Wotton taking nothing for granted as Torquay United go to bottom-of-table Eastbourne

That recent 1-0 defeat at Chippenham Town may have been a bit like floodlit robbery, but Torquay
United cannot afford a similar slip-up at managerless Eastbourne Borough tomorrow (Saturday February 21).

Eastbourne, who sacked manager Tommy Widdrington this week, have replaced Chippenham at the
bottom of the National League South.
Paul Wotton’s Gulls have already thrashed the Sports 7-0 at Plainmoor, and the Sussex club’s
announcement of Widdrington’s departure hinted that they are already contemplating how they
might cope with life after relegation and a likely return to part-time status.
None of that scenario bothered Wotton at his weekly press conference, when he pointed to
struggling Wolves’ surprise 2-2 draw with Premier League leaders Arsenal on Tuesday night as
evidence that you take almost anything in football for granted at your peril.
Wotton also reported some fitness doubts over three players, without giving anything more away.
Leading scorer Jordan Young appeared to pick up a foot injury in the first half against Maidenhead
(1-1) last Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to force him off.
United, whose overnight trip to Eastbourne is being paid for by an anonymous supporter, also travel
back up the South coast next Tuesday to face Worthing (5th).
Dorking Wanderers’ 1-0 home win over Hornchurch this midweek opened up a five-point gap on
United (2nd).
But after the Worthing match, eight of the Gulls’ last 13 games will be at Plainmoor, including one
against Dorking (March 24), and only five away.
The weather has forced nearly everyone into Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday territory from now on, and
that will up the ante as far as squad strength is concerned.
Wotton remains confident on that score, especially as he has young loanees Kieran Wilson, Ed James
(both Exeter City) and fit-again Joe Hatch (Plymouth Argyle) to step in when necessary.
Indeed, United may send two or three players out on loan any day now.
Goalkeeper Matt Wonnacott has already joined Weymouth on an emergency one-week deal, and
Matt Carson, Jadyn Crosbie and Denzel Akyeampong may also be set for more game-time elsewhere.
No NLS team has suffered a bigger fall from grace this season than Eastbourne.
Under Adam Murray last year they finished third, a point behind Torquay and unbeaten at home.
Then Murray left for Kidderminster Harriers, things didn’t go well for his successor Matt Gray,
former Aldershot boss Tommy Widdrington took over in November and now he’s gone.
Borough have won only two of 16 home games, but they remained reasonably competitive while
loanee Pemi Aderoju was scoring goals (20 in all competitions).
But Peterborough United recalled Aderoju last month, and Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat at Chesham leaves
Borough with only one win and a draw from their last nine games.
However, George Alexander remains a dangerous striker at this level and, obviously, Eastbourne
have little to lose, especially as Dorking are also heading to Priory Lane next Tuesday.
Other NLS fixtures this weekend see Dorking go to Maidstone, Hornchurch (3rd) are away to AFC
Totton, Ebbsfleet (4th) are at Chesham (8th), Worthing (5th) entertain Slough and Weston-super-Mare(6th) travel to Dover.
Saturday’s referee at Eastbourne is Chay Hathaway - he coordinates referee performance data for
the FA - from Woodbridge in Suffolk