TALKING POINTS

Chris Wade

@tufcchris

LEAGUE ACTION

After last week’s exciting first half and underwhelming second half, we return to the main quest for the season: Promotion to the National League. Scoring five goals and winning can never be a bad thing, so it’s important to take that into the next game, the first of two back-to-back against Maidstone at Plainmoor, with the FA Cup tie to come next weekend. It also continues a run of matches against teams in the top half of the League, which is showing the points we currently have may be better than perhaps it appears. There are a lot of games between now and Christmas, including the likes of Bath and Yeovil, so this feels like the start of an important phase of the season.

THE RETURN OF JASH

Last week I voiced potential concerns about Aaron Jarvis and Brad Ash going a bit quiet in front of goal, but three goals between them last week has got them going again, albeit two from the spot for Jarvis. But his performance levels remain high, and he worked hard again last week and used his physicality to intimidate and dominate the Hungerford centre backs. I’m sure some more goals from open play wouldn’t go amiss for him though. Brad Ash was his usual hard working self, although the tendency to take an extra touch can mean that situations don’t play out as positively as they might do. But the partnership continues to look lively and dangerous, and with Jack Stobbs’ crosses and Lewis Collins’ movement and mobility, the top end looks in good hands.

SQUAD NUMBERS

The departure of Will Jenkins-Davies back to Plymouth and Luke Pearce back to Southampton has left the squad looking a little thin, and Gary must be looking at options to add some depth and quality to the squad. It feels a bit like we are back to where we were a lot of last season. The first eleven looks good and can take on anybody on their day, but the options off the bench aren’t great, both numerically and quality wise. There are players in the squad that can play in lots of positions, as Shaun Donnellan again demonstrated last weekend, but the numbers, quality and options need improving with lots of games coming thick and fast.

FAMILIAR FOES

Our paths have crossed a fair bit with Maidstone in the National League over recent years. We all hoped that our win at Plainmoor last January would kick us onto National League survival (sigh), but they have started well this season and will be in the mix. But it’s another occasion where we are at home and we need to perform. To win any league, your home form has to be the bedrock of your success. Potentially tough assignments like this have to be ticked off as you go along.