A TORQUAY UNITED-YEOVIL TOWN XI

As Torquay United and Yeovil Town prepare to meet each other home and away for the fourth season in a row in the National League over the festive period, we will look at an XI made up of players who have served both clubs over the years.

Steve Collis: 

Despite spending most of his five years at Huish Park, between 2001 and 2006, as an understudy to Chris Weale, Steve Collis would also serve under Gary Johnson at Bristol City, Peterborough United and Northampton Town. His solitary appearance for the Gulls came on the final day of the 2009-10 season in a 0-0 draw with Notts County after he was drafted in on a seven-day emergency loan.

Derek Dawkins: 

Voted as the Gulls' cult hero in a poll run by the BBC's Football Focus show, Derek 'the Dude' Dawkins wrote his name into Torquay United folklore when he scored the winning goal in the Gulls' League Cup tie with Tottenham Hotspur in 1987. Dawkins also combined playing for the Gulls with coaching the club's youth side, and his young charges included a certain Lee Sharpe. On leaving the Gulls in 1988 he had spells with Newport County, Yeovil and Gloucester City.

Adam Lockwood: 

A stalwart of the Yeovil side that won the FA Trophy in 2002 and Conference title a year later under Gary Johnson, Adam Lockwood joined the Gulls on loan during the 2005-06 season under Leroy Rosenior. He made 12 appearances in all competitions and scored three goals - which included the winner in United's second round FA Cup tie against Notts County. Lockwood returned to Huish Park and then returned to his native Yorkshire to sign for Doncaster Rovers, who he captained to promotion to the Championship in the 2007-08 season. 

Gary Warren: 

Having made his name in non-league circles with Mangotsfield Town and Newport County, Gary Warren headed north to join Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2011, but returned to the Westcountry in 2018 to join Yeovil and he stayed for one season before moving on to Exeter City and arrived on a permanent basis in the summer of 2020, after an initial loan spell during the 2019-20 campaign. Since leaving Plainmoor he has had spells with Tiverton Town and Clachanuddin in the Highland League.

Liam Davis: 

Liam Davis joined the Glovers in 2013, after having previously played under Gary Johnson at Northampton Town. He was a regular in their season in the Championship in 2013-14 and was released by Paul Sturrock at the end of the 2014-15 campaign. A spell in Sweden followed before he was reunited with Johnson at Cheltenham and he joined the Gulls in the 2017-18 season when he was signed by Kevin Nicholson. Despite never appearing under Nicholson due to injury, he was an ever present under his successor Gary Owers but unfortunately couldn't help prevent United from being relegated to National League South. He was also an ever present for the Gulls in the 2018-19 campaign, as they clinched the National League South title under Johnson. His career was ended by an ankle injury sustained in an FA Cup tie with Maidstone United.

Steve Morrall: 

A University educated right winger who drew comparisons with Liverpool wide man Steve Heighway, who himself had a University background, Steve Morrall first broke into the Torquay United side in the 1972-73 season. He remained with the Gulls until 1977 when he decided to go part-time and joined Yeovil Town so he could concentrate on his career with the District Valuer's Office. 

Alex Russell: 

The midfield lynchpin of United's 2003-04 promotion winning side under Leroy Rosenior, Alex Russell enjoyed a hugely successful four years at Plainmoor between 2001 and 2005. As well as winning promotion he also won the club's player of the year award in the 2002-03 season and was named in the PFA Division Three team of the season two years running in 2002-03 and 2003-04. He then joined Bristol City and was part of the Robins' side who won promotion to the Championship under Gary Johnson in the 2006-07 campaign. Russell also scored the crucial goal in their final day 3-1 victory over Rotherham United which secured promotion. He later moved on to Cheltenham Town and Exeter City and a brief spell with the Glovers during the 2010-11 season. 

Cliff Myers: 

After spells with Charlton Athletic and Brentford, Cliff Myers joined Yeovil Town in 1968 and spent five years at the Glovers' old Huish ground and was part of the side who won the Southern League Premier Division title in the 1970-71 season. He was given a second shot at league football in 1973 when Malcolm Musgrove signed him for Torquay United and he remained with the Gulls until the 1975-76 season. His son Chris would later have three spells with United (1986-1988, 1990-1993 and 1993-94 loan) and was part of the Gulls side who won promotion from Division Four through the play-offs against Blackpool in 1991.

