TT PREVIEW
Steve Harris – @steveharris84
Match details: Torquay United V Sutton United – National League
Venue: Plainmoor
Date: Saturday 16th November 2019
Kick-off: 3pm
National League form (last 6):
Torquay United: W – W – L – W – W – W
Sutton United: L – D – L – L – L – L
Last time the two teams met: Torquay United 2 Sutton United 3, 20th February 2018 – National League
On what was an evening to forget for the Gulls, the U’s came away as 3-2 winners thanks to a late penalty from skipper Jamie Collins. After conceding first following Byron Harrison’s sixth minute goal for the U’s, efforts from Sean McGinty and Brett Williams had given United a 2-1 lead before Simon Walton responded deep into first half injury time. As the second half ticked on Torquay looked set to secure what would have been a valuable draw, but referee Sam Allison adjudged that Liam Davis had felled Louis John in the penalty area and Collins converted the resulting spot-kick to give Sutton all three points.
Manager: Matt Gray
After spells as assistant manager at Eastleigh, Aldershot Town and Crawley Town, Matt Gray took on his first managerial role with the U’s in the summer of 2019 following the departure of Paul Doswell.
He started his playing career with Tottenham Hotspur and then went on to appear for Cardiff City, Hayes and Havant and Waterlooville before he was forced to retire early through injury at the age of 25.
One to watch: Harry Beautyman
Currently in his second spell with the U’s, Harry Beautyman is Sutton’s leading scorer at the time of writing with six goals from midfield. After beginning his career with Leyton Orient, Beautyman originally joined the U’s in 2011 and stayed until 2013 when he joined Welling United, before returning to the Football League to sign for Peterborough United in 2015. Spells at Northampton Town and Stevenage followed, before Beautyman made the return to Gander Green Lane in 2018.
Classic encounter: Torquay United 4 Sutton United 0, 22nd November 1989 – FA Cup 1st round replay
One season on from Sutton’s famous FA Cup run which included a memorable win over Coventry City in the 3rd round, the Gulls avoided a similar fate in the first encounter at Gander Green Lane thanks to a volley from John Uzzell. The replay at Plainmoor four days later saw the Gulls run out as emphatic 4-0 winners, as Phil Lloyd opened the scoring. Jimmy Smith helped himself to a brace and Matt Elliott completed the scoring to set up a trip to Basingstoke Town in the 2nd round. This was then followed by the famous Paul Hirons inspired 1-0 win over West Ham United in round three.
Possible line-ups:
TUFC (4-4-2)
Lucas Covolan
Ben Wynter – Robbie Cundy – Kyle Cameron – Ramarni Medford-Smith
Ben Whitfield – Matt Buse – Frank Vincent – Jake Andrews
Jamie Reid – Saikou Janneh
Sutton (4-4-2)
Jamie Butler
Craig Eastmond – Dan Goodliffe – Daniel Matsuzaka – Rob Milsom
Jon Barden – Kenny Davis – Harry Beautyman – Will Randall
Kyel Reid – Omar Bugiel
COYY – Steve
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