanees from Ashton Gate as well.
Their centre back pairing of Aaron Parsons and Tom Harrison are both on loan at Weston from Bristol City, along with their left winger George Nurse. Interestingly Harrison was also responsible for the foul on Janneh, which led to the awarding of United's penalty on 70 minutes that was converted by Jamie Reid!
3. Target practice required.
Throughout the 90 minute, the Gulls won seven corners, which they were unable to take full advantage from. United's centre backs Jean Yves Koue Niate and Kyle Cameron could do a lot worse than to learn from United's assistant manager Aaron Downes and first team coach Shaun Taylor on how to attack the ball in the box from a corner. Downes scored 15 goals in 109 appearances in playing career with the Gulls between 2012 and 2015 and Taylor famously scored 13 goals for Swindon Town in the 1992-93 season, when they won promotion to the Premier League, many of which came from getting on the end of corners and other set pieces.
4. Packing in the crowds.
United's crowd of 2,682 was the highest crowd in Vanarama National Leagues North and South, apart from Stockport County versus Spennymoor United which attracted 6,311. The attendance at Plainmoor was also bigger than any crowd in the National League other than Eastleigh versus FC Halifax Town (3,323) and Wrexham versus Chesterfield (7,106).
5. It's a funny old game!
Despite their defeat United remain top of the league, albeit on goal difference, as Woking failed to beat Hungerford Town. Other promotion hopefuls Chelmsford City, Welling United and Bath City all drew with Concord Rangers, St Albans City and Truro City respectively while Billericay Town lost away to East Thurrock United. In fact no side in the top half of National League South managed to record a victory. As former Spurs and England striker Jimmy Greaves would say: "It's a funny old game."
Saturday, 2 March 2019
WHY THE INTERVENTION OF BRYN THE POLICE DOG GAVE TORQUAY UNITED A SHOT AT REDEMPTION
With the documentary 'the Jaws of Victory', focusing on Bryn the Police Dog's part in helping Torquay United avoid relegation from the Football League, currently being streamed on Netflix we will now look at how the events of that day gave the Gulls a shot at redemption.
Far from being a stay of execution, Torquay United’s final day survival in the 1986-87 season, which was aided by the intervention of Bryn the Police Dog, ended up giving the Gulls a shot at redemption.
Each of the three sides were also looking to stop their own individual rots. The Gulls had fallen on hard times following the heady days of the Frank O’Farrell and Alan Brown era of the late 1960s and early 1970s – when they missed out to promotion to the ‘old’ Second Division.
They had needed re-election to retain their Football League status in the 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons after the late Tony Boyce, who had been chairman of the club for 20 years, sold up to former Chelsea defender Dave Webb in 1984.
During this period, Webb combined the role of manager with becoming the club’s first managing director as he passed the managerial reins over to John Sims, for just 30 days, and then to Stuart Morgan, who had previously been a youth team coach at Bournemouth with Webb and appeared on loan for United in the late-1960s. They also fielded a number of players recruited from local amateur football and saw the capacity of Plainmoor reduced to 4,999 – following a fire in May 1985.
However, following Webb’s departure from the club in 1986, Morgan did manage to acquire some useful players on a modest budget including striker Paul Dobson and defenders Tom Kelly and Jim McNichol. He also managed to re-sign mercurial winger Mark Loram on loan from Queens Park Rangers after Loram failed to settle at Loftus Road.
Burnley, league champions as recently as 1960, were keen to avoid earning the tag of becoming the former winners of the ‘old’ First Division to be relegated from the Football League. The days of Jimmy McIlroy and Jimmy Adamson must have seemed like a distant memory to most Clarets’ fans – and they were a long way from the top-flight status that they currently enjoy under Sean Dyche.
However, McIlroy could still be found at Turf Moor reporting on the Clarets’ fortunes for the Burnley Express newspaper.
Meanwhile Lincoln were looking to avoid a second successive relegation after being demoted from the ‘old’ Third Division in the season before.
As well as seeing the Gulls host Crewe, the final round of Division Four fixtures would also see Burnley play host Leyton Orient whilst Lincoln entertained Swansea City.