Ryan Dickson: 

Ryan Dickson had two spells with both Torquay United and Yeovil Town at different stages of his career. The first came during the 2006-07 season on loan from Plymouth Argyle and he later joined the Gulls permanently in 2018, after spending three years with the Glovers after joining them in 2015 from Crawley Town. He had previously been on loan spell with Yeovil in the 2011-12 season.

Martin Gritton: 

After being signed by Plymouth Argyle from Jewson South Western League side Porthleven, Martin Gritton joined the Glovers on loan during the 2000-01 season. He later signed for Torquay in the 2002-03 campaign and finished the season as the Gulls' top scorer. Gritton was also part of the Gulls' squad who won automatic promotion from Division Three in 2003-04. He later moved on to Grimsby Town, Lincoln City, Mansfield Town (loan), Macclesfield Town and Chesterfield before returning to the Gulls on loan in the 2010-11 season. After leaving Spireites in 2011, Gritton had a spell with Chester FC before returning to Huish Park on a short term basis before winding down his career with Stockport County and Truro City. 

Reuben Reid:  

Like Ryan Dickson, Reuben Reid also had a loan spell at Plainmoor during the 2006-07 season. He also had two spells with the Glovers. Reid first arrived at Huish Park in 2012, but fell out of favour under Gary Johnson and was loaned out to Plymouth Argyle in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons. During the latter campaign, Reid became the first player to score 20 or more times in a season since Tommy Tynan. He later signed for the Pilgrims on a permanent basis and later had spells with Exeter City, Forest Green Rovers and Cheltenham Town before re-signing for Yeovil midway through the 2020-21 campaign.

GULLS LOOKING TO DRAW INSPIRATION FROM LAST VISIT TO OLDHAM

As Torquay United head to Oldham Athletic on Sunday for their relegation 'six-pointer' against the Latics, manager Gary Johnson will be hoping for the same result from their last visit to Boundary Park in April 2005. 

On that occasion both the Gulls and the Latics were fighting against relegation from League One - and Leroy Rosenior's United side had beaten MK Dons and Port Vale at Plainmoor as they mounted a late bid for survival after winning promotion in 2003-04.  

Spearheading the Gulls' fight against relegation was Adebayo Akinfenwa who had netted 14 times in all competitions by that stage as he looked to rebuild his career, which had taken in spells in Lithuania with FK Atlantas and Wales with Barry Town - not to mention several Football League clubs. 

The Latics went in front after 25 minutes against the run of play when skipper Dean Holden’s cross found veteran winger David Eyres, who showed a nice turn of speed before hammering home his seventh goal of the season.

However, it was to prove to be Oldham’s only shot on target in the whole 90 minutes – as Torquay bounced back to equalise four minutes before the break.

Kevin Hill slipped a neat pass to Matt Hockley, and he clipped the ball past the advancing keeper Les Pogliacomi to score his first goal of the season. Holden had made a despairing lunge on the line to try to clear but the ball hit a post before hitting the back of the net.

There was no way back for the Latics after Torquay went in front in the 49th minute.

A free-kick from Steve Woods picked out Hill, who - in turn - headed the ball into the path of Gulls’ top scorer Adebayo Akinfenwa, who fired home to score his 15^th of the campaign.

Leon Constantine later hit the woodwork and Buster Phillips teed up Alex Russell for a shot that went narrowly wide, as United completed their third successive win and their second ‘double’ of 2004-05; the Gulls had previously beaten the Latics 2-0 at Plainmoor in November 2004 with goals from Leon Constantine and Martin Gritton. 

The following week saw United beat Blackpool 2-0 with goals from Akinfenwa and Russell to make four wins on the spin, but a 2-1 defeat at Colchester United on the final day of the campaign - coupled with wins for the Latics and MK Dons - saw the Gulls relegated by the narrowest of margins on goal difference. 

Akinfenwa was voted as the club's player of the year before moving onto Swansea City and later appeared for Northampton Town (twice), Gillingham (twice), AFC Wimbledon and Wycombe Wanderers. 

