TT BLOG

Thomas Kelly – @tommyktufc

Tom discusses the Gulls

THE RUN-IN

Slough (H)

Player/Manager Scott Davies is well respected in non-league circles and achieved a very respectable 10th place finish last season which represented their highest finish in the NLS since the 2019/20 season (curtailed in March).

Slough were the early season pacesetters alongside Hemel Hempstead, winning five of their first six league games, however it’s fair to say Slough fit the mantra for many sides in the NLS in the fact they are very inconsistent.

In their last ten matches, Slough boast victories at home to Worthing and away to Hornchurch but were on the end of a 4-0 thrashing to now relegated Weymouth just a few weeks ago.

Slough currently have the 20th best away form this season (W4, D4, L13) and against teams around us, have only registered a point on their travels to Eastbourne, who are still unbeaten in East Sussex this season.

Torquay must put last weeks disappointment behind them and learn from the lessons of Chesham. Slough are clear of any relegation struggles, so without pressure on them could well be dangerous opponents.

Anything but a victory on Saturday and I think we can truly kiss our hopes of the title goodbye.

Truro (A)

The big one. Cornwall v Devon, Jam first v Cream first. The current league leaders welcome the Gulls to their new stadium for the first time on Good Friday in front of a sold-out crowd at the Truro Sports Hub, where the Yellow Army sold out their allocation back in January!

Under the guidance of experienced manager John Askey, the Tinners have experienced quite the turnaround from last season, where the club then managed by a certain Paul Wotton, were forced to play matches every other day (and sometimes daily) in Gloucester due to repeated postponements at their temporary homes at Plymouth Parkway & Taunton Town.

The Tinners form since the turn of February has seen them rise to the summit of the NLS table, losing only once in their last fourteen league games after an injury time collapse to relegation threatened Enfield Town their only blip.

An impressive victory away to Worthing last weekend raised plenty of eyebrows amongst their promotion rivals.

Torquay will be wary of the threat Tyler Harvey possesses, currently fighting at the top of the NLS top goal-scorer charts. The Gulls did well to suppress him in the league game on New Years Day and our defence will need to be on top form to stop him in what promises to be a huge game in the South West.

Torquay will need to be at their absolute best to get 3 points across the Tamar Bridge. Whilst Dorking and Eastbourne both went to Cornwall and won, their games were early on into the season. They are not to be feared, but certainly respected.

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Weymouth (H)

It’s been a torrid season for the Terras, the Dorset side saw their relegation to the Southern League confirmed last weekend after a 4-1 defeat away to Eastbourne Borough.

It was a struggle from the off as Weymouth lost their first seven league games of the season before registering their first win away to a then injury laden Dorking Wanderers. Weymouth would only win once more in the league before the turn of the year although did restore some pride in an FA Trophy victory away to close rivals Yeovil Town.

Former Terras goalkeeper Jason Mathews made way for Warren Feeney midway through December but despite recovering twice to draw against the Gulls at home on Boxing Day, he wouldn’t register his first win as manager until the Terras thrashed Welling at home at the beginning of February.

With only two away wins all season, Torquay will be hoping for victory in what will sure to be a packed Plainmoor crowd on Easter Monday.

It must not be forgotten of the incredible generosity that the Terra’s offered us, donating £5 of every adult ticket sold to be donated to the TUST to then put towards the day to day running of the club whilst in administration.

I’m sure I speak for all Torquay fans that your kindness and generosity that day will never be forgotten and that we wish you a swift return to the NLS next season. A cracking away day from a Gulls perspective.

Hemel Hempstead (A)

It’s been quite the season for Hemel Hempstead, starting the season on fire, with six wins and three defeats which saw the Tudors top of the league. Then we got to October. Hemel lost eleven from twelve, including heavy defeats to Eastbourne, Dorking, Hampton & Salisbury.

Bobby Wilkinson was replaced by Lee Alison from Hendon who managed to arrest the Tudors losing form and has done incredibly well to lift the Tudors to the top half of the table.

Since the turn of the year, Hemel have tasted defeat only three times and dispatched of Truro City with minimal fuss back in late January.

Should the Gulls have anything to play for on the final day, Hemel Hempstead will pose a difficult afternoons work for Paul Wottons side.

It has been four years since the Tudors finished in the top half of the table and with just a three-point gap separating them in 10th from Chesham in 14th, I expect personal pride will still be high on their agenda when the Gulls come to town, hopefully in large numbers.

One thing this division has proved is that anything can happen. Defeat last weekend was disappointing but with twelve points still left to play for, we shouldn’t be defeatist. Of course, it means realistically we have to win the remaining four games and hope everyone else drops points.

From where we were twelve months ago, it’s quite nice to be worrying about our title chances then focusing on relegation! It’s still all to play for.