Such was the level of interest generated in East Lancashire that a crowd of 15,000 poured into Turf Moor causing kick off to be delayed by 15 minutes.
At Plainmoor, the Gulls made a slow start and found themselves 2-0 down by half-time as Peter Bodak and future England international David Platt struck in the 39th and 43rd minutes respectively.
Early in the second half, Jim McNichol pulled one back for the Gulls – however, he would later have a more significant part to play – which proved to be a timely boost as Burnley had taken the lead against Orient through Neil Grewcock.
Meanwhile at Sincil Bank, Lincoln were losing to Swansea, thanks to a strike from veteran Scottish midfielder Tommy Hutchinson, which meant an equaliser was now a necessity for United.
Finally, United were handed a life-line – in a bizarre twist of fate - when Bryn the Police Dog broke free of his handler, PC John Harris, and sunk his teeth into McNichol’s leg, which resulted in more extra time being added on.
To show that there were no hard feelings, McNichol even shook Bryn’s paw after the game and chairman Lew Pope presented him with a steak.
However, achieving the great escape wasn’t enough to keep Stuart Morgan as he was replaced by former Tottenham and England defender Cyril Knowles in the summer of 1987.
Knowles’ arrival heralded an immediate change in fortunes as they defeated Wrexham 6-1 on the opening day of the 1987-88 season, in which Dobson – scorer of the crucial goal against Crewe – grabbed a hat-trick.
This was then followed up a memorable 1-0 win over Knowles’ former club Spurs, who included the likes of Ray Clemence, Gary Mabbutt, Ossie Ardiles and Chris Waddle amongst their ranks, in the Littlewoods Cup. The game appeared to be heading for a goalless draw when Derek ‘the Dude’ Dawkins struck with a late winner – unfortunately Spurs won the second leg 3-0 at White Hart Lane.
Dawkins also combined playing with coaching the club’s youth side, where one of his charges was a 16-year old winger from Halesowen who had been rejected by Birmingham City called Lee Sharpe.
Sharpe, who chronicled his spell at Plainmoor in Chapter three of his 2005 autobiography My Idea of Fun, made 19 appearances and scored three goals in all competitions for the Gulls before joining Manchester United for a fee which eventually rose to £185,000 – a record for a teenager at the time.
At the end of the 1987-88 season, United reached the Play-offs for the first time in their history where they were beaten 5-4 by Swansea City over two legs (in the days before play-off finals were contested at Wembley).
What was more remarkable about their achievements of the Gulls under Knowles during his first campaign in charge was that it was achieved with more or less the same team that he had inherited Only Sharpe, Phil Lloyd, a defender who had followed him to Plainmoor from his previous club Darlington, player-assistant manager Sean Haslegrave and barnstorming Scottish striker David Caldwell had been added to the side by Knowles.
The following 1988-89 season saw United finish mid-table in the league, but it was in the Sherpa Van Trophy where they would excel. The Gulls reached the Southern Area final of the competition where they faced a Wolverhampton Wanderers side – spearheaded by Steve Bull and Andy Mutch – who were heading back towards a level of respectably.
After losing the first leg 2-1 at Plainmoor, very few people gave United a chance of causing an upset at Molineux in the second leg. However, the Gulls managed to upset the odds as they kept Bull and Mutch quiet and won 2-0 thanks to a free-kick from Mark Loram and another effort from Wolverhampton-born Dean Edwards, who had stood on the terraces at Molineux as a youngster.
The game at Molineux was also notable for the performance of goalkeeper Kenny Allen, who had been called out of retirement to play by Knowles due to a shortage of goalkeeping options.
In the final United were beaten 4-1 by Bolton Wanderers, despite taking the lead through Edwards, but in the eyes of many reaching Wembley was an achievement in itself.
Early in the following 1989-90 season Knowles left the club and was replaced by former Plymouth Argyle manager Dave Smith. Smith’s appointment saw an upturn in fortunes as the Gulls’ league form improved and they even managed to knock West Ham United out of the FA Cup at the third round stage through a goal from young striker Paul Hirons.