Torquay United (4-3-3): Andy Marriott; Matt Hockley, Steve Woods, Craig Taylor, Craig Woodman; Alex Russell, Darren Garner, Kevin Hill; Martin Phillips (Matt Villis 90), Adebayo Akinfenwa, Leon Constantine

SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS GATESHEAD

 1. Aaron Jarvis on target. 

After missing the start of the season with a double 'dead leg' - Aaron Jarvis has certainly made up for lost time, as he scored his sixth goal of the campaign against Gateshead. 

Jarvis was playing against the Heed as a lone striker with Dillon De Silva and Stephen Wearne playing either side of him as attacking wide players. De Silva also found the back of the net himself - but it was ruled out for offside. 

2. The return of Kieron Evans. 

Saturday's match also marked the return to action of Cardiff City loanee Kieron Evans after he sustained three broken ribs against Maidenhead United in September. 

Evans showed a few promising glimpses of his talent; his sixth minute cross picked out Mark Ellis, whose header was palmed over the bar by Gateshead keeper James Montgomery. In the second half, it was his cross who found Aaron Jarvis to head home the Gulls' opener. 

With the Gulls crying out for more pace and creativity from midfield, Evans' return could prove to be a timely one.

3. Brett McGavin shines in the centre of midfield.  

Despite a promising pre-season, Brett McGavin's 2022-23 campaign has been something of a stop-start one, but he produced arguably his best display of the season against Gateshead. 

Former Ipswich Town starlet McGavin always looked to get on the ball and make something happen and one of the most pleasing things was that once he played a pass, he would be looking to make himself available to receive the ball. 

He also came close to scoring on a couple of occasions, he had a free-kick turned around the post by James Montgomery on 41 minutes and fired over in the 81st minute.

4. Would a second striker have helped the Gulls cause? 

With Stoke City loanee Will Goodwin and Corie Andrews being missing from United's squad, Aaron Jarvis was United's only recognised striker available to Gary Johnson on Saturday. 

Had Johnson been in a position to send on either of those two as a substitute and switch from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2, could the result have been different? 

From the point of view of Gateshead, one of their defenders would have been man-marking Aaron Jarvis and other would have been acting as a sweeper. However, by switching to two up top the central defender who would have been sweeper would then have had someone to mark, which he may not have been comfortable with. 

5. The wait for a clean sheet goes on. 

United's wait for a clean sheet since their 1-0 win over FC Halifax Town in their second match of the season continues. 

The Gulls came close to doing so against Gateshead. However, it did appear that goalkeeper Mark Halstead may have been fouled in the build up to Owen Bailey's scrambled effort on 75 minutes, which secured a point for the Heed. 

Nevertheless, if United are to avoid a return to National League South then clean sheets will need to become a big priority. 

6. Six points from safety - how worried should we be? 

Saturday's result leaves United rooted to the foot of the National League table and six points adrift from safety. Had they had beaten Gateshead they would have been third from bottom and four points away from exiting the drop zone. 

The last time that the National League was completed with a full compliment of 24 teams in the 2018-19 season Boreham Wood finished fifth from bottom with 52 points. 

For the Gulls to reach a similar figure they now require 37 points from their remaining 25 league fixtures - starting with their visit to Dagenham and Redbridge next week. 

United have been in this positions in the past, but with seven loan players currently at Plainmoor these need to be extended and deals with certain players need to be made into permanent moves in order for all players to be within the match-day limit of five in a squad.

GULLS TO FOCUS ON THE LEAGUE AFTER REPLAY DEFEAT

Sometimes the scoreline doesn't tell the full story, and Torquay United's FA Cup first round replay defeat to Derby County at Pride Park arguably followed this narrative. 

United didn't get off to the best of starts as centre back Mark Ellis inadvertantly turned a cross from Rams left-back Haydon Roberts into his own net after seven minutes. 

Eight minutes later, Derby doubled their lead as former Republic of Ireland striker David McGoldrick squared a pass to Will Osula, who netted twice in the first game at Plainmoor, who slotted home. 

In the 32nd minute, the Gulls came close to reducing their arrears as Rams keeper Joe Wildsmith parried away a cross from QPR loanee Dillon De Silva, which was aimed at Will Goodwin. The rebound then fell to United striker Aaron Jarvis, but Wildsmith recovered in time to deny him. 

