Weaving patterns of play for a Torquay United winter

An unwanted weekend break from action has given manager Paul Wotton and his Torquay United team time to work on the patterns of play he believes will bring success to Plainmoor.

In all the excitement of a new consortium taking over the club and a raft of new players, it is easy to forget that Wotton has only been in charge for two months of competitive action, and he is engineering a team with a brand new group of players.

“It has been beneficial in the sense that we’ve had time on the training ground to work on things that need improving and to keep drip-feeding our patterns of play, the way we want to play,” said Wotton.

“We’ve had time to do stuff and also a couple of niggling injuries that have cleared up. It’s not ideal because, as a footballer and as a manager, you want to play on a Saturday.

“We’ve worked hard, players who needed rest have had a rest, and now we’re back to normal for the Hampton game.”

Next on the horizon is that trip to Hampton & Richmond in the National League South and another challenging assignment in a league that rarely disappoints when it comes to providing tough, competitive fixtures.

The London club currently sit 17th in the table, with two wins, four draws and three defeats from their opening nine game. Last weekend saw them dish out a 4-0 walloping to Enfield Town.

“They’ve had a big turnaround of players in the summer but they are a team full of energy, they move the ball well and they are brave in possession,” Wotton added.

“As always, we have to be at our best to get something from the game.

“As a manager, I try not to set targets over blocks of games because you can end up panicking if you don’t hit the target. The best way for me to navigate a season is to take each game as it comes.”

While first-team duties have taken a break, four senior pros did join youth-team prospects for an exciting defeat of Buckland Athletic in the St Luke’s Devon Bowl.

Roddy Collins, Ollie Tomlinson, Will Jenkins Davies and Jadyn Crosbie all performed with tremendous assurance in the game and Wotton was delighted with both their approach and the all-round display.

“The four pro players in the Devon Bowl demonstrated a first-class attitude and a very enjoyable game to watch,” he said. “The young lads also showed lots of ability against a strong Buckland team.

“In the last 20 minutes, we only had Ollie Tomlinson as a senior player, the rest were all 16 and 17 year-olds. Credit to the young lads and the pro players.

“I never had any doubt their attitude would be first class but it is tough when you’re away from the bright lights of a first-team fixture. They were talking to the young lads all the way through the game and they also got good minutes in their legs.”