Each game is an 'individual test' for Torquay United

A first-day scare at Dover Athletic should leave Torquay United under no illusions about bigger tests to come as they try to bounce back after relegation, and two of last season's National League South Play-Off clubs are up for the Gulls in their next three matches (writes Dave Thomas).

It's semi-finalists Worthing at Plainmoor on Saturday (3pm), followed by Chippenham Town here on Tuesday night, before Gary Johnson's side travels to 2023 losing finalists St Albans City next weekend.

"The two teams that we're playing at home, and St Albans, all did really well at the end of last year," said Johnson.

"We've got to be very careful - each game is an individual test, and you'll only prove you're better than the league at the end of the season.

"Worthing have definitely got strengths."

United were well in charge midway through the first half at Dover, before being held to a 2-2 draw, and Johnson admitted: "They dropped their standards, thinking 'This is easy' because we were 2-0 up.

"They will have learned a lesson from that."

United were without injured defenders Ross Marshall and Dylan Crowe, midfielder Kevin Dawson and winger Jack Stobbs at Dover, and their most experienced player, defender Dean Moxey, was sent on only for the last few minutes as he plots his way back after, Johnson points out, missing the whole of pre-season.

All those players are starting XI contenders.

Johnson insists: "We've got some very good players for this level.

"We've got an expectation now - people are going to expect you to win."

Worthing started with a 1-0 home victory over Tonbridge Angels last weekend, care of a long-range 'special' from midfielder Nicky Wheeler deep into stoppage-time.

Wheeler will be looking forward to the match, as he also scored for Dorking Wanderers here last season, along with former Gulls player Joe Felix and ex-Plainmoor loanees Arran Racine in defence and Ricky Aguiar in midfield.

Saturday's referee is Abigail Byrne from Suffolk.