Moments later, Charlton Athletic loanee Lucas Ness connected with a corner from Stephen Wearne, but his header was tipped over the bar by Wildsmith. 

However, they found themselves trailing by three goals after 38 minutes when Osula turned provider as he picked out Liam Thompson on the right hand side, who then cut inside onto his left foot to drill the ball past United keeper Mark Halstead. 

On the stroke of half-time, United had the chance to reduce their deficit when Wildsmith hit a clearance straight at Jarvis, but he could only muster a tame shot while his striker partner Goodwin was unmarked and in space. 

On 62 minutes, the Rams won a corner which was headed clear by Jarvis, but only as far as Everton loanee Lewis Dobbin who volleyed home from the edge of the penalty area for 4-0. 

With 11 minutes to go, McGoldrick finally found the target himself with a shot on the turn - by now the game was well and truly over as a contest. 

Nevertheless, there was still time for Torquay to go close to scoring a consolation as Jarvis raced towards goal, but his eventual shot was turned behind by Wildsmith. 

Next up for the Gulls is a return to the bread and butter of the National League with a trip to Barnet, followed by a home 'six-pointer' against Gateshead, which will see 23rd face 24th in the table.

SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS CHESTERFIELD

 1. A complete contrast from their last meeting. 

When Torquay United last faced Chesterfield in their final home game of the 2021-22 season they won 2-0 with the goals coming courtesy of a sublime individual effort from QPR loanee Stephen Duke-McKenna and an Armani Little penalty.

However, yesterday's meeting was a complete contrast as a second half blitz from the Spireites saw them blow the Gulls away to win 5-1 in emphatic fashion. Chesterfield now join Notts County, Wrexham and Solihull Moors in scoring four or more goals against United in 2022-23. 

2. Is the Gulls' schedule taking too much out of them. 

United manager Gary Johnson admitted that his side looked tired after they completed their fourth game in 12 days (Aldershot Tuesday 1 November, Derby Sunday 6 November, Dorking Wanderers 9 November and Chesterfield 12 November). Also Chesterfield had seen their midweek fixture with Wealdstone was postponed due to Wealdstone's Grosvenor Vale pitch being waterlogged. 

However, ahead of their replay on Tuesday night, Derby also had an equalling punishing itinerary as they face an EFL Cup tie against Liverpool on the same night that United faced Dorking, which went to extra time and penalties, and have played the same number of games over the same period of time.

3. Dillon De Silva following the path of Sinclair Armstrong and Stephen Duke-McKenna. 

Last season, Sinclair Armstrong and Stephen Duke-McKenna both excelled for the Gulls whilst on loan from Queens Park Rangers. In the current campaign, Sri Lankan international winger Dillon De Silva followed in their footsteps by making the move from Loftus Road to Plainmoor - and after adding to the brace he scored against Dorking Wanderers with another strike against Chesterfield, United once again have their former winger Paul Hall, who is also the R's Under-23's coach, to thank for lining up another superb loan signing. 

4. Seven into five doesn't go. 

United went into Saturday's game against Chesterfield with five loan players in their starting line-up:  Lucas Ness (Charlton Athletic), Mark Ellis (Barrow), Dillon De Silva (QPR), Stephen Wearne (Grimsby Town) and Will Goodwin (Stoke City). Because only five loanees are allowed in a matchday squad, central midfielder Scott Smith, who is currently on loan from Wigan Athletic, missed out entirely. Also, Kieron Evans, who joined on a season-long loan deal from Cardiff City has resumed light training again after sustaining broken ribs against Maidenhead United in September. 

Hopefully Gary Johnson will be allowed to turn one or two of these loan signings into permanent ones with some of the revenue that the Gulls have generated from their FA Cup fixtures against Derby County, or he and Aaron Downes will have some difficult decisions to make. 

5. Corie Andrews is back. 

Striker Corie Andrews made a long awaited return following a knee injury as he came off the bench to replace skipper Asa Hall in the 78th minute. In his absence, strike duo Aaron Jarvis and Will Goodwin have taken their goalscoring figures for the season to ten, having found the back of the net five times each, and Andrews will be keen to get off the mark himself - as he is yet to find the back of the net for the Gulls. 

