Truro away is arguably Torquay United’s biggest ever football match

Torquay United will tackle Truro City on Monday night in a game that could have a serious impact on the whole future of the football club.

While the off-field ownership problems continue for United, issues on the pitch have also become increasingly desperate, particularly after the 1-0 defeat at Welling United on Saturday.

The Gulls are now just two points above the National League relegation zone, the lowest position in the club’s 125-year history, and three of the four remaining games are against teams also fighting for survival, including Truro, who will host United at their temporary home in Gloucester on Monday.

There is, however, some encouragement from the weekend loss at Welling. United went down to ten men on 25 minutes after a reckless challenge by Ross Marshall and then conceded the only goal of the game, but the second-half display with was full of courage and resilience.

“The second-half performance was fantastic from the boys,” said United’s interim manager Aaron Downes. “The hand we were dealt was a difficult one, being 1-0 down with ten men, but the second-half performance was superb.

“We dominated territory, dominated the ball, we had a game-plan and, bar scoring a goal, the boys were superb. It was a difficult challenge but they gave everything in the second half.

“I don’t know how we’ve come away with nothing.

“We had chances to score the goal and I’m proud of the attitude and resilience of the players. We rolled our sleeves up and put in the effort but it is all about points.

“It was a red card, the ref’s made the right decision and we were rocked by it. We conceded a soft goal, so that eight-minute period was the only real disappointment from the game.

“I’m gutted that we’ve not drawn or won the game but, at the minute, the situation we are in is about points. We’ve got to take some positives and it makes Monday a really big game for us. We have to get points from that game and the players know that.

“If they play like they did in the second half, with 11 men, we win on Monday night.

“It is all about the mindset and attitude, and the players have shown a positive attitude in adversity, but we know it’s all about results.”