A dismal campaign in the National League during 2017-18 has left Torquay United down at the sixth tier of English football, but there is every sign that the South-coast outfit are going to earn an immediate return to their previous division. Gary Johnson has worked wonders since his arrival in September and the Seagulls now sit one point clear of Woking, who also suffered relegation from the National League last season. The two teams already have one hand on a playoff spot, but their ambitions will be to lift the title later in the year and they will not want to waste opportunities against two struggling sides on March 2.
The form guide for this weekend's National League South fixtures suggests that Torquay should be having little issues with dealing with Weston-Super-Mare. The two teams did play out a 2-2 draw back in October - and Weston-Super-Mare came as close as anyone to ending Johnson's unbeaten run at the start of his reign - but Torquay have only improved as the season has progressed and have won nine of their last 11 matches. Weston-Super-Mare have been much improved since the start of 2019 with eight points coming from their seven league matches, but it is difficult to see the visitors coping with Torquay's free-scoring attack. It is also worth noting that Torquay have not registered a draw in the league since November 3.
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Woking's trip to Hungerford Town will represent their third game on the road in the space of a week, and there will be question marks over their energy levels until they take to the pitch on Saturday afternoon. Alan Dowson's men returned from a 500-mile round trip to Truro City with a 1-0 victory, but a midweek journey of that length is certainly not ideal preparation. That said, Woking have won four of their last five games and although they have only netted once in their last two matches, you have to back them to prevail at Hungerford, who currently sit third from bottom in the standings and have lost five of their last six fixtures.
Coincidentally, third-placed Billericay Town also square off against the other team in the relegation zone in East Thurrock United. The Essex-based outfit have played one game more than the top two but there will be a desire to maintain their recent positive form in order to capitalise on any mistakes from Torquay and Woking. A total of 17 points have come from their last seven outings in the National League South, and we expect them to score several goals against an East Thurrock side who have registered just one point from four matches.