With additional finance made available following the takeover of the club by Mike Bateson in 1990, Smith laid the foundations for the side that would contest the 1991 Division Four Play-off final against Blackpool under his predecessor John Impey.
After drawing 2-2 against the Tangerines at the end of normal time and extra time, the Gulls triumphed 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out to win promotion for the first time since the 1965-66 season.
And they achieved it with a side that featured Mark Loram and Chris Myers, who were both part of the team that drew 2-2 against Crewe in 1987. This achievement, and the others that preceded it, can be traced back to that May afternoon when an act of ‘canine intervention’ came to United’s aid when they needed it most.
A full account of the Gulls' great escape and other matches featured in this article can be found in Torquay United: A History in 50 Matches at https://torquayunitedahistoryin50.bigcartel.com/product/torquay-united-a-history-in-50-matches
Far from being a stay of execution, Torquay United’s final day survival in the 1986-87 season, which was aided by the intervention of Bryn the Police Dog, ended up giving the Gulls a shot at redemption.
Each of the three sides were also looking to stop their own individual rots. The Gulls had fallen on hard times following the heady days of the Frank O’Farrell and Alan Brown era of the late 1960s and early 1970s – when they missed out to promotion to the ‘old’ Second Division.
They had needed re-election to retain their Football League status in the 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons after the late Tony Boyce, who had been chairman of the club for 20 years, sold up to former Chelsea defender Dave Webb in 1984.
During this period, Webb combined the role of manager with becoming the club’s first managing director as he passed the managerial reins over to John Sims, for just 30 days, and then to Stuart Morgan, who had previously been a youth team coach at Bournemouth with Webb and appeared on loan for United in the late-1960s. They also fielded a number of players recruited from local amateur football and saw the capacity of Plainmoor reduced to 4,999 – following a fire in May 1985.
However, following Webb’s departure from the club in 1986, Morgan did manage to acquire some useful players on a modest budget including striker Paul Dobson and defenders Tom Kelly and Jim McNichol. He also managed to re-sign mercurial winger Mark Loram on loan from Queens Park Rangers after Loram failed to settle at Loftus Road.
Burnley, league champions as recently as 1960, were keen to avoid earning the tag of becoming the former winners of the ‘old’ First Division to be relegated from the Football League. The days of Jimmy McIlroy and Jimmy Adamson must have seemed like a distant memory to most Clarets’ fans – and they were a long way from the top-flight status that they currently enjoy under Sean Dyche.
However, McIlroy could still be found at Turf Moor reporting on the Clarets’ fortunes for the Burnley Express newspaper.
Meanwhile Lincoln were looking to avoid a second successive relegation after being demoted from the ‘old’ Third Division in the season before.
As well as seeing the Gulls host Crewe, the final round of Division Four fixtures would also see Burnley play host Leyton Orient whilst Lincoln entertained Swansea City.
Such was the level of interest generated in East Lancashire that a crowd of 15,000 poured into Turf Moor causing kick off to be delayed by 15 minutes.
At Plainmoor, the Gulls made a slow start and found themselves 2-0 down by half-time as Peter Bodak and future England international David Platt struck in the 39th and 43rd minutes respectively.
Early in the second half, Jim McNichol pulled one back for the Gulls – however, he would later have a more significant part to play – which proved to be a timely boost as Burnley had taken the lead against Orient through Neil Grewcock.
Meanwhile at Sincil Bank, Lincoln were losing to Swansea, thanks to a strike from veteran Scottish midfielder Tommy Hutchinson, which meant an equaliser was now a necessity for United.
Finally, United were handed a life-line – in a bizarre twist of fate - when Bryn the Police Dog broke free of his handler, PC John Harris, and sunk his teeth into McNichol’s leg, which resulted in more extra time being added on.
To show that there were no hard feelings, McNichol even shook Bryn’s paw after the game and chairman Lew Pope presented him with a steak.
However, achieving the great escape wasn’t enough to keep Stuart Morgan as he was replaced by former Tottenham and England defender Cyril Knowles in the summer of 1987.
