Torquay United turn to the Trophy today

The FA Trophy is hardly top of the priority list for either club this season, but the chance to end Yeovil Town’s current run of 14 successive league and cup wins will surely give Torquay United some extra incentive at Plainmoor on Saturday (writes Dave Thomas).

Throw in the opportunity to show that they’re closer to the Glovers than the recent 3-1 league defeat here indicated, and you have the ingredients for a lively afternoon.

Since they outplayed United ten days ago, Yeovil have added wins over Dover (2-0) and Farnborough (4-2) to move nine points clear at the top of the National League South, and 13 ahead of the Gulls.

Mark Cooper’s squad also has an FA Cup Second Round date at Wrexham in its sights.

But if Gary Johnson’s players are looking for a real morale-booster, over and above a 2-0 win at struggling Havant & Waterlooville last Saturday, then beating their biggest local rivals must be it.

No one at Plainmoor on Saturday will shout ‘Drinks All Round’ whatever the result. The winners will earn just £3,750.

There are another four rounds between here and a place at Wembley, where the club which picks up the cup will collect £60,000 and the losers £30,000.

No wonder Trophy attendances have reflected those figures in recent seasons, with the FA praying that at least one reasonably sized club keeps going until the later stages.

Like Premier League managers in the FA Cup, National League bosses have taken the opportunity to chop and change their sides in this competition.

Johnson doesn’t have too many options, but Brett McGavin is back from a one-match suspension. Tom Lapslie will have had a fortnight to get over his latest injury, thought to be a recurrence of a niggling hamstring problem, while defender Ross Marshall may make it back from a ‘dead leg’.

Even if players aren’t allowed to tackle with much degree of hostility these days, the presence of Lapslie and Asa Hall gives United’s midfield a more robust look than they’ve had of late.

And when Kevin Dawson returns from his hamstring injury, hopefully around Christmas, it should look even stronger.

United beat Havant with the help of a timely penalty save from substitute goalkeeper Filip Chalupniczak – it stopped the Hawks equalising with 15 minutes to go.

But whether Chalupniczak (say it ‘How-loop-nee-ak) gets a chance to follow up last weekend’s debut effort in front of Plainmoor fans remains to be seen.

The Polish-born player was signed as cover when Mark Halstead was concussed at Hampton & Richmond recently, and then he took the field at half-time last Saturday because Rhys Lovett was also hurt.

But Johnson hinted this week that he would at least have a decision to make in goal for this tie, so Chalupniczak may find himself back on the bench.

Still sidelined, of course, is centre-forward Aaron Jarvis – his absence largely gave Yeovil’s centre- backs the night off in the league game

But the introduction of the nippier Theo Williams and young winger Ethon Archer may give the Glovers a bit more to think about.

Yeovil have just strengthened their squad with the loan signing of young Bristol City defender Duncan Idehen.

No one was more impressive here on November 7 than Town’s right-winger Jordan Young, and he scored a hat-trick against Farnborough on Tuesday.

United’s Under-18 side travels to Brimscombe & Thrupp in the SW Counties Youth League on Saturday, while the Gulls Women are also away, at Feniton, in the Devon County Cup on Sunday.