Torquay United aim high at Hemel Hempstead

United's 10th league game comes with the Gulls on a good run

Torquay United manager Gary Johnson always asks Gulls fans to give the team 10 games before making judgements on how well or how badly they are doing, and United go into their 11th game of the season on a high on Saturday.

In 10 games so far - nine in the league and one in the cup - Johnson’s team has won seven times, drawn once and lost twice, putting them third in the National League South table and through to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup.

On Saturday the in-form Gulls go to Hemel Hempstead for their 10th league outing of the season, having won six of the last seven in the league. Given a target of 20 points from the first 10 league games, United’s players have already bagged 19 from nine.

“It’s a good run,” said Johnson. “There’s no doubt about that.”

The Gulls boss believes his team can produce their best on any surface, and they will have to do it on another artificial pitch when they meet the Tudors at Vauxhall Road.

“Theirs is a good pitch,” he said. “And we mustn’t have any negatives about what we’re playing on. We’ve just got to play our game.

“Ten games is a good reflection of where we are, and a win on Saturday will put us in a really good position.

“Keep that going, and we’ll be there or thereabouts by the end of the season.”

Hemel are currently 10th in the table and have become the league’s draw specialists, tying four of their last five games. Their top scorer is Joe Iaciofano, with five goals so far.