TALKING POINTS

Chris Wade

@tufcchris

Chris discusses the NLS game

INJURIES CLEARING UP?

The last week has seen the return of three players as we start to look towards the back end to the season. Brad Ash has started the last two games and has been his usual industries self for both 70 minute run outs. He will be stronger for his time on the pitch, which included a lovely assist for the opener at Chippenham on Tuesday. Tom Lapslie has also made two thirty minute cameos off the bench to start his return from a long term hamstring issue. This, along with Asa Hall starting both games and Finley Craske appearing on the bench during the week points towards an improving situation. Gary Johnson also seemed positive about the imminent returns of Aaron Jarvis and Jack Stobbs. Keeping people fit will be key to achieving what we all want.

A FIRMER BASE

A much improved feature of this week has been the improved (in fact, any) structure to the team with Asa back in the starting eleven. His presence has really helped to solidify the midfield and has helped to close down the cavernous gaps that have been the source of much strife in recent weeks. The challenge is still on how to get Brett McGavin in the game more in offensive areas. He has the quality to unlock a defence, as well as smash the ball in the top corner repeatedly. But I don’t feel that he is in areas where he can affect the game enough.

ARCHER’S ROLE

I suspect that Ethon Archer has seen more minutes than was the original plan when he signed for the club. But the aforementioned injuries have led to him seeing plenty of action in a front three that is struggling for goals. From what I have seen of him, he is a player that I really want to like. He is lively, skilful and wants to be in the game. But he hasn’t affected games enough, and for all the tricks and ability to travel with the ball, there has so far been little output. The two late spurned chances on Tuesday were the first real opportunities in recent weeks, and he will need to learn to take those at this level. But he has raw ability for sure.

THE PLAY-OFF PICTURE

The play off spots have been a one step forward and two steps back job all season. Sitting in 7th, Saturday could see us finish the day as high as third with three points and as low as tenth with defeat number eleven. St Albans and Hemel Hempstead are both on good runs, and a poor few weeks now would be a real issue for us. Make no mistake of the importance of Saturday’s game. Whilst our targets have had to be adjusted as the season has developed, the importance of finishing second is lost on nobody. Defeat at Worthing would make second a long way away, whereas victory would see us breathing down their necks.

THE OPPOSITION

Very much like ourselves, Worthing have had a curious season in some ways. A fast start gave way to a terrible run before finding themselves again. Whilst I was sunning myself in Spain at the time, many observers say them to have been the best team to come to Plainmoor this season. Having a striker in Ollie Perace that has scored 22 National League South goals is clearly a big advantage, and they are the top scorers in the league on 59 goals. But they get beaten, with nine defeats to our ten. The always unknown quantity of the artificial surface will make for an interesting game, and one that we desperately need to, at the very least, avoid defeat in.