Striker Cooke fit to play as Torquay United boss dismisses talk of 'bogey ' side Maidstone

TORQUAY United centre-forward Cody Cooke has recovered from the bruised cheekbone he sustained in the opening day 3-1 win over Enfield Town and is expected to lead the Gulls’ attack against Maidstone United at the Gallagher Stadium on Saturday (3pm).
Cooke, last season’s 20-goal leading scorer, drilled home a penalty on Day One before having to withdraw.

But manager Paul Wotton reports that Cooke had a precautionary scan, which revealed no serious damage, and he hasn’t had to serve a concussion protocol.
New signings Sonny Fish and Callum Dolan remain United’s only injury absentees as they prepare to take on one their biggest ‘bogey’ clubs.
In 17 meetings with Maidstone, Torquay’s record reads - W2 D3 L12. None of which concerns Wotton, who says: “If I believed in things like that, I wouldn’t buy a lottery ticket.
“I don’t pay any attention to playing on a plastic pitch against a team that we haven’t beaten for a while. We need to go there full of confidence and ready to play.
“I learned (against Enfield) that there are things we can do very well, and other things that we need
to improve on.
“We are definitely way ahead on this time last year, in relationships on the pitch.”
Maidstone finished ten points behind the Gulls in April (7th), but lost in the Play-Off Final to Boreham Wood.
They have since lost several prominent players, including Temi Eweka, Ben Brookes and leading scorer Aaron Blair.
But manager George Elokobi has been busy in the transfer market, and they were only denied a win at Hemel Hempstead last weekend by a late home equaliser (1-1).
Like Wotton, Elokobi is without a couple of his new faces, Jamie Yila and Ruben Carvalho, through injury.
But Wotton stressed: “Maidstone are always well managed, fit, organised and physically strong.”
Saturday’s referee is Zachary Cunningham (Northants), one of several officials starting their first full seasons at this level after promotion midway through last season.