Torquay United are hoping to get a gate of more than 4,000 for Saturday’s home game against Hemel Hempstead Town - after the Gulls went top of the National League South table for the first time this season.

The 2-0 home win against Farnborough shot the Gulls from third to top after Enfield Town scored a last-minute equaliser against Weston-super-Mare on Saturday.

Goals by Will Jenkins Davies and Jordan Young in seven minutes gave Torquay a 2-0 lead that never really looked in danger. And now the club has launched its ‘4K Challenge’ after a gate of 3,303 for that one. But manager Paul Wotton is concerned about a ‘new manager bounce’, something that often comes with a change of leadership at clubs, and Hemel have just appointed Lee Allinson, a good mate of Wotton’s, following the departure of Bobby Wilkinson at the struggling club. They come to Plainmoor in 17th place.

READ MORE: Tributes as ex-Torquay United goalkeeper dies from rare cancer

READ MORE: Devon Christmas party chaos as man ends up with dart in his eye

Wotton said: “He’s a good friend of mine, Lee Allinson, I have managed against him a lot when he was at Hendon, and he’s a good guy, someone I speak to on a weekly basis. I have got a lot of time for him and I am looking forward to seeing him.

“You definitely do get a new manager bounce, 100%. I am not sure how many games they hadn’t won for - I think it’s 13, 14 or 15 - and then they go and beat Weymouth 3-0, and comprehensively as well.

“The players he has brought in from Hendon, Joe White’s a good player, I know him having managed against him - and Lee’s a good guy and they will definitely get a response. So I think it makes a big difference to a game, definitely.

“We are working hard and as always we are very respectful of who we are playing. We will have to be at our best to get anything out of the game.

“Lots of teams raise their game when they play Torquay United anyway, that’s only going to be emphasised now because we are top of the league. There are two options, you either stay there or you get lower in the league, you can’t get higher - so it’s another challenge for us.

“I have got to be honest with you, I am not too concerned about where we are in the league right now, but the facts say we are top of the league. We are the eighth team to be top of the league this season and there will be lots more twists and turns.”

Squad wise, defender and wing back Finlay Craske, and goalkeeper Matt Wonnacott are recovering from long-term injuries, while striker Cody Cooke was 50-50 before the Farnborough game but played. Wotton says Cooke is fit for this one too - but loan right back Jordan Thomas is a doubt.

“We have a slight issue with JT, he hasn’t trained this week, but we are hopeful he will come through and be fit for Saturday. It’s nothing serious, if he is not fit we have got good cover to play there anyway,” Wotton.

One player ready to kick on now is Jenkins Davies, the 20-year-old who scored his fourth goal in four games against Farnborough, and signed a loan extension this week that will keep him at the club until the end of the season.

Wotton said: “We have been working really hard on it behind the scenes for the past month really. Plymouth Argyle have been very accommodating. We have got a good relationship down there so it’s a real big plus.”