Angels in Torquay for another step in United’s winning plan for Christmas

Five league wins on the trot have galvanised Torquay United fans and sees the Gulls ‘ahead of schedule’ to mount another promotion bid.

Paul Wotton’s Class of 2025 were pipped for the National League South title by Truro City on goal-difference, but the ‘new’ United side are better off than they were 12 months ago.

After 20 games last year, United had 37 points and were third, a point behind leaders Truro with Weston-super-Mare second on goal-difference.

Their 2-0 win at Chelmsford City on Saturday lifted Torquay to the top of the table on 39 points, ahead of last night’s game between Hemel Hempstead Town (6th) and Hornchurch (3rd).

“There’s only one day that counts being top, and that’s the last day of the season,” stressed Wotton.

But there was no disguising the delight of the Gulls’ boss after another important victory at Chelmsford, care of spectacular second-half goals from 18-year-old debutant loan signing Kieran Wilson from Exeter City and 12-goal leading scorer Jordan Young.

United’s current run is all the more remarkable because it has come out of considerable adversity.

From October 18 - November 1, they lost three out of four games, at Chesham (0-1), Dorking (1-3) and home to Hornchurch (1-2), sandwiching a 3-0 home win over Chippenham Town.

They also ran into fresh injury problems and a disciplinary incident that sees United still without Munashe Sundire, Cody Cooke, Ed Palmer, Callum Dolan and Matt Worthington.

The pressure was well and truly on the squad and Wotton.

But they appear to have closed ranks and, either side of an FA Trophy loss to bogey club Maidstone United, the Gulls have bounced back with wins against Farnborough and Maidenhead United away, Eastbourne Borough and Worthing at home and then Chelmsford in Essex.

In the process they’ve scored 17 goals and conceded four.

United face Tonbridge Angels this Saturday, in Plainmoor’s last home match before Christmas.

They have a ‘free’ weekend (Dec 13) because they are out of the Trophy, before travelling to AFC Totton (Dec 20) and then a Westcountry derby against promotion rivals Weston-super-Mare at Plainmoor on Boxing Day.

Tonbridge may be only 17th in the table, but Torquay will be wary of the old ‘banana skin’ scenario.

The Angels have struggled at home (W1 D4 L5), but they have taken 15 of their 22 points on the road, including wins at Worthing and Maidstone.