TALKING POINTS

Dom Roman – @DomRoman

Dom looks ahead to the NLS game

TWO BIG AWAY GAMES

The double header of Chelmsford (a) and Weston-super-Mare (a) is probably one of United’s biggest tests of the season. Firstly because both teams are strong enough to cause us problems and secondly, because our away record has been an issue for much of the season. The performance at Worthing gives cause for positivity though, with United more than matching one of the best teams in the league and snatching a deserved equaliser, so that could breed some confidence moving onto these trips. United have nothing to fear that’s for sure, and an achievable six points would be massive. Saying that, would we take 4 points now if they were offered? Well, probably!

DREYER AVOIDS SUSPENSION

Watching the Hornchurch game unfold, the performances of Sam Dreyer and James Hamon were both key to us scraping out of Plainmoor with a win. Sure, we looked comfortable on the scoresheet and the Urchins didn’t grab a goal until quite late on, but nobody who watched that second half felt completely assured about a victory until the final whistle was blown! Dreyer did what he does best, winning headers and tackles time and again to help clear the ball away from the danger zone, and without Jordan Dyer alongside him, you could tell that the young man felt the responsibility to be the man. And he delivered! So the decision to overturn the Worthing (a) red card is terrific news indeed. No disrespect to Palmer, Craske and Moxey, but a defence without SD in place would have been concerning, and our away record has been dodgy enough without losing all of our top three defenders.

POSSIBLE LINE-UP

Paul Wotton has been more inclined to start Omar Mussa in away games, so maybe we’ll see ‘the Moose’ back in the line-up this weekend! Elsewhere, the skipper Oscar Threlkeld will be hoping to find a place in the midfield and Will Jenkins Davies is another player who could be shuffled back into the first XI after featuring as sub against Hornchurch, so there’s some choices for PW to make. Defensively Ed Palmer and Finley Craske have probably done enough to keep their places alongside Sam Dreyer, and on the wings Matt Carson and Jordan Thomas will play important roles giving the team energy and balance out wide. Paul Wotton managed the minutes of some players last weekend, and it’ll be interesting to see how he rotates the squad in these two quickfire games.

YOUNG AT THE HEART OF IT

Jordan Young has 8 goals and 4 assists from his 22 appearances this season for United, and whilst the return could have been more, the ex-Yeovil man has developed into the most consistently threatening attacker in Paul Wotton’s squad. The set-up for Matt Carson’s goal was everything you want to see from him, smart movement, quick feet, head up and a pass that was perfectly placed for the finish. At times Jordan has been too keen to get the ball on his left foot and have a shot, but his ability to move between the lines and make something happen shows his quality, and Paul Wotton will be desperate to keep him fit for the run-in. A class act.

THE OPPOSITION

Chelmsford City would have hoped for another promotion push this season after finishing 2nd in 23/24, but they have been too inconsistent to command a top 7 place and currently sit 11 points outside of the play-off positions. Boss Robbie Simpson has been in charge since 2020, but is stepping down at the end of the season, so will be hoping to finish with a flourish. The Clarets do have a certain Kalvin Kalala in their squad, but the ex-Gull missed last Saturday’s win at Salisbury so it’s debatable whether we’ll see him at the Melbourne Stadium. Midfielder Kane Critchlow is pinpointed as a key man in our Opposition Q&A this week, he scored twice last weekend, and his runs into the box will need to be watched. Elsewhere Barnet young loanee Joe Rye is making a big impression at centre back, and his battle with Cody Cooke could well be one of the keys to the game. At some point our away record has to start showing more wins if we are serious about a title challenge, this would be a fantastic time to find one.

ONE YEAR ON

It’s one year since that Clarke Osborne statement, and what a year it’s been! Everything about Torquay United is different and the Taking Flight series (featuring our very own Sam Swann!) is a perfect reminder of what a journey we’ve already been on with the Bryn Consortium. Win, lose or draw this weekend, we should all feel good about our football club. The foundations are being put in place for a brighter future, let’s hope our dreams of moving up the divisions again become reality.