Window opens early for Gulls

The early postponement of Torquay United’s festive return derby at Truro City has given manager Gary Johnson a big and potentially precious chance to bolster his injury-crippled squad with new signings.
United looked in real trouble when they emerged from Boxing Day’s shock 0-1 defeat at home to Truro City without a single fit striker and with eight senior players injured.
But the decision, made two days in advance, to call off Saturday’s scheduled game against Truro at Plymouth Parkway’s Bolitho Park has given Johnson his own transfer ‘window’ before Eastbourne Borough come to Plainmoor this Saturday.
United had done well to stay in touch with National League South leaders Yeovil Town, despite so many injuries to so many key players. After they came from 2-0 down to beat Hemel Hempstead Town 3-2 on December 16, the Gulls were up to second place and had cut Yeovil’s lead to seven points. Held 0-0 at home by Hampton & Richmond on the same day, the Glovers were stuttering on a run of one win in six games. But the situation turned in the space of four days over Christmas.
While Torquay slumped to goalless defeats at Chelmsford City (0-2) and Truro, in front of nearly 3,800 fans at Plainmoor on Boxing Day, Yeovil have got back on track. Wins over Eastbourne Borough away (1-0) and Taunton Town (4-1) at Huish Park (6,301) on December 26 have restored the NL South to what looks like a one-horse race.
As most of their pursuers kicked off on New Year’s Day, Town’s lead was back to ten points – and 13 ahead of United.
It had turned into a costly Christmas for the Gulls.
And the gap to Yeovil might have been even bigger if Town’s own return derby at Taunton on Sunday hadn’t been postponed, because of the same waterlogged pitch which forced Torquay’s game there to be called off a fortnight ago. Having got over a mid-season blip, it’s hard to see Yeovil slipping up again.
Gulls fans are already holding onto the ‘second best’ hope of second place (and home advantage in the Play-Offs).
But Johnson has to find a way, somehow, to keep the points coming until Aaron Jarvis, Brad Ash, Tom Lapslie, Asa Hall, Jack Stobbs, Kevin Dawson & Co return to action.
The latest casualty is young loan striker Theo Williams, who limped off on Boxing Day with a hamstring injury.
His parent club Fleetwood Town have just sacked Johnson’s son Lee after less than four months in charge, and they may well recall Williams anyway.
The January ‘window’ for all English clubs is now open, and it promises to be a busy one at Plainmoor.