6. A series of 'six-pointers' coming up. 

Whilst United won't be competing with the likes of Notts County, Wrexham and Chesterfield this season, they do have a number of 'six-pointers' coming up against Gateshead, Yeovil Town, FC Halifax Town and Maidstone United over the next few months. How they perform against them could go a long way to determining their fate at the end of the season.

SCHUMACHER CLINCHES BACK TO BACK MANAGER OF THE MONTH PRIZES AS ARGYLE REMAIN IN POLE POSITION

Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher has become the first manager to win back to back League One manager of the month awards after following up winning the award for October 2022. 

During the course of the month, the Pilgrims won six of their seven league encounters. It was a run that included a 1-0 win away to Wycombe Wanderers, a 2-1 home win over fellow promotion contenders Sheffield Wednesday and their 4-2 Devon derby victory over Exeter City which saw televised on Sky Sports. It was enough to earn him the prize for the second time on the trot and it saw Argyle open up a four-point gap at the top of the table. 

The last League One manager to win back to back manager of the month awards was Paul Cook in March and April 2018 when he led Wigan Athletic to the League One title in the 2017-18 season. 

If Schumacher can emulate that achievement with the Pilgrims, then he will find himself in the same company as Bob Jack, Jimmy Rae, Jack Rowley, Tony Waiters, Dave Smith and Paul Sturrock, who have all led Argyle into the second tier of English football. 

SIX TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS DERBY COUNTY

1.Will Goodwin writes his name into Torquay folklore. 

In years to come Will Goodwin's late equaliser for the Gulls against Derby County will be talked about in the same breath as one of the most iconic FA Cup goals scored by a Torquay United. It's a list that includes Dave Caldwell's goal against Bristol City in 1987, Paul Hirons effort against West Ham United in 1990, Mick O'Brien's free-kick against QPR in 1999 and Matt Green's strike against Blackpool in 2009. 

Goodwin also had a hand in United's opener as it was Eiran Cashin's tug on his shirt that resulted in the Irishman being dismissed for denying him as he raced through on goal, which the subsequent penalty was awarded and then converted by Gulls' skipper Asa Hall. 

His goal also moves the young Stoke City loanee level with Aaron Jarvis at the top of United's goal scoring charts for the 2022-23 campaign. 

2. Mark Ellis continues to have a big influence on the Gulls' defence. 

The difference that the return to Mark Ellis to Plainmoor on loan from Barrow continues to be apparent, as he produced another assured display in the centre of the Gulls' defence. Ellis, 34, read the game superbly and was seldom beaten in the air. For United's younger defenders, they will be able to learn from the former Crewe, Shrewsbury and Tranmere man in the same way that he was able to learn from the likes of Steve Woods, Chris Todd and Guy Branston earlier in his career. 

3. Lucas Ness looked assured at the back alongside Ellis. 

One of those young centre backs learning from Mark Ellis is Charlton Athletic loanee Lucas Ness, who produced an incredibly assured display alongside the Barrow loanee. There were a few shades of Joe Lewis, who departed Plainmoor for Stockport County in the summer, about Ness' performance - as showed great composure on the ball for a centre back, in addition to all the qualities that central defenders require. 

In the 1988-89 season, another young centre back came to the Gulls on loan and went onto have a great career who went by the name of Matt Elliott. If Ness can get close to the heights that Elliott reached with Leicester City and Scotland, he would have had a very good career indeed. 

4. Aaron Jarvis made his present felt up front. 

After netting his first career hat-trick in the Gulls' 6-1 win over Aldershot Town, Aaron Jarvis was once again one of United's leading lights against Derby. The former Scunthorpe man held the ball up well and it was his persistence that played an important in helping Will Goodwin score United's all-important equaliser. 

5. Shaun Donnellan excels as a stand-in right-back

Midfielder Shaun Donnellan once again found himself filling in at right-back, and it was a role that he excelled in. The former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international made a number of important tackles and he even had a shot from distance that fizzed agonisingly wide in the second half. 

6. Gary Johnson was able to name an unchanged side. 

For the first time this season, Torquay manager Gary Johnson had the luxury of being able to name an unchanged side. Such has been United's problems with injuries and the constant need to bring in new faces, however the benefit of having a settled line-up - as well as being able to call on the experience of Asa Hall and Tom Lapslie in midfield - was there for all to see.