Top v bottom for Torquay United in a banana skin trip to Chippenham

Nobody in Torquay United’s squad has been checking the weather more keenly than striker Louis Dennis ahead of Tuesday night’s trip to Chippenham Town (7.45pm).

Second top scorer Dennis’ return from a three-match suspension has already been delayed by two postponements, and he’ll have everything crossed that the Hardenhuish Park pitch holds up to the rain.

It’s a top-v-bottom duel in Wiltshire as Paul Wotton’s Gulls try to reel off a fourth successive away victory.

Will Wotton, freshly named as the NL South’s Manager Of The Month for January, put 13-goal Dennis straight back into the starting XI? That’s a big enough question.

But one other change is certain.

The hamstring injury that centre-back Jordan Dyer sustained at Dover (3-2) a week ago sets up a recall for Ed Palmer.

Palmer, 34, hasn’t started since United’s 3-1 defeat at Dorking Wanderers on October 25, but he’s made six substitute appearances recently and he retains Wotton’s continuing confidence.

The pair have worked together at Truro City and Torquay, and Wotton says: “Ed is a bit of a throwback.

“I’ve had him for seven years, and I know all his strengths and his weaknesses.

“He’s one of those hardened non-League players who can go three or four months without playing and then just play.”

Four away league wins on the trot isn’t something that United have done too often in their history.

But they did achieve it on their way to the NL South title in 2018-19 and, also under Gary Johnson, twice in 2020-21 when they reached the NL Premier Play-Off Final.

Chippenham have been playing ‘catch-up’ since they won only one of their first 17 games, which included a 3-0 defeat at Plainmoor in October.

But they played some good football that night, and they have maintained that reputation under popular manager Gary Horgan through a difficult winter.

Town looked to be perking up recently with a run of two wins and two draws over Christmas and the New Year, but they go into this match on a run of four successive defeats.

Midfielder Reece Fleet was sent off at Dagenham (2-4) on Saturday, although his suspension won’t start until this coming weekend under NL rules.

Former Welling and Enfield forward Anointed Chukwu can be a physical presence up front, and Harry Parsons and Tom Owen-Evans lead their scoring list with five goals apiece.

Other Tuesday night matches see Dorking (2nd) host Dover, while Hornchurch (3rd) are home to local rivals Chelmsford, who are 13th but one of several mid-table clubs still aiming for the Play-Offs. Weston-super-Mare (5th) are also away to Slough and in-form Ebbsfleet (6th) entertain Enfield.

Tuesday’s referee at Chippenham is Steven Hughes from Brighton.