Returning players boost for Torquay United ahead of Dorking showdown

Hamstrung by injuries, illness and two suspensions for his first match as Torquay United’s manager at Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday, Jimmy Ball has been doing his utmost to muster a stronger squad to face National League South leaders Dorking Wanderers at Plainmoor on Tuesday night.

Loanee defender Will Tizzard should be available after his ban, which will reduce the weekend’s ‘absent’ list of eight by one.

Ball says he’s hoping that, following the reappearance of centre-back Sam Dreyer at Dagenham after ankle trouble, one or two more may report back fit.

One of those could be leading scorer Jordan Young, who missed the 1-0 defeat at Dagenham because of a bout of sickness.

Ball, who is expected to name his new assistant soon, has also been trying to add at least one more new signing to follow the arrival of centre-forward Deon Moore from Maidstone United.

He will surely need the strongest squad he can lay his hands on against a Dorking team which starts the night six points clear with seven games to go.

It was only a few weeks ago that Gulls fans were looking forward to this rearranged match as crucial to the title ambitions of both clubs.

It still is for Marc White’s Wanderers.

But United have slipped to seventh place and, even though only five points cover Worthing in second down to Weston-super-Mare in eighth, the pressure is now on the Gulls to make sure they make the Play-Offs.

Even Dorking, who took 23 points from nine games to go top last month, have got the jitters recently.

A 2-0 defeat at Maidenhead at the weekend leaves them on two wins from six matches.

But after a run of injuries which threatened to derail their season, White has got a couple of regulars, including goalscoring midfielder Charlie Carter and veteran centre-forward Paul McCallum, back to join a raft of signings he made to cover for them.

The latest is pacy winger Sam Pearson, a player ex-Gulls boss Paul Wotton tried to sign before he joined Weston and then Eastleigh last year.

If there’s one problem that White shouldn’t have, it’s filling his bench, something United haven’t been able to do for eight matches.

Torquay v Dorking isn’t the only game affecting promotion this midweek.

Hornchurch (4th) go to Chesham and Worthing (2nd) are away to Weston, who gave their hopes a boost with a 3-1 win at PO rivals Ebbsfleet on Saturday.

In-form Hemel Hempstead, now up to third, also travel to relegation threatened Bath City, who have just sacked their manager Darren Way.

Tuesday’s referee at Plainmoor is Steven Swan from Cornwall.