TALKING POINTS

Dom Roman

@DomRoman

Dom discusses the Trophy game

TROPHY TEST

No disrespect to the FA Trophy but with injuries hitting hard, this feels like a reasonable time to step away from league action. We head to the East of Somerset to play Danny Greaves’ Frome Town team and the main question marks are on who Gary Johnson will have to pick from. Assuming GJ goes for as stronger team as possible, this is a chance for the likes of Brett McGavin and Lewis Collins to continue their form and grab United a 4th win on the trot. The travelling Yellow Army will expect nothing less.

THE LINE-UP, AND THE RETURN OF WJD

Next question!! The line-up is even tougher to predict than ever, but it was good to hear this week that Brad Ash and Tom Lapslie’s knocks were nothing serious. We will miss Jack Stobbs of course, and his wing vacancy will be taken by Dillon De Silva (if fit!), or the returning Will Jenkins-Davies (see below). Elsewhere, with Ethon Archer cup-tied, Ryan Hanson may well deputise for Tom Lapslie, whilst Callum Thomas could get another opportunity and Rhys Lovett will most likely replace Mark Halstead. The Gulls injury issues appear to be a constant nagging problem that impacts every season, and you’ve got to wonder why this keeps happening, especially considering we are now in a mainly part time league. Whatever the line-up, United should have enough quality available to win this one.

WILL JENKINS DAVIES

It’s a warm welcome back to Plymouth youngster Will Jenkins Davies who returns on loan this week. The teenager (he’s only quite recently turned 19!) had a mixed time at the start of the season, but was just starting to shine when he was injured at Hemel in September. The lad possesses nice movement and touch, and should help us be tidier around the midfield and behind the strikers. Let’s give him a little time to get back in rhythm and hopefully we’ll bear the fruits in the coming weeks.

THE OPPOSITION

Frome Town are having a very good season in the Southern League Division 1 South, currently sitting 3rd (Tim Sills’ Wimborne are top!), with 8 wins from 12 league games. Their main man is Jon Davies who plays in midfield, and they’ll no doubt have a bumper home following egging them on, so this could be tricky. Much like the Wimborne game, if United can grab an early goal and take charge of proceedings then everything should be okay, but nothing can be taken for granted in Torquay cup ties!

KEEPING MOMENTUM

United’s last 3 games have summoned up some positivity around the club, but we all know this season that good feeling can be extinguished with one bad result. The FA Trophy is often accused as meaningless by many (and the league clearly takes precedence), but it’s still a tie that we’d be better off winning. Prize money (modest though it is) and another win to set us up for the end of year run-in would be welcome, and despite all the injury problems, I can’t see Gary Johnson taking any gambles that would increase the chances of an upset. Good luck to the patched up Gulls and safe travels to those visiting another new ground!