Torquay full of confidence as Tudors pay a visit

United have won six of their last seven games

Torquay United will be full of confidence heading into Saturday afternoon’s home game against Hemel Hempstead in National League South.

The Tudors will be the first team to play Torquay twice in the league this season, and the visitors will be hoping for a repeat of the outcome in the previous game, when they scored two late goals to snatch a 3-2 win.

That ushered in a poor spell for Torquay, but they have steadied the ship since then and Gary Johnson’s side have won six of their last seven games in all competitions.

“Once you get a bit of good form going, the confidence comes back,” said Johnson. “You start really looking forward to the next game.”

Torquay’s team selection will be interesting again, as the squad grapples with a long injury list.

Kevin Dawson, Jack Stobbs, Asa Hall and Aaron Jarvis are long-term casualties, but there is every chance that Tom Lapslie and Brad Ash could be back in the reckoning, while Finley Craske and Dan Martin are close to returns.

Johnson relied heavily on youth players for last Saturday’s 4-1 FA Trophy win at Frome, and one or more of his young prospects could make the bench for the Hemel Hempstead game.

But the Gulls boss never shows his hand until the last minute and the team will be a mystery right up until the sheets are handed in an hour before kick-off.

One player sure to feature, though, is Will Jenkins Davies. The young midfielder is back at Plainmoor for a second loan spell from Plymouth Argyle, the first having been cut short by injury.

Ironically, his last touch of the ball before injury was to score Torquay’s opener at Hemel Hempstead in September.