TALKING POINTS

Dom Roman – @DomRoman

Dom discusses the key points

SIX GAMES LEFT

I think it’s fair to say that there’s not been many exciting Torquay United games this year that have had us on the edge of our seats, but Dorking (h) was certainly one of them. It was a game that ebbed and flowed, a game that either team could have won, and a game in which the Gulls almost grabbed a dramatic late winner to bring the house down. 3 points wasn’t to be, but coming away from the game, you can feel more optimism amongst a Yellow Army that been regularly bruised by disappointing results. That optimism looks well founded as United appear more dangerous in attack than they have been for a while, and the squad received a real boost with the addition of Jordan Thomas, Louis Dennis and Callum Dolan, who burst back onto the scene with two belting goals. It was a performance to build on that’s for sure, now we need the wins!

ATTACKING BALANCE

It’ll be interesting to see how Jimmy Ball sets the team up on Saturday in attack. Deon Moore has done enough in terms of hold up play to keep his place in the line-up I think, he’s a player that others can play off and that worked well at times against Dorking. Behind him, Ball may decide it’s too early to chuck Callum Dolan and Louis Dennis in from the start, but the temptation is there! Dolan would love to play centrally behind the striker, but so would Matt Jay and Dennis for that matter, whilst it’s unlikely Jordan Young will lose his spot, despite his lack of goals in recent weeks. But let’s be honest whoever is picked, it’s just great to have options, and with Dylan Morgan also available, suddenly scoring 2 or more goals in a game doesn’t seem like a mountainous task. Some sparkle has returned, now these talented players need to deliver.

CLEAN SHEET PLEASE!

The last clean sheet our rear-guard kept was in the horrendous game at Bath at the end of 2025, a sad reflection of our defensive jitters, and with the team conceding more than anybody in the top 13 this season, it’s been surprising to see how much we’ve struggled in this area compared to 2024-25. Of course the absence of Jordan Dyer and Sam Dreyer at different times has not helped, but even with them in place, we’ve still been conceding sloppy goals, especially from set piece or open play crosses. If we can lock in defensively and avoid conceding that dreaded opening goal, then our chances for a happy end to 2025-26 increase dramatically.

THE OPPOSITION

Horsham FC come into this game in a comfortable 15th place with 52 points from 39 games, and that’s a decent start to life in the National League South under manager Dominic Di Paola. They also reached the Quarter Finals of the FA Trophy, so plenty to build on going forward. They have not been in a good run of form, losing 5 out of the last 6 games, with the latest one being a 2-0 defeat to Hampton & Richmond. So United are clear favourites on Saturday, but we know how afternoons can often play out when that’s the case! With the squad regaining health and the Dyer/Dreyer partnership back, it’s time for Torquay United to attack the last 6 games with all the strength they can muster. There is still (and always has been) a promotion to be won.