TT Match Preview
Steve Harris – @steveharris84
Match details: Torquay United versus Chesterfield
Venue: Plainmoor, Torquay
Date: Tuesday 13th October 2020
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Current Form (so far):
Torquay: W, L, W
Chesterfield: L, W
Leading scorers:
Torquay: Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, Sam Sherring, Adam Randell, Danny Wright 1 each
Chesterfield: Tom Denton, Luke Rawson 2 each
Head to Head:
Torquay: 10
Draw: 13
Chesterfield: 20
Last time the two teams met: Saturday 21st December, 2019 Torquay United 0 Chesterfield 3
Chesterfield set their sights on another escape from relegation as they boosted their National League survival hopes with a victory over ten-man Torquay United.
A Jack McKay strike within the opening 50 seconds gave Chesterfield a dream start. This was then followed by headed efforts from Curtis Weston and Hayden Hollis in the second half. This saw them secure their first win since mid-October against a Gulls’ side reduced to ten men following Saikou Janneh’s dismissal late in the first half.
Manager: John Pemberton
Former Sheffield United full-back John Pemberton is embarking on his first full season in charge of the Spireites after replacing John Sheridan midway through the 2019-20 campaign.
As a player, Pemberton was released by Manchester United as a youngster before working his way back up to the top-flight through spells with non-league Chadderton, Rochdale and Crewe Alexandra. He was part of the Crewe side who drew 2-2 with the Gulls on the final day of the 1986-87 season, as United completed their now infamous ‘great escape’.
He then went onto feature for Crystal Palace, who he played for in the 1990 FA Cup final against Manchester United. He then went on to play for Sheffield United and Leeds United before ending his career back at Crewe in the 1997-98 season.
His coaching career saw him manage Nottingham Forest’s reserve side, as well as having a brief stint as caretaker manager following the dismissal of Colin Calderwood. This was followed by a spell as academy manager of Sheffield United – which saw him lead the Blades to the 2012 FA Youth Cup final. He would later have two spells as caretaker manager of Bristol City in 2013 and 2016 respectively before he was appointed as Chesterfield’s academy manager and briefly took over as caretaker manager in the wake of Martin Allen’s dismissal in 2018. A brief period as Kidderminster Harriers then followed for Pemberton before he was appointed as caretaker manager of the Spireites for a second time after John Sheridan was sacked, which led to him being appointed on a permanent basis in February 2020.
One to watch: Tom Denton
Born in West Yorkshire, Denton spent his youth career at Wakefield before signing for Huddersfield Town in 2008. After leaving the Terriers in 2010, he played for several other clubs including Alfreton Town and Worksop Town before joining North Ferriby Town in July 2014. He went on to win the FA Trophy with the Villagers in 2015 – despite missing a penalty in their shoot-out victory over Wrexham in the final. Denton then joined FC Halifax Town in 2016, where he scored 27 goals in 74 appearances as he helped the Shaymen win promotion from National League North before returning to Alfreton in July 2018. He made less than ten appearances for the club before signing for the Spireites for an undisclosed fee in the following September.
The Stream:
Probable line-ups:
Torquay (4-4-2):
Lucas Covolan
Ben Wynter – Kyle Cameron – Sam Sherring – Jake Andrews;
Aaron Nemane – Connor Lemonheigh-Evans – Adam Randell – Ben Whitfield;
Danny Wright – Louis Britton
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Chesterfield (3-5-2):
Kyle Letheren
Laurence Maguire – Will Evans – Jamie Sherman;
Jordan Cropper – Jonathan Smith – Curtis Weston – Milan Butterfield – David Buchanan;
Alex Kiwomya – Tom Denton
TORQUAYTALK 