NLS: Torquay United v Slough Town 3pm 5 Jan 2019

link - more details of fan zone

No surprises but I see Devon Live are reporting that Edwards and Niate are expected back for the Bath game but not before so same squad as for the New Year’s Day game.

I'm surprised that no-one has yet mentioned the fact that we have already, with just over half the season completed, reached the magical total of 50 points which is usually enough to claim being safe from relegation.

The transformation in results after P9, W3, D3, L3, F5, A4 to P15, W12, D3, L0, F42, A15, really is the stuff of dreams, and I wonder if any team in the history of the Football League structure has ever improved so rapidly following the appointment of a new manager but the addition of only three new players.

From watching the crap played under Owers to the expansive and exciting football encouraged by Johnson, I now find myself in the previously unthought of frame of mind of expecting us to win every match from now until the end of the season. If the lads can keep up their current pace and intensity, then there should be no need to worry about icebergs or banana skins.

I haven't felt this excited since the days of Sam and Don (56/57), Tom, Larry and Ernie (59/60) or Stubbsy and the two Johns (66/67), totally different styles of football though each of those seasons produced.

Bit worried about this one. Slough been in good form. Will need to be at our best today I think. Hoping for 3 points.

He was never going to join us last season because he was contracted to Cheltenham town.
And more importantly, there was a different mindset within the walls of PLAINMOOR at that time.
We have him now, so be thankful for the small mercies that fate decides

Another fantastic win and I again left Plainmoor well happy. But it is not just a case of winning, it's the quality of the performances that has a "wow" factor about them. I can only think of Leroy's Torquay that had this sort of quality about them. Buckle and Ling had winning teams and they were very good to watch in patches but today's Torquay are consistently brilliant. The quality of passing, short and long range, the team spirit, the commitment, the flair and skill to admire, the creativity, the immagination and the wonderful finishing. It's fantasy football really. I know some will say that it's only Conference South football but in recent years Torquay have been dismal against part-time opposition and have themselves looked part-time the way they used to fade in matches and be pretty clueless. These Conference South teams are well motivated and decent and still need to be dispatched. Slough proved to be decent opposition today and at half-time at 0-0 Torquay needed to find an extra gear. By the end Slough were lucky to get away with a 4-0 defeat! Crowd 2,364, 117 brilliant vocal supporters from Slough and with sponsors MOTM going to Gary Johnson and the whole Torquay United team!

Torquay played well and confidently in the first half but were not carving out many clear cut chances. Our best chances fell to Asa Hall from crosses but he failed to get his headers on target. Gary Johnson was serving a 2 game touchline ban and was sitting behind us in the directors box. I really like the look of centre back Sendles-White alongside the ever dependable Cameron, he reads the game very well and is calm on the ball. The main talking point was just before half-time. Harris, the number 9 for Slough, had fouled Davis in our half in front of the Pop side. Harris got booked much to the delight of the home crowd. Harris then responded to the Pop Siders by sticking the V sign with both hands very blatently for all the crowd and referee to see. Harris was then shown a straight red for his stupidity. Unbelievable! So Troquay had the whole of the second half playing against 10 men thanks to Harris antics.

Torquay played the second half with a better tempo and got the vital breakthrough. Full-back Wynter used to be one of our weak links but not anywhere and scored our opener in spectacular fashion. It was another corker similar to our goals against Truro. Wynter drove the ball first time outside the box just on our right that flew into to far side of the goal. It was a spectacular goal and just rewards for Wynters performaces over the last few weeks. He is very quick the way he gets into advances positions and is tidy on the ball - a typical modern full-back. Torquay tried to catch Slough on the counter attack on many occasions. Torquay's second goal was direct from a free-kick just outside the box in a central area. I had a good feeling about it so I managed to capture it on my mobile phone. Andrews stroked the ball inside the far post. The floodgates now opened and it was one way traffic with waves of Torquay attacks. Keating had replaced Janneh and Keating sadly showed lack of composure in the penalty box. He hit one clear shot horribly wide with the goal gaping. A little later Keating was clear again in the box but rather than shoot crossed the ball over every ones head. Reid joined in and missed the ball from a couple of yards out. At this stage Toruay were slicing Slough open at will. Keating finally scored but it was an open goal from a yard out and in added time Asa Hall finished off a similar passing move by slotting the ball home from close range.

So a match where it looked like Torquay could fail to break down a spirited Slough team ended up winning at a canter and it should have been a few more so Slough can consider themselves lucky. Clearly Harris did not help their cause and Torquay fully capitalized on this. Fair play to Slough, their fans were excellent and sung to the end and their keeper had some fun banter with the Torquay fans. The 4-0 score line might look straight forward now but Torquay had to work hard for the break through. Again, Torquay did not panic at 0-0 and eventually got their rewards with some superb finishing and then enjoyed themselves.