TALKING POINTS

Chris Wade – @tufcchris

Chris looks ahead to the NLS game

AWAY FORM REVIVAL

As regular readers and viewers will know, I have been saying for a while that the key to any push for us winning the title is our away form. Two away matches and two away victories have gone a long way to answering some questions, but we now return to Plainmoor with it being vital to consolidate that with three points at home. The home form has been solid all season, with just one defeat on Devon soil all season. There are now five home league matches to go, and there is an argument that they are all very winnable. This starts with the visit of Salisbury on Tuesday evening. Any hope of the title could rest with 15 more home points.

QUALITY UPFRONT

There is no doubt that the quality of our squad has improved as the season has gone on. The front three players in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Tonbridge have all been signed since the first ball was kicked. Ozzy Zanzala has been a lively and mobile addition as the main forward, Matt Jay has now settled and is showing the quality that we have all previously seen up to the road (sorry, can’t write that word). But Jordan Young has been an absolute joy to watch since arriving from Yeovil Town. His quality on the ball, a wand of a left foot and he has now contributed double figures, including another clinical finish at the weekend. That quality could hold the key to an outcome that we all want.

HAMON’S HEROICS

James Hamon has been a much talked about player this season. There are some that feel that he has conceded some goals that should have ben stopped, but in the main he has been a solid and effective number one. He has played every minute of the season, and that consistency behind a defence that, at times has been changing a lot due to unavailability, has been important. He made a very sharp save late on at Tonbridge to seal the points, and he will be key again on Tuesday as we return to home soil.

FOULSTON’S RETURN

Another positive from the weekend was the return to fitness of Jay Foulston. He has been a very important part of the squad this season, but has missed large sections due to injury. The fact that he returned at a crucial stage of the season will add to Paul Wotton’s selection choices. Matt Carson has been good in his first season in my view, and has been unfairly criticised at times. He is a young lad that is learning his trade, and is exactly the sort of player that we should be recruiting, coaching and improving. He will be stronger for this season, and has also chipped in with some important goals.

THE OPPOSITION

Salisbury come to Devon starting to look over their shoulder a bit. 4 defeats in the last 6 matches and only 2 points has left them only 4 points above Enfield Town in the last relegation place. So they are now scrapping for every point. We need to ensure that we start well and get on the front foot. We have been happy to concede early possession at home, and I would like to see us start us strongly and get ahead. This is a match that we need to win, and with the attacking players that we have, that should be within our grasp. A win would also be massive ahead of the notable trip to Dorking on Saturday.