Torquay United target redemption as Yeovil return

The Gulls were outclassed the last time the teams met

Torquay United manager Gary Johnson is urging his players to get some kind of redemption when they face Yeovil Town at Plainmoor in the FA Trophy on Saturday.

Ten days ago the Gulls were outclassed as runaway National League South leaders Yeovil came to Plainmoor and won a one-sided league match 3-1.

Torquay were outplayed in every department that day, but Johnson says he saw enough to believe his team can make amends in the cup tie.

“We had a couple of good chances to get the game back against them at Plainmoor,” said Johnson. “We’re looking forward to the game on Saturday.
“We’ve got the opportunity to show that we can be better than last time.”

Torquay have been FA Trophy finalists before - losing by the only goal to Ebbsfleet at Wembley in 2008 - but it is a competition that takes a long time to win over the fans.

United have cut admission prices for the tie, but Plainmoor is unlikely to be hosting a big crowd.

Just 768 people watched the Gulls beat Chippenham in their opening Trophy tie last year.

But Johnson loves the competition, which gave him his first silverware as a manager, with Yeovil in 2002.

“Everybody wants a Trophy run if they can, and we’re no different,” he said.

“Our number one priority is, of course, getting promotion, but I’ve never gone into any game hoping to lose, and that means that on Saturday the priority is the Trophy.”

Yeovil may well make changes to their squad for the match, and Johnson may give some game time to some of his fringe players.

Injuries have robbed the team of some key personnel, but the likes of Fleetwood loanees Callum Dolan and Theo Williams could seize the chance to shine, along with new signing Ethon Archer, who made his Gulls debut in the 2-0 win at Havant & Waterlooville last weekend.

United look likely to have an established goalkeeper back between the sticks as Mark Halstead and Rhys Lovett recover from injury, but Johnson has been full of praise for third-choice Filip Chalupniczak, who came off the bench to save a crucial penalty last Saturday.

The Gulls boss may well spring some surprises with his selection.

He said: “Sometimes these competitions give people an opportunity to show what they’ve got, and put themselves in the frame for regular games.”