Crazy Division no consolation

In the wake of the 3-0 defeat at Dartford at the weekend, it was no consolation to Torquay United’s increasingly exasperated fans to hear that, only a few miles away, NL South leaders Yeovil Town had also lost – and by 4-1 too at struggling Welling United, writes Dave Thomas.
The same Welling that the Gulls beat 5-1 at Plainmoor recently.
The memory of how easily Yeovil dispatched United (3-1) in the league at Plainmoor on November 7 is still etched on the minds of Torquay supporters. And beating a much-changed Glovers side 2-1 in the FA Trophy 11 days later was scant comfort. The real damage had been done.
Yeovil looked like champions-elect in the league match, even if the tameness of United’s display may have helped them to look better than they really may be. But look what’s happened to them since – back to ‘full strength’, a 1-1 draw at Chippenham Town and that 4-1 thumping at Welling.
So, what does it, and the general craziness of the division, say about the NL South this season?
That it’s actually not very good? That any decent side, and it may still be Yeovil, ought to win it as comfortably as Torquay United did in 2018-2019?
The biggest worry is that, ahead of last night’s game at Eastbourne Borough, the Gulls have not been looking anywhere near good enough. The Dartford flop was their fifth defeat in six away games, a run that’s seen them concede 14 goals, broken only by an unconvincing 2-0 win at bottom of the table Havant & Waterlooville.
Simply not acceptable for a club of United’s standing and reputation. And, apart from anything else, an open invitation to the sort of fan reaction which has been growing in recent months.
It remains to be seen what threatened ‘sit-down’ action Supporters Trust (TUST) members do or don’t take at this Saturday’s home game against Tonbridge Angels, although the recent court punishments (fines, unpaid work, ground bans etc) for ‘fans’ caught fighting with Exeter City supporters after a pre-season friendly 18 months ago may have some influence. A win at Eastbourne last night would also help.
The Gulls’ strongest side might well be good enough, but they haven’t been able to field it so far and the inescapable evidence is that the wider squad isn’t. Of course, a club like Torquay has to sign and develop younger players, who often move on just when they start to deliver on a regular basis. It’s happened twice in Gary Johnson’s five and a half years here. But that wasn’t the remit after relegation last season. It was to get back up immediately, no messing and neck-and-neck with Yeovil if need be. We’re still waiting...