Torquay United go to Worthing on Saturday in the last 32 of the FA Trophy, with Paul Wotton still ‘being boring’ about his team being a million miles away from where he wants it to be.

It’s a line that the manager has turned to over and over in the first half of the season, and he said ‘ Torquay need to get better’ again after the 1-0 win against Truro City on New Year’s Day.

But with the Gulls at the top of the National League South table and having more than 5,000 fans inside Plainmoor for the Truro win - things are pretty good at the start of 2025. Do you get the feeling Mr Wotton would want more from his team whatever their position at whatever standard?

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Of course, that is the right way to approach every game, be it a promotion six-pointer against Truro or a fourth round FA Trophy game against Worthing. Torquay would certainly liked to have been playing Gosport Borough from the Southern League at this stage of the competition, but the Hampshire side were thrown out after playing an ineligible player against Worthing in the last round. Gosport beat the National League South side in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw at Woodside Road before being disappointed and cast out.

An appeal was launched by Tonbridge Angels, who Gosport beat in the previous round when the same player was in action - so it was only this week that Torquay’s opponents were confirmed. But now, Worthing it is, and a tougher game for Torquay - but one they will be determined to win and move on in the competition. A National South title and FA Trophy double with a win at Wembley should not be discounted yet.

Going into this tie, Torquay are on a 13-game unbeaten run, after a great Christmas and New Year period, and Wotton always wants more. “I am still disappointed that we dropped two points at Weymouth, but I have watched that game back and arguably it was the best we have played for three or four games,” he said.

“We are always trying to get better, we are a million miles away. I say it every week and it’s boring, but we are not where we want to be. I’ll tell you what. The boys work hard, they have got a real honesty. So I will always be proud of them for that.”

There has been an update about loan players, with Finn Tonks returning to AFC Bournemouth and Keke Jeffers going back to Stoke City, both after the end of their initially agreed spells. Young Torquay striker Jaydn Crosbie is staying at Southern League Premier Division South side Gloucester City until the end of the season and Brad Ash remains out on loan at Bath City.

Another loan player, Jordan Thomas, picked up two yellow cards in the game against Truro but will be available for Worthing before being suspended for the home game against Welling United next weekend.

Worthing beat Dorking Wanderers and Enfield Town over the Christmas period, but drew 0-0 against Eastbourne Borough. That haul of festive points took Worthing up to fourth in the table. They will certainly be tougher opponents that Gosport might have been.