United face Christmas trip to Chelmsford

Torquay United go in search of their first ‘double’ of the season when they travel to the Melbourne Stadium to take on Chelmsford City on Saturday (writes Dave Thomas). 
The Gulls have moved into second place in the National League South by winning four games on the trot with an injury-hit side sprinkled with young players. 
That’s still the case, and they will also have to do without their most influential midfielder, Brett McGavin, who serves a one-match suspension – not the way he would have wanted to celebrate his 24th birthday on Thursday. 
“Every game you win puts you under a bit more pressure,” says manager Gary Johnson, “but the law of averages says you’re not going to go through the rest of the season without losing. 
“It’s been hard work getting here, it’s coming to a bit of fruition and, win, lose or draw, we’ve got a Christmas period which is quite exciting.” 
Despite United’s good form – they’ve cut Yeovil Town’s once-daunting lead to seven points – that injury list shows few signs of shortening any time soon. 
Quite what Johnson will do to cover for McGavin’s absence remains to be seen, and a change of formation is on the cards. United did add young forward Osman Foyo on loan from Ipswich Town yesterday evening. 
Chelmsford looked pretty decent when they lost 2-1 to a deflected last-minute goal at Plainmoor in September. 
You’d have marked Robbie Simpson’s side as potential promotion contenders that day, but they’re only tenth at the moment because their home record is nowhere near as good as their away form. 
City, who were unbeaten in their first seven games, have taken only eleven points in front of their own fans, but 21 on the road. 
As we hit the halfway stage of the season, Yeovil are away to Eastbourne Borough, Hampton & Richmond (3rd) are at home to Weston-super-Mare and Maidstone United (4th), who have lost their 20-goal leading scorer Levi Amantchi to Bromley, entertain Chippenham Town. 
Saturday’s referee at Chelmsford is Tom Ellsmore from Woking. 
United’s twice-postponed away game at Taunton Town, rained off again this week, has been rearranged for Tuesday, February 13.