TT PREVIEW

Chris Wade – @tufcchris

BIG WEEKEND AHEAD

This has the feel of a big Cup weekend for Torquay United. The two wins so far in the 26/27 FA Cup have really brought some Cup cheer to a fan base that has been short on some in recent years. Jimmy Ball understands the pain of recent years and has opened the gates to two wins and the chance to reach the 1^st round of The FA Cup since 2022. Wins against AFC Stoneham and Tonbridge Angels have set us up for the visit of Oxford City on Saturday. The reward is almost £10 000 in prize money and the potential riches of the first round proper, when the lower two tiers of the EFL come into play.

SQUAD DEPTH

Jimmy has talked this week of squad depth and different ways to play with them. There has been a lot of chopping and changing for a number of reasons, some enforced and some not, and this weekend sees United battling with some more injuries. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Jake Wannell were absent last weekend and could be again this weekend, and Dom Bernard has been missing in recent weeks. But others have come back and helped the group. It was good to see Sean Robertson start for the first time last weekend against Slough Town, and I expect to see Deon Moore return to the starting eleven now that he has recovered from his Caribbean travels. And there are certainly options open to the manager, and I, for one, cannot guess the eleven that he will go for this weekend.

DEON’S BACK

It’s been a while since we had an international that missed matches, so it has been great to see Deon Moore away playing for Guyana in recent weeks. The consequence at our level is on their club side, as international breaks haven’t made it to the National League South yet. But it was also great to see him back last weekend and he made a real difference when he was introduced at half time. His movement, running and hold up play makes such a difference and allowed us to get down the sides and attack Slough in a more direct and quicker way. He may not have scored last weekend, but his goals will be key as we move through this season.

THE OPPOSITION

Oxford City are curiously in the National League North this season due to how the borders of the leagues sit. They have made a strong start to the season and sit third in their league, so this weekend will not be easy. They will come to Plainmoor with their attacking style and come to win, as nobody wants a replay on Tuesday night in an ideal world. But Torquay need to make it about them, attacking them and find a way to get the win and into bag of balls for Monday’s first round draw. The financial element cannot be underestimated, but that isn’t for the players. Their job is to deliver on the pitch.