Match Preview: Yellow hordes heading for Weymouth

Delivering a performance for the Yellow Army is top of the Torquay United agenda ahead of the relatively short trip to Weymouth on Saturday.

Interim manager Aaron Downes is expecting a huge contingent of away support for the game, as fans rally behind the club in the wake of last week’s administration news.

Weymouth responded to the Plainmoor situation with a superb gesture of support, promising to donate £5 from every adult away ticket purchased tomorrow to Torquay United Supporters Trust.

Downes expressed his gratitude for the support from Weymouth, while also warning his team can expect a tough game on the pitch.

“Weymouth are a good side, I watched them on Tuesday night and [manager] Bobby [Wilkinson] has got them really competitive. Before we get on to the football, it is a fantastic gesture from their chairman and I thanked him personally.

“They know what it means to be in our position and their gesture has not gone unnoticed.

“They’ve got good resilience, came back from 2-1 down on Tuesday night against a really good St Albans team to get a draw. It was a good game and we feel we know everything we need to know about them.

“It’s important we focus on us and put on a performance for what will be a fantastic away following. The support is helping us out massively and it also helps all the people in our club that we care about.”

Downes will make the trip to Dorset with a squad bolstered by players returning from injury, most noticeably in attack, where Aaron Jarvis and Brad Ash renewed their strike partnership with a goal each in the 2-2 draw with Aveley last weekend.

The Weymouth game carries extra significance for Ash, who starred for the Terras last term, and the forward department will be supported by the likes of Kevin Dawson and Jack Stobbs in midfield.

“The squad is looking good and looking positive,” said Downes. “We’ve got a lot of people back fit and hopefully it is the start of Brad and Jarvs enjoying a good run of form.

“They’re both fantastic players, they did really well on Saturday and good to have them in form.

“Dawson is different class for us. He brings real experience and a leader in the middle of the park. He is someone we need and great to have him back.

“Stobbs is comfortably the best winger in the league, so having him available with the delivery he provides is fantastic. Having these players at our disposal is really good.”

The dwindling treatment room does still contain Tom Lapslie and Asa Hall, both recovering from mild injuries, but the news is more disappointing for youngster Finley Craske, who is likely to miss the rest of the campaign.

“Laps has taken a knock, so he’s out but not for long,” added Downes. “Asa, alongside helping me out, is probably a week or two away. Fin, unfortunately, his hamstring is quite significant and we might not see him for the rest of the season.

“It is disappointing for Fin because he did really well at the start of the season and will have a good career because he’s a great young man, and a good footballer as well. We will make sure we support him in the right way.”