Knowles’ arrival heralded an immediate change in fortunes as they defeated Wrexham 6-1 on the opening day of the 1987-88 season, in which Dobson – scorer of the crucial goal against Crewe – grabbed a hat-trick.
This was then followed up a memorable 1-0 win over Knowles’ former club Spurs, who included the likes of Ray Clemence, Gary Mabbutt, Ossie Ardiles and Chris Waddle amongst their ranks, in the Littlewoods Cup. The game appeared to be heading for a goalless draw when Derek ‘the Dude’ Dawkins struck with a late winner – unfortunately Spurs won the second leg 3-0 at White Hart Lane.
Dawkins also combined playing with coaching the club’s youth side, where one of his charges was a 16-year old winger from Halesowen who had been rejected by Birmingham City called Lee Sharpe.
Sharpe, who chronicled his spell at Plainmoor in Chapter three of his 2005 autobiography My Idea of Fun, made 19 appearances and scored three goals in all competitions for the Gulls before joining Manchester United for a fee which eventually rose to £185,000 – a record for a teenager at the time.
At the end of the 1987-88 season, United reached the Play-offs for the first time in their history where they were beaten 5-4 by Swansea City over two legs (in the days before play-off finals were contested at Wembley).
What was more remarkable about their achievements of the Gulls under Knowles during his first campaign in charge was that it was achieved with more or less the same team that he had inherited Only Sharpe, Phil Lloyd, a defender who had followed him to Plainmoor from his previous club Darlington, player-assistant manager Sean Haslegrave and barnstorming Scottish striker David Caldwell had been added to the side by Knowles.
The following 1988-89 season saw United finish mid-table in the league, but it was in the Sherpa Van Trophy where they would excel. The Gulls reached the Southern Area final of the competition where they faced a Wolverhampton Wanderers side – spearheaded by Steve Bull and Andy Mutch – who were heading back towards a level of respectably.
After losing the first leg 2-1 at Plainmoor, very few people gave United a chance of causing an upset at Molineux in the second leg. However, the Gulls managed to upset the odds as they kept Bull and Mutch quiet and won 2-0 thanks to a free-kick from Mark Loram and another effort from Wolverhampton-born Dean Edwards, who had stood on the terraces at Molineux as a youngster.
The game at Molineux was also notable for the performance of goalkeeper Kenny Allen, who had been called out of retirement to play by Knowles due to a shortage of goalkeeping options.
In the final United were beaten 4-1 by Bolton Wanderers, despite taking the lead through Edwards, but in the eyes of many reaching Wembley was an achievement in itself.
Early in the following 1989-90 season Knowles left the club and was replaced by former Plymouth Argyle manager Dave Smith. Smith’s appointment saw an upturn in fortunes as the Gulls’ league form improved and they even managed to knock West Ham United out of the FA Cup at the third round stage through a goal from young striker Paul Hirons.
With additional finance made available following the takeover of the club by Mike Bateson in 1990, Smith laid the foundations for the side that would contest the 1991 Division Four Play-off final against Blackpool under his predecessor John Impey.
After drawing 2-2 against the Tangerines at the end of normal time and extra time, the Gulls triumphed 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out to win promotion for the first time since the 1965-66 season.
And they achieved it with a side that featured Mark Loram and Chris Myers, who were both part of the team that drew 2-2 against Crewe in 1987. This achievement, and the others that preceded it, can be traced back to that May afternoon when an act of ‘canine intervention’ came to United’s aid when they needed it most.
A full account of the Gulls' great escape and other matches featured in this article can be found in Torquay United: A History in 50 Matches at https://torquayunitedahistoryin50.bigcartel.com/product/torquay-united-a-history-in-50-matches
Sunday, 24 February 2019
FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS DULWICH HAMLET
1. Fine first half displays are a speciality for the Gulls at home under Gary Johnson.
Not for the first time this season under Gary Johnson, Torquay United went into the half time break in a home game having run up an unassailable lead. A brace apiece from Jamie Reid and Saikou Janneh gave the Gulls a 4-0 lead going into the interval, and it was one of a series of large leads held by the Gulls at the half way point in many matches - a list that includes a 4-0 lead against Concord Rangers and a 5-0 advantage over Oxford City.
