Plastic practise for Torquay United

The sight of Torquay United’s players training in the rain at their regular Seale Hayne complex this week, rather than at South Devon College’s 3G Centre, ought to be a hint about their approach to tackling Hemel Hempstead Town at all-weather Vauxhall Road on Saturday.

Manager Gary Johnson, whose side is going for a seventh win in eight games, had switched training to SDC before recent matches at ‘AW’ Slough Town (2-1) and Aveley 1-2) without obvious benefit.

Even though they eventually won at Slough, United were unconvincing there, and they hardly laid a glove on Aveley.

The Gulls are playing better now, and Johnson prefers to try and build on that than over-thinking the surface.

“Their (Hemel’s) astroturf looks OK,” said Johnson. “It’s played pretty consistently from what we’ve seen and been told, and we mustn’t have any negatives around what we’re playing on or the conditions.”

A 3-0 FA Cup win at Wimborne Town last Saturday didn’t really test United quite as much as either Farnborough (3-0) or Chelmsford City (2-1) had done in the league the week before.

Saturday in Hertfordshire is likely to pose a few more problems as the Gulls try to see off more opponents who are bound to fancy themselves for an upset.

For all Rhys Lovett’s excellent display at Wimborne, Mark Halstead is expected to return in goal.

If United do win, and leaders Bath City (Dover H) and Worthing (Maidstone A) don’t, they will go top of the table.

“A win will put us in a good position with 22 points, but a loss will mean we’ve got to do better,” commented Johnson.

“Ten games played will be a good indication of where we are.”

Hemel have made a good start under manager Brad Quinton.

Only a series of draws stops them being higher than tenth at the moment, and they’re also through in the Cup after a 3-1 win at Royston Town last weekend.

Two of their better-known players are former Leyton Orient and Dover defender Myles Judd and ex- Wales, Fulham, Forest Green Rovers and Grimsby Town winger George Williams.

Saturday’s referee is Lauren Impey (RAF).

Following their 6-1 FA Youth Cup win at Bovey Tracey on Thursday, United Under-18s try to keep their unbeaten start to the season going under new manager Kevin Wills away to Mangotsfield United on Saturday.

And on Sunday, United Women entertain early leaders AFC Bournemouth to Coach Road, Newton Abbot, in the National League Division One SW (2pm).