TALKING POINTS

Chris Wade – @tufcchris

Chris looks ahead to the NLS game

HOME MOMENTUM

In a strange twist to the majority of the season, we find ourselves looking at the importance of a home win, whereas our away form has largely been the challenge this season. Three consecutive wins at just the right time have been a real boost away from home, but we now return to Plainmoor looking for some home comforts and three points. The disappointment of last week’s 2-2 draw with Salisbury was put behind us with a professional win at Dorking, and we head home looking for the next instalment of an excellent home record. Four wins out of four at home would be lovely in the next few weeks, wouldn’t it?

CODY OR OZZY

Another positive from last weekend was the return to fitness of Cody Cooke after a calf niggle. The arrival of Ozzy Zanzala was meant to add depth to the attacking options, only for Cody to then get injured straight away. Now that they are both fit, it brings an interesting dilemma to Paul Wotton’s selection on Saturday. Zanzala has been impressive with his mobility and movement, also contributing two goals already as well, whilst Cooke has brought indefatigable work rate and battling qualities all season. My hunch is that Paul will start with Ozzy and use Cody off the bench against his old club. That worked very well at Dorking last week.

SOLID AT THE BACK

Last week saw four centre backs arguably selected to play across the backline. As written in these pages earlier in the week, Finlay Craske and Jay Foulston made impressive returns to the starting eleven and the tactic worked very well. But I suspect that the onus will be on us to attack more and dictate the palay on Saturday, something that we haven’t always done that well at home this season. I expect to see Jordan Thomas return for Craske, with Foulston retaining his place at left back, especially with Matty Carson away on international duty. But a clean sheet would be very welcome indeed.

LEAGUE SITUATION

Whether you believe Dorking owner Marc White that this is a poor league or not, there can be no denying that the table is fascinating heading into the final weeks of the season. Three points last week took us level with Dorking, and with them facing Boreham Wood and other tough matches at the top, it will be all change again this weekend. The home points have been the bedrock of our success all season, and now would be a brilliant time to reel off four straight home wins to finish as high as possible. Second or third as a minimum, or why not top spot? Four home wins takes us to 83 points, with three away games to have a crack too. I’m getting nervous just writing it.

THE OPPOSITION

Bath City come to Torquay off the back of an upturn in form. Three wins, two draws and a defeat in the last six games, along with five clean sheets in seven show that Saturday will not be easy. The appointment of Darren Way to the hot seat has seen them move forwards, so it’s vital that we turn up with the correct attitude, something questioned in the previous home game by Paul Wotton. On loan Brad Ash will be ineligible, but Ollie Tomlinson will return to Plainmoor looking to make a point. We have had some good battles with them in recent years, so we can hopefully complete a double over them on Saturday. Let’s make Non League day a good one and bring home the points.

COYY – Chris

OPPOSITION Q&A – BATH CITY by Steven Toogood

So how would you summarise the season so far?

Mixed. The end of the Jerry Gill era is in stark contrast to the start of Darren Way’s reign. Darren has the fans on side and it’s pleasing to hear opposition managers from recent fixtures point out how much grit and determination we have to win games or get results.

How’s your recent form been?

0 goals conceded in our last 3 is a fantastic return, with two much needed home wins against Slough and Tonbridge.

What’s been your highlights so far?

Tough one. We took a brilliant away following to Aldershot in the FA Cup. But our usual Boxing Day drubbing of Chippenham has to be the highlight though.

Who are your key players and why?

Jordan Alves, signed from Step 4 in the summer, is a threat going forward on the wing. But Harvey Wiles-Richard in goal has so far kept 16 clean sheets and that’s a fantastic return.

How’s Brad Ash been doing at Bath?

The supporters absolutely love his work rate. Being brutally honest, he could – and probably should – have scored a few more goals too, but that shouldn’t distract from his contribution to the overall squad. Since he’s arrived, we’ve looked far more attacking. He seems to be enjoying his time at Bath too and people would love to see him sign a permanent deal in the summer. He scored against Chippenham on his debut on Boxing Day and that’s a good way to get the City faithful on side!

How does the manager like to set the team up?

Compared to pre-Christmas, we go forward much quicker. And there’s more forward runs, too. A formation is hard to nail down, though.

What’s the likely line up?

Naturally we’ll be missing Brad Ash, so I’d expect Wilson and Fisher to start up top. At the back we’ll more than likely have (L to R) Greenlade, Parselle, Tomlinson and Raynes in front of Wiles-Richards. Ex-Grecian Tillson will be in midfield, alongside Russe. If Ewan Clark isn’t fit, I’d imagine the attacking midfielders to be Beardmore and Alves.

Who’s the best teams/players you’ve faced so far?

Very few teams have had the wow factor that other NLS seasons have had. Worthing are probably the only team and they do play some great football.

Will many make the trip down?

Hopefully 200 or so.

What’s the strengths and weaknesses of the team?

Strengths are that we win a lot more second-balls than we used to. Weaknesses are that we’ve not scored many goals this season.

What’s your prediction for the game?

Tough. Plainmoor is never an easy place to go, but probably even tougher with a bumper crowd on non league day. My heart says a draw, but head says a Torquay victory.