2. 40 up for Reid and Janneh.
By scoring their respective doubles, Jamie Reid and Saikou Janneh have now taken their respective tallies for the 2018-19 season to 24 and 16 in all competitions. This makes them the most prolific Torquay United forward pairing of recent times, as they have now surpassed the 38 goals that Tommy Tynan and Dean Edwards scored during the 1990-91 season (19 apiece).
Other notable partnerships include David Graham and Jo Kuffour who scored 34 between them in the 2003-04 promotion season under Leroy Rosenior - Graham found the back of the net 23 times, while Kuffour managed to 11 times - and they were last double act to score more than 30 in a single campaign.
3. 58 minutes of fame.
On 23 minutes, the game was held up yesterday when referee Marc Whaley picked up a calf injury and was unable to carry on. As National League South matches go ahead without a fourth official, a volunteer was required to fill in for assistant referee Colin Hubbard, who stepped up to replace Whaley, in running the line. Gulls supporter Stan Weedon emerged from the Popular Side to step in for Hubbard and preceded to do an excellent job.
4. A fine send off for Cliff.
Before the match, a minute's silence was observed in memory of former United midfielder Cliff Myers, who passed away recently at the age of 72, who played for the Gulls between 1973 and 1976 - his son Chris also played for United and was part of the side that beat Blackpool in the Division Four play-off final at Wembley in 1991. As well as the Gulls, three of Cliff's other former clubs Yeovil Town, Brentford and Charlton Athletic also tasted victory.
5. United's goal difference is looking healthy.
United's win over Dulwich Hamlet and Woking's 2-0 defeat away to Dartford ensured that the Gulls return to the summit of the Vanarama National League South, which they now lead by one point.
In addition to this, United also have a goal difference of plus 40, which is significantly greater than the Cards' GD of plus 26. This means that Woking will need to be two points better off in order to overhaul them and with both sides have two fixtures which they will be heading into this week as heavy favourites - the Gulls travel to East Thurrock and host Weston Super Mare and the Cards head to Truro City and Hungerford Town - so it will be interesting to see what the state of play is this time next week.
Not for the first time this season under Gary Johnson, Torquay United went into the half time break in a home game having run up an unassailable lead. A brace apiece from Jamie Reid and Saikou Janneh gave the Gulls a 4-0 lead going into the interval, and it was one of a series of large leads held by the Gulls at the half way point in many matches - a list that includes a 4-0 lead against Concord Rangers and a 5-0 advantage over Oxford City.
2. 40 up for Reid and Janneh.
By scoring their respective doubles, Jamie Reid and Saikou Janneh have now taken their respective tallies for the 2018-19 season to 24 and 16 in all competitions. This makes them the most prolific Torquay United forward pairing of recent times, as they have now surpassed the 38 goals that Tommy Tynan and Dean Edwards scored during the 1990-91 season (19 apiece).
Other notable partnerships include David Graham and Jo Kuffour who scored 34 between them in the 2003-04 promotion season under Leroy Rosenior - Graham found the back of the net 23 times, while Kuffour managed to 11 times - and they were last double act to score more than 30 in a single campaign.
3. 58 minutes of fame.
On 23 minutes, the game was held up yesterday when referee Marc Whaley picked up a calf injury and was unable to carry on. As National League South matches go ahead without a fourth official, a volunteer was required to fill in for assistant referee Colin Hubbard, who stepped up to replace Whaley, in running the line. Gulls supporter Stan Weedon emerged from the Popular Side to step in for Hubbard and preceded to do an excellent job.
4. A fine send off for Cliff.
Before the match, a minute's silence was observed in memory of former United midfielder Cliff Myers, who passed away recently at the age of 72, who played for the Gulls between 1973 and 1976 - his son Chris also played for United and was part of the side that beat Blackpool in the Division Four play-off final at Wembley in 1991. As well as the Gulls, three of Cliff's other former clubs Yeovil Town, Brentford and Charlton Athletic also tasted victory.
5. United's goal difference is looking healthy.
United's win over Dulwich Hamlet and Woking's 2-0 defeat away to Dartford ensured that the Gulls return to the summit of the Vanarama National League South, which they now lead by one point.
