Torquay United target FA Cup breakthrough at Plainmoor

It’s years since Torquay United last reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup, but they have a big chance to do it again when they face Oxford City at Plainmoor on Saturday.

Most Gulls fans will remember 2022, when a stoppage-time equaliser by Will Goodwin earned a 2-2 draw at home to Derby County.

United lost the replay 5-0 at Pride Park, but those sort of days have been few and far between over recent years.

For the record, you have to go back to 2011 for the last time that the Gulls made it to Round Two, Martin Ling’s side pushing Sheffield United all the way (3-2) at Bramall Lane.

Yes, it’s long overdue for that sort of excitement, but you can’t ask more at Fourth Qualifying Round stage than to be at home and Jimmy Ball’s team need to make that advantage count.

We’re almost certainly in for a right set-to, for National League North City, spearheaded in attack by former Torquay striker Tyrone Marsh, are in good form and will fancy their chances.

“I don’t see them coming here and being cagey,” said Ball.

“They have started (the season) great, they have momentum and confidence.

“We are at home, which is great. I think it will be a real ding-dong cup match.”

Neither centre-back Jake Wannell nor attacking midfielder Sonny Blu Lo-Everton passed fitness tests before last weekend’s 5-1 win over Slough Town, and Ball will again allow more time for either or both to improve on their situations.

Ball reports no other new injury concerns.

The financial rewards of the Cup start to ramp up from now on.

United have earned £9,000 in prizemoney for beating AFC Stoneham and Tonbridge Angels. But they can double that amount with victory on Saturday and, from then on, it gets ‘Properly’ rewarding.

First Round winners, when EFL One and Two clubs enter, collect £47,500 and even the losers there pick up £15,800.

With everyone having to pay for admission and net receipts split, prices have again been cut to £10 for adults and £5 for Under-18s.

Promoted in 2024 and nudged into the extra travelling involved in membership of the NL North, Oxford City have spent the last two years in the bottom half of that table.

But they appear to have put those worries behind them after a summer rebuild and a fast start under manager Ross Jenkins.

Currently third in the table, they’ve conceded only eight goals in 13 league and cup games, and Saturday’s 3-0 win at Hebburn Town was their fifth in six away league matches.

The star of the show so far has been Marsh.

Back in 2015-2016, in a cash-strapped struggling NL Premier side under Kevin Nicholson, Marsh scored seven times from eleven starts here before moving on to a career which has seen him hit more than 130 goals for a series of non-League clubs.

He scored 26 for Bedford Town last season before returning to Oxford, where he had started his pro career as a teenager with United.

But Marsh, who’s scored eight in eleven this term, is far from the Hoops’ only threat.

Their attacking roster includes another ex-Gull in winger Dillon De Silva, veteran forwards Alfie Potter and Matt Taylor and a promising newcomer in 20-year-old Birmingham City loanee Briar Bateman.

They have also recently signed midfielder Fernando Forestieri, 36, whose CV includes spells in the top-flights in Italy and Spain, as well as Watford and Sheffield Wednesday.

And United had better have practised their defensive set-piece routines - 6ft 4in tall centre-back Ludwig Francillette already has four goals to his name.

Saturday’s referee is Robert Ablitt from Fareham, Hants.

Other ties involving Westcountry clubs include Plymouth Parkway at home to Chertsey Town, Leatherhead v Yeovil Town, Truro City away to Sutton United and Wimborne Town, managed by former Torquay centre-forward Tim Sills, at home to Chelmsford City.