Points over style and headlines for Torquay United at Dover Athletic

Never has some consistency, in this so-far unpredictable National League South, been more important than it is now as new leaders Torquay United head back to Dover Athletic tonight (Tues).

The Gulls are in as good form as anyone (W9 D2 L2), and they’re still trying to work out how they lost those two games to Tonbridge and AFC Totton.

United have already beaten promotion rivals Worthing, Weston-super-Mare, Ebbsfleet and Hornchurch, knocking the Urchins off the top of the table (2-1) with that big second half in Essex on Saturday.

Now comes one of those games which are all about points over style or headlines.

Nobody knows that better than Gulls manager Paul Wotton, who hasn’t changed his thinking about what will be needed at The Crabble ground since before the original fixture was postponed so frustratingly late a month ago.

That was because of a frozen pitch, but waterlogging was the fear before a positive inspection verdict in the morning sent United on the long trip to Kent.

Having seen his side start slowly and finish so well at Hornchurch, and at Enfield Town (2-1) the week before, Wotton is sure to do everything he can to ensure a more aggressive reaction to kick-off this time.

The proverbial gloves are off now.

Nobody is pretending that United are thinking ‘Play-Offs’.

Of course, if they have to settle for that, so be it. And there isn’t a Boreham Wood in the pack this year.

But the title is the target.

Dorking Wanderers at Plainmoor on Saturday will hardly need selling to United fans, but first things first.

Before the Hornchurch victory, many of those supporters were saying ‘Four points from the next two games...’. It would still be a good return.

Louis Dennis completes a three-match suspension, and United are not thought to have picked up any more injuries at the weekend.

Dover (15th), who have two ex-Gulls in their squad in Ryan Hanson and Jacob Mensah, ended a lean spell of six defeats in eight games at the weekend.

It was a surprise win too, 2-1 away to Play-Off chasing Hemel Hempstead Town after Jake Leberl’s side withstood almost non-stop pressure.

Hanson scored a late winner at Victoria Road, after leading scorer George Nikaj hit his ninth goal of the season early on.

United kept Nikaj quiet at Plainmoor in August, when Alfie Matthews scored twice in the Whites’ 3-2 loss.

Tuesday’s referee is Ben McDonald from Sevenoaks.