In addition to this, United also have a goal difference of plus 40, which is significantly greater than the Cards' GD of plus 26. This means that Woking will need to be two points better off in order to overhaul them and with both sides have two fixtures which they will be heading into this week as heavy favourites - the Gulls travel to East Thurrock and host Weston Super Mare and the Cards head to Truro City and Hungerford Town - so it will be interesting to see what the state of play is this time next week.
Sunday, 17 February 2019
A MARATHON NOT A SPRINT
The statement made famously made by Bill Shankly that the race to become league champions is a marathon not a sprint no doubt ring true to Torquay United manager Gary Johnson.
Having come away from Hemel Hempstead with a 4-1 victory on Tuesday night, the Gulls were brought back down to earth against Welling United - as Johnson's men were beaten 2-0 by the Wings.
To compound matters for United, title rivals Woking made it two wins out of two with a 2-1 victory over bottom side Weston Super Mare. That result means that the Cards, who still have a game in hand over the Gulls, now trail United by one point.
Nevertheless Johnson will need to call on his many years of managerial experience as the Gulls enter the final straight of the Vanarama National League South race, from a career that has seen him win five promotions with Yeovil Town, Bristol City and Cheltenham Town, as they aim to clinch the league title to attain automatic promotion and avoid the play-offs.
United return to league action next Saturday at home to Dulwich Hamlet, by which time Woking would have played their game in hand against Hemel Hempstead, and will have a clearer idea of what is required. It will also be the start of a Saturday-Tuesday sequence for the Gulls, as they will then face a trip to East Thurrock United which will be followed by two home games against Weston Super Mare and Chelmsford City on March 2nd and 5th respectively.
It is also worth reminding the Plainmoor faithful of Woking's three potentially season defining fixtures at end of March against Bath City away (March 30th), United at home (April 6th) and then Chelmsford City at home (April 10th). Those three games could yet go a long way to deciding the Cards' fortunes come the end of the season.
The Gulls, of course, will finish their regular campaign with a trip to St Albans City on April 26th, and given United's of crucial end-of-season matches taking place in the South East of England don't bet against it being of significant importance.
Having come away from Hemel Hempstead with a 4-1 victory on Tuesday night, the Gulls were brought back down to earth against Welling United - as Johnson's men were beaten 2-0 by the Wings.
To compound matters for United, title rivals Woking made it two wins out of two with a 2-1 victory over bottom side Weston Super Mare. That result means that the Cards, who still have a game in hand over the Gulls, now trail United by one point.
Nevertheless Johnson will need to call on his many years of managerial experience as the Gulls enter the final straight of the Vanarama National League South race, from a career that has seen him win five promotions with Yeovil Town, Bristol City and Cheltenham Town, as they aim to clinch the league title to attain automatic promotion and avoid the play-offs.
United return to league action next Saturday at home to Dulwich Hamlet, by which time Woking would have played their game in hand against Hemel Hempstead, and will have a clearer idea of what is required. It will also be the start of a Saturday-Tuesday sequence for the Gulls, as they will then face a trip to East Thurrock United which will be followed by two home games against Weston Super Mare and Chelmsford City on March 2nd and 5th respectively.
It is also worth reminding the Plainmoor faithful of Woking's three potentially season defining fixtures at end of March against Bath City away (March 30th), United at home (April 6th) and then Chelmsford City at home (April 10th). Those three games could yet go a long way to deciding the Cards' fortunes come the end of the season.
The Gulls, of course, will finish their regular campaign with a trip to St Albans City on April 26th, and given United's of crucial end-of-season matches taking place in the South East of England don't bet against it being of significant importance.
Thursday, 7 February 2019
SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE
When first placed Torquay United face Chelmsford City, who currently lie in third place, in the Vanarama National League South something will have to give.
The Gulls head into the game having won 11 of their last 12 league encounters, whilst the Clarets have tasted victory in eight of their previous nine league fixtures, which provides firm evidence that the two sides are the most in-form teams in the division.
Following Woking's defeat against Dartford, a result which aids United's promotion cause, a win for the Gulls will surely provide the Gulls with a tremendous boost. However, a win for the visitors would blow the title race wide open.
All the signs suggest that it will be a higher scoring contest than their opening day contest which ended goalless. One of the reasons for this is the fact as well as seeing two of the strongest teams going head-to-head with each other, the Plainmoor faithful will also be catching a glimpse of the league's two top scorers in United's Jamie Reid and Chelmsford's Rhys Murphy.
The pair were teammates last season, as the Gulls mounted what was ultimately an unsuccessful battle against relegation from the National League under previous manager Gary Owers, when Murphy joined United on loan from Forest Green Rovers. They were also both on the score sheet when United beat Maidenhead United 4-0 in October 2017, along with Josh McQuoid and Luke Young.
Both strikers have found the back of the net 18 times each in the league, however Reid has the edge over Murphy as he has scored three times in cup competitions (two in the FA Cup and one in the FA Trophy) - taking his tally so far for the season to 21.
What perhaps makes Reid's haul more remarkable is that he had only scored once prior to Gary Johnson's arrival as manager last September.
The Gulls head into the game having won 11 of their last 12 league encounters, whilst the Clarets have tasted victory in eight of their previous nine league fixtures, which provides firm evidence that the two sides are the most in-form teams in the division.
Following Woking's defeat against Dartford, a result which aids United's promotion cause, a win for the Gulls will surely provide the Gulls with a tremendous boost. However, a win for the visitors would blow the title race wide open.
All the signs suggest that it will be a higher scoring contest than their opening day contest which ended goalless. One of the reasons for this is the fact as well as seeing two of the strongest teams going head-to-head with each other, the Plainmoor faithful will also be catching a glimpse of the league's two top scorers in United's Jamie Reid and Chelmsford's Rhys Murphy.
The pair were teammates last season, as the Gulls mounted what was ultimately an unsuccessful battle against relegation from the National League under previous manager Gary Owers, when Murphy joined United on loan from Forest Green Rovers. They were also both on the score sheet when United beat Maidenhead United 4-0 in October 2017, along with Josh McQuoid and Luke Young.
Both strikers have found the back of the net 18 times each in the league, however Reid has the edge over Murphy as he has scored three times in cup competitions (two in the FA Cup and one in the FA Trophy) - taking his tally so far for the season to 21.
What perhaps makes Reid's haul more remarkable is that he had only scored once prior to Gary Johnson's arrival as manager last September.
Sunday, 3 February 2019
GRECIANS WIN ENSURES UNHAPPY RETURN FOR TISDALE
Paul Tisdale's return to St James Park for the first time since he left Exeter City for Milton Keynes Dons proved to be an unhappy one as the Grecians came out on top with a convincing victory.
Midfielder Nicky Law gave City the lead in the seventh minutes before Jake Taylor netted a second ten minutes later.
Early in the second half, the Dons pulled one back through Joe Walsh, but the Grecians sealed maximum points when Law completed his brace on 71 minutes following a mix-up between Dons keeper Lee Nicholls and Walsh, earning manager Matt Taylor a win over his predecessor Tisdale.
As well as the game marking Tisdale's St James Park return, the Dons' line-up also included former Grecians midfielder Ryan Harley and David Wheeler, currently on loan from QPR, and former Exeter loanee Lawson D'ath made an appearance from the subs bench.
The victory also puts City level on points with the Dons, and they now only trail them on goal difference.
Midfielder Nicky Law gave City the lead in the seventh minutes before Jake Taylor netted a second ten minutes later.
Early in the second half, the Dons pulled one back through Joe Walsh, but the Grecians sealed maximum points when Law completed his brace on 71 minutes following a mix-up between Dons keeper Lee Nicholls and Walsh, earning manager Matt Taylor a win over his predecessor Tisdale.
As well as the game marking Tisdale's St James Park return, the Dons' line-up also included former Grecians midfielder Ryan Harley and David Wheeler, currently on loan from QPR, and former Exeter loanee Lawson D'ath made an appearance from the subs bench.
The victory also puts City level on points with the Dons, and they now only trail them on goal difference.
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