Consistency is the route to the top

Torquay United’s season so far can be summed up in their last two matches, and manager Gary Johnson readily accepts the importance of finding the consistency without which they will struggle to close the eleven-point gap to leaders Yeovil Town (writes Dave Thomas).

A 3-0 defeat at Dartford last Saturday was followed by a 4-1 win at Eastbourne Borough on Tuesday Night, and some fans find it harder to get the former out of their minds enough to celebrate the latter.

Johnson teams invariably improve as each season goes on, and he remains convinced that his squad will be where everyone wants them to be when it counts.

After ending a worrying run of five defeats in six away games, United have the opportunity to back it up at home to in-form Tonbridge and then Weymouth next Tuesday. 

There is talk of a possible post-match ‘sit-in’ by members of the Torquay United Supporters Trust, in protest at the board.

But owner Clarke Osborne did announce, in a Torbay Weekly interview this week, a new channel through which fans can voice concerns and have them answered. 

Johnson says: “I know people want us to be at the top at the moment, and a little bit of consistency will get us up there.

“What I can say is that you’ve got two or three (directors) genuine people, and that’s why I’ve stayed for the last five years.

“I’m the same as I was five years ago, and the same as I was three years ago when we got to the (NL Premier Play-Off) final and then lost our players. 

“We had to rebuild, and the board allowed me to rebuild.

“Some people don’t like to be proved wrong, and they’ve got a bit of negativity about them, and sometimes that stays with them.

“We’ve got to keep winning football matches and get promotion.” 

Johnson added: “It would be nice to play the football we played at Eastbourne in front of our own fans.”

He mentioned that Tonbridge may have something to say about that. 

Eastbourne did have a man sent off at 2-0 midway through the first half on Tuesday, and the fact is that the Gulls have lost to all the current top-four sides but have a W4 D1 record against the bottom five.

They’ve also lost loanee midfielder Callum Dolan back to Fleetwood Town, and neither Asa Hall, Shaun Donnellan nor Ryan Hanson, who can all play in that department, was involved in midweek. 

But the sight of Tom Lapslie back in action was a welcome one, and Johnson reports that attacking left-back Dan Martin is ‘not far away’ from a return after injury. 

In Martin’s absence, Johnson has welcomed the arrival of young AFC Bournemouth loanee Archie Harris to that position.

“Archie can play left centre-half, left-back and as a left wing-back, as he did at Eastbourne, and I’m not sure that Bournemouth know what his best position is yet,” Johnson said. 

After a poor start – three wins in their first 12 games – Tonbridge are in good form now under manager Jay Saunders.

They’re also scoring goals, with eleven in their last four league games, and they go into this game one point behind United, although the Gulls do have two games in hand. 

Saunders knows his stuff at these levels – he took Maidstone from the Isthmian to the National League in quick time.

Their key man in midfield may be veteran Scott Wagstaff (Charlton, Bristol City, Gillingham, AFC Wimbledon), and they’ve also just signed 19-year-old striker Obed Yeboah from Truro City. 

Saturday’s referee is Ross Martin (Sussex). 

United Under-18s are home to Yeovil Town in the SW Counties Youth League Cup at South Devon College on Saturday (10.30am). 

And the Gulls Women return to National League Division One SW action at Swindon Town on Sunday (2pm).