A 2-0 triumph over Cambridge United in the Blue Square Premier play-off final saw Torquay United back in the Football League again after a mere two years away. The Plainmoor club were led back into the big time by manager Paul Buckle, himself a former pla
A 2-0 triumph over Cambridge United in the Blue Square Premier play-off final saw Torquay United back in the Football League again after a mere two years away, writes MIKE SIMMONDS.
The Plainmoor club were led back into the big time by manager Paul Buckle, himself a former player with the Gulls.
Buckle, 38, is now starting his third season in charge, and after leading them to the Blue Square play-offs in his first two campaigns, it has been a successful tenure to date.
The League Two campaign couldn't have got off to a better start for Torquay, as they dispatched Chesterfield 2-0 in their opening game of the season.
A battling 2-1 reverse at Championship side Crystal Palace in the Carling Cup followed, but even then the Gulls were only beaten by a 78th minute penalty.
Buckle has only recruited one player to the side that went up last year, with striker Scott Rendell moving on a season-long loan deal from Peterborough.
He netted in the win over Chesterfield, and has scored goals at every club he's been at, including 15 in 28 appearances for Cambridge last season.
Alongside Rendell is Tim Sills, who has become a firm favourite with the Field Mill faithful after joining from Hereford in June 2007.
The popular striker opened his account at Palace on Tuesday night, and now has 38 goals in 105 games for Torquay.
There is an experienced core running through the Gulls side, with the likes of Wayne Carlisle, Chris Hargreaves and Scott Bevan all well versed in the Football League.
DAGGERS TEAM NEWS
Josh Scott will be looking for a start after scoring at Cardiff in the week, as there remain doubts over the fitness of Jon Nurse.
Wesley Thomas is also in contention, but this match will again be too soon for either Anwar Uddin or Mark Nwokeji.
FRIENDLY FACES
Scott Bevan - although the goalkeeper has never actually played for Daggers, striker Paul Benson will have good memories of an encounter at Kidderminster back in 2007, when he scored, against Bevan, from near enough the corner flag!
WE'VE MET BEFORE
As with the first two matches this season, this is Daggers' first ever competitive match against Torquay.
ONE TO WATCH
Scott Rendell - already up and running this season, and the livewire has constantly been amongst the goals wherever he has played.
FROM THE DUGOUT
"It was only the second game of the season and to go a game and a half against two very good sides in Chesterfield and Palace is a fair old time without conceding a goal," Torquay boss Paul Buckle.
PREDICTION
An end-to-end affair with Daggers being held to a 2-2 draw.
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