TT MATCH PREVIEW
Steve Harris – @steveharris84
Match details: Torquay United V Boreham Wood – National League
Venue: Plainmoor
Date: Saturday 14th November 2020
Kick-off: 3pm
Current Form (all competitions):
Torquay United: W – W – W – W – W – L
Boreham Wood: W – L – W – W – W – L
Leading scorers (all competitions):
Torquay: Danny Wright – 6
Boreham: Kabongo Tshimanga – 4
Head to Head:
Torquay: 4 Draw: 0 Boreham: 6
Last time the two teams met in the FA Cup: Torquay United 3 Boreham Wood 2, 19th October 2019 – FA Cup fourth qualifying round
Torquay United successfully saw off the threat of in-form Boreham Wood to book their place in the first round proper of the FA Cup. First half strikes from Jake Andrews and Jamie Reid set United on their way before Tyrone Marsh replied from the penalty spot. Ben Whitfield then added a decisive third for United, who were pegged back late on when defender Robbie Cundy scored an unfortunate own goal.
In what was the third meeting between the two sides in the space of 12 months, the Gulls carved out the first real chance of the game on 15 minutes when skipper Kyle Cameron nodded an Andrews’ free-kick over the bar.
Four minutes later, former United striker Marsh – who netted against the Gulls on the opening day of the campaign – fired wide for the visitors after being teed up by Jamal Fyfield.
In the 25th minute, a flick on from Cameron – following an Armani Little corner – was blocked on the line by Fyfield as United stepped up their search for an opener.
The Gulls drew first blood a minute later after a short corner routine involving Ben Whitfield and Frank Vincent set up Andrews, who received the ball on the edge of the penalty area and jinked inside before powering home his fifth of the season.
Two minutes later, United doubled their lead as Reid struck with a stunning left footed shot on the turn from the edge of the box to take his tally for the campaign to 11. Four minutes before the break, Sorba Thomas went close for the Wood but his effort was superbly blocked by Cundy.
Early in the second half, the Wood pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 50th minute through Marsh, after Kane Smith was adjudged to have been tripped by United keeper Shaun MacDonald.
United restored their two-goal cushion on 64 minutes when a cross from Vincent fell invitingly into the path of Whitfield who slotted home.
Boreham Wood then scored a slightly fortuitous late consolidation goal in injury time, as Cundy inadvertently turned a cross from Smith into his own net to set up a nervy finish.
Manager: Luke Garrard
Since succeeding Ian Allinson as manager of Boreham Wood in 2015, Luke Garrard has turned out a number of competitive sides on a regular basis during his five years in charge. In his first season in charge, the 2015-16 campaign, he steered the Wood to safety, which was followed by an 11th place finish in 2016-17. In the subsequent 2017-18 campaign, the Wood enjoyed arguably their finest season under his reign when they reached the National League play-off final, where they were beaten by Tranmere Rovers. Last season Garrard led the Wood to the play-offs again, where they were eliminated by FC Halifax Town in the quarter finals.
One to watch: Sorba Thomas
A product of the Wood’s PASE Academy, Sorba Thomas has established as one of the brightest young talents in the National League since breaking into the Wood’s first team in 2017. Thomas is a player who is at home on either, and this season he has mainly been used as a left wing-back. A whole host of league clubs are believed to be keeping tabs on him and Charlton Athletic had a bid for him turned down last month.
Possible line-ups:
Torquay (4-4-1-1)
Lucas Covolan
Ben Wynter – Kyle Cameron – Sam Sherring – Dean Moxey
Aaron Nemane – Asa Hall – Adam Randell – Ben Whitfield
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans
Danny Wright
——————————————————————————————————————
Boreham Wood (3-5-2)
Nathan Ashmore
Tom Champion – Jamal Fyfield – Femi Ilesanmi
Kane Smith – Gus Mafuta