McGavin available for Taunton trip

Midfielder Brett McGavin is available for in-form Torquay United’s next National League South game against Westcountry rivals Taunton Town at Wordsworth Drive on Tuesday night (writes Dave Thomas).

McGavin, who is playing the best football of his 18 months with the Gulls, was sent off for a second yellow card in stoppage-time of Saturday’s 3-1 home win over Hemel Hempstead Town at the weekend.

But, under NL rules, he won’t serve a one-match suspension until Saturday’s match at Chelmsford City.

United weren’t happy with referee Craig Scriven’s decision to caution McGavin a second time, claiming that he ‘kicked the ball away’ from a tackle before the whistle.

But there is no appeal against yellow cards anyway, so McGavin will miss the Chelmsford fixture.

In the face of United’s current injury list, it’s a good job that McGavin can play at Taunton – they certainly need him.

Without most of their experienced players, McGavin’s ability to keep the ball and dictate the pace of the game is important to a Gulls side trying to earn a fifth successive league win.

The prospect of cutting Yeovil Town’s lead to four points, even though the Glovers would have a game in hand, is more than enough to excite 700+ fans who will make the short trip up the M5.

But this may be yet another potential ‘banana skin’ in United’s path.

Rob Dray’s Taunton side may be only 16th in the table, they have won only once in nine league and FA Trophy games and defender Jay Foulston has just left for Yeovil on a loan to the end of the season.

But they have games in hand, one of the best home records in the division - W6 D2 L1 – and they should enjoy trying to draw United into an old-fashioned derby scrap.

Their squad includes former Gulls Dan Lavercombe in goal, defender Austen Booth and midfielder Lloyd James, as well as experienced NL men like Ross Stearn, Nick Grimes, targetman Nick McCootie and ex-King’s Lynn and Yeovil striker Malachi Linton.

Tuesday’s referee is Liam Corbett from Birmingham.