The pressure is on for Torquay United

Whichever way you look at it, the pressure is on for Torquay United to rediscover their winning ‘mojo’ against lowly Welling United at Plainmoor on Saturday (writes Dave Thomas).

It was always going to be that way for the Gulls this season.

With promotion favouritism comes expectation, and that ‘there to be shot at’ status.

United haven’t handled it too convincingly so far, and two recent defeats in eight days by Maidstone make it imperative that they reward the Plainmoor faithful – and more than 500 ‘extra’ fans care of the club’s latest ‘Community Day’ – with a fast start this weekend.

Manager Gary Johnson, who has centre-back Ross Marshall back from suspension, points out that eleven games is too early for even the sternest critics to write his team off.

When they beat Farnborough (3-0) and Chelmsford (2-1) in the space of four days last month, United did look like a side heading in the right direction.

But they have stuttered of late, two Cup wins against Southern League Wimborne and Hungerford punctuating losses to Hemel Hempstead and Maidstone twice.

So now, with few apologies to the FA Trophy, it’s all on the league, and some pretty important matches ahead.

Westcountry rivals Weston-super-Mare away next Tuesday, as well as Bath City and Yeovil Town at home, will test the Gulls’ quality and their mental strength to the limit.

“There are 35 games to go, we’re in a Play-Off position (7th), four points behind the leaders,” says Johnson.

“We mustn’t let that Maidstone defeat, much as it affects us all, mess us up for the league.

“We’ve got some big games coming up and, hopefully, we’ll see ourselves in a stronger and higher position.”

Of Saturday’s match against two-from-bottom Welling, Johnson added: “We think they’re better than their league position suggests.”

In 22nd place, the Wings have taken only nine points from their first eleven games, but they did push National League Boreham Wood hard before losing (0-1) in the Cup at Meadow Park last Saturday.

The Wings also lost two players, including goalkeeper Ben Winterbottom, to injury in the first half.

Manager Danny Bloor, formerly with Eastbourne Borough, went back there to sign midfielder James Vaughan, who’d spent most of his career in the USA.

His attack also boasts Dominic Odusanya, whose three years at Maidstone included the NL South title in 2022, and the experienced Tristan Abraham.

Ex-Leyton Orient, Norwich, Newport, Carlisle and Gillingham striker Abraham has more than 150 EFL appearances and 28 goals to his credit.

Saturday’s referee is Tom Ellsmore from Woking.

After the postponement of their FA Youth Cup tie against Reading City on Thursday, United’s Under-18 side resumes the defence of the SW Counties Youth League title away to Wimborne Town on Saturday.

And the United Women’s team makes a much shorter trip, to the Exwick Sports Hub, to play Exeter City in the Women’s FA Cup on Sunday (2pm).