Match Reaction: Torquay United move on to a defining game at Taunton

The trip to Taunton Town on Tuesday night will surely rank as one of the most significant fixtures in the history of Torquay United Football Club.

The Gulls were beaten by a solitary goal at Bath City on the weekend, Elliott Frear scoring after just ten minutes, and United interim boss Aaron Downes was disappointed his side didn’t apply more pressure in a tepid encounter.

Results elsewhere in the National league South mean United are just three points above the relegation zone and Taunton, who have a game in hand on the Gulls, are the one side that can overtake Downes’ team and send them into the bottom four.

“It was a disappointing loss because there wasn’t a lot in the game,” said Downes. “They had a good start, got their goal but it was very even throughout the game.

“We worked ourselves back into the game and in the second half, when I felt we could pen them in, we kept the game too even and didn’t take the ascendancy for any long periods.

“I felt we could put a lot more pressure on them and we haven’t caused their goalkeeper too many issues. I’m gutted to lose the game because there was nothing in it.

“We didn’t have enough cutting edge but we have to make sure we get over this quickly, and focus on Tuesday, which is a really big game for this football club.

“If we win that game, we are virtually safe. I’ve got to make sure the players are in the right frame of mind. We could have done better [against Bath] and I’ll take responsibility for that.

“We’ve got some experienced players, who have played in big matches and we need that on Tuesday.”