Goalkeeper Mark Halstead is hoping his side’s recent form will help them continue their Isuzu FA Trophy momentum against Barnet on Saturday.
Whilst Dean Brennan’s side – the highest-ranked team left in the competition – will pose a sizeable threat to Torquay’s Trophy aspirations, victory for The Gulls on Saturday would leave Gary Johnson’s men just two victories away from a trip to Wembley Stadium in May.
For Mark, who has been in impressive form throughout the course of the current campaign, United’s recent performances put them in good stead for the challenge that lies ahead this weekend, despite a narrow defeat to leaders Notts County last time out.
“When you’re playing every week, and we’ve picked up a bit of form, it shows how far we’ve come over the last few months,” said Halstead.
“Taking the team top of the table all the way, and I feel that we should’ve got something from the game, that showed how far we’ve come, compared to the start of the season.”
Aiding their recent improvement has been the displays of an increasingly resilient backline, where Shaun Donnellan, loan signing Nico Lawrence and stand-in skipper Dean Moxey have all been earning rave reviews of late.
“We’re very settled. Compared to the start of the season when we were shipping a lot of goals and we looked very open, we seem to be very settled and very solid, and we don’t look like conceding many at the minute, which is a good thing for all of us.
“I think Nico has come in and done very well. He’s slotted into the centre of the back three very well, and obviously we’ve got the experience of Moxey, and Shaun’s been brilliant this season. I think it’s good we’ve got a settled back three. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and we’ve got a good relationship between us now.”
Whilst the popular glovesman makes it clear he won’t be afraid to repeat his late dashes into the opposition box if required, – as he did for a late corner against County – Halstead is hoping his teammates can secure the result without the need for any late heroics, in their bid for a last-eight spot.
“It is a target, obviously the league situation isn’t great at the minute, and it’s a break from that.
“It gives us a different target, and if we get through this, there’s not many so-called big teams left in it ,and I feel like we’ve got a good chance to go all the way – Wembley is a good day out for everyone.
“Obviously I don’t want to be in that situation where we’re trailing a game into the last few minutes – but I back myself to get up and head one in this season!”