Torquay's Screen Test Shows How Far The Gulls Have Come

As the outplayed Gulls traipsed out of Boreham Wood back in March following a blunt goalless draw, they seemed unrecognisable from the side who boasted an 11-point lead over the others a few weeks before.

While the glum faces departed the ground to meet the team coach, manager Gary Johnson was left to root around for any positives he could find.

They just need to stay in touch, he offered. The decorated boss knew that when the injury room emptied, their points return would swell.

Putting on a brave face, it couldn’t mask the concern.

We should have known that if things could capsize so quickly for a club racing off into the distance, chances are they could flip the other way as well.

Eight wins from nine, and the only dropped points a 98th minute leveller with ten men against Notts County, the side with a four point advantage are praying there is not one more twist in this epic season still to come.

But they meet another of the form sides in Saturday’s live match, and Bromley have not only won their last three on the road but last time out beat title-chasing Hartlepool United.

Torquay couldn’t have a better man at the helm to see them over the line.

The 65-year-old – a champion at this level with Yeovil Town and Cheltenham Town – wants to celebrate his 30th year in management with a third Step One winners’ medal.

When serial promotion winner Johnson talks run-ins, you listen.

“You might think there's not many games to go, but you can easily lose your position up there over four games," the Torquay boss told BBC Devon after Monday’s win at Chesterfield.

"There's sill 12 points to play for so you've got to keep your mind on it, you've got to keep the players' minds on it – they've got to do the right things on and off the pitch.

"They've got to make sacrifices, which they have done most of the season so far.

"We're at that stage where you can't have any shrinking violets, everybody's got to play their part.

"We call it 'mothering the goal'. You have to imagine your mum's in the goal and you don't want her to get hit by the ball so you block everything – you throw yourself in front of things and that's what the boys did.

"We've got that energy, we've got that passion, we've got that desire at this moment in time, but we've also got four games left so we mustn't get carried away. We know that if we keep going then we're doing our job.”

The new-manager bounce isn’t supposed to be lasting this long.

Andy Woodman, unlike his counterpart, is just getting going on his journey as a number one.

Replacing Neil Smith on the final day of March, one defeat in eight has seen the Hayes Lane club climb into the top seven.

They’ve won five of their last six and all the stats point to another BT Sport belter this weekend.

But Woodman says his staff are the ones due credit for what has gone on over the past two months.

Speaking after the 1-0 victory over Hartlepool, he said: “We had a game plan and again the guys have executed it.

“Alan Dunne and Roger Johnson have put hours in to make sure we had everything covered, so testament to them two. They deserve as much credit as the players, they’ve been brilliant.

“I’m really looking forward to playing against Torquay. Every team we play seems to be a top team. Other than Sutton United, all these clubs have played League football – and years of it.

“We’re battling against some big teams, but we’re loving every minute of it.

“We’ll go there and there will be one thing we give – that will be commitment and effort.”

PICTURES BY PINNACLE & BROMLEY FC