Benchmark game as Torquay United welcome leaders Hornchurch to Plainmoor

There will be more than enough chance for Torquay United to tackle ‘that’ away form problem at Farnborough and Maidenhead next week, but nothing is more important for the Gulls now than Hornchurch at home on Saturday (3pm).

United (5th) take on the unbeaten early-season leaders with manager Paul Wotton still trying to overcome the loss of injured centre-forward Cody Cooke (writes Dave Thomas).

Wotton reports that Sonny Fish, who is working his way back to full fitness after knee surgery, is much closer to a first start after a series of substitute appearances.

Queen’s Park Rangers starlet Cian Dillon has returned to Loftus Road, but the loan market remains an option, even in the short term.

“It’s very difficult to replace a player like Cody Cooke, because every team wants one,” said Wotton.

Of another possible loan deal, he added at his weekly press conference: “We’re not imminently close, but we are working hard.”

Wotton ‘rested’ four of the players who had started against Chippenham Town (3-0) – Jordan Young, Callum Dolan, Matt Jay and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton - for last Saturday’s 1-3 defeat at Dorking Wanderers.

He also changed to a three-at-the-back defence with wing-backs.

It did not go well, although any chance it had of working went out of the window when United handed two early goals to Dorking on a proverbial plate, and then conceded a third on the stroke of half-time.

And that after four ‘clean sheets’ in five games.

Largesse of those proportions can’t happen again and everyone, in the club and outside it, has had their say on a forgettable weekend.

In football you have to move on, and quickly, and it’s worth remembering that United have taken 19 points out of 21 in front of their own fans.

Wotton says: “I’ve got full belief that the away form will change, and I believe in myself and the players.”

The pain of Cooke’s deep-seated pelvic injury is starting to ease – an op is not required – so his absence will hopefully be measured in weeks.

Midfielder Munashe Sundire (hamstring) is not likely to be back until the New Year, but they are still the only absentees.

Hornchurch are the only team in the division who have scored more goals (28) than the Gulls (24).

Manager Daryl McMahon has gone back to his old club Dagenham for several players to good effect.

One of them, veteran Colombian-born forward Angelo Balanta, has scored six goals so far, alongside lanky young ex-Millwall centre-forward Henry Hearn.

Another ex-Dagger is attacking midfielder Josh Rees, who played on loan for United from Nottingham Forest ten years ago, and has gone on to a goal-laden career around the Home Counties.

He specialises in arriving late in the penalty area to get on the end of chances, as does fellow midfielder and captain Tommy Wraight.

A no-nonsense defence is built around muscular centre-back Harry Gibbs, Josh Hare is a dangerous attacking right-back, while goalkeeper Arthur Nasta is on a season-long loan from Wolves.

There’s no denying Hornchurch’s impressive start, but they are approaching a spell which may reveal whether they can keep it going.

Six of their next seven opponents are in the top-ten, and the seventh is Essex rivals Chelmsford City (14th) away.

Saturday’s referee is Scott Simpson from Staffordshire, now in his ninth season at this level or above.

Elsewhere in the NL South, Ebbsfleet United have been placed under a transfer embargo amid ongoing issues over their reported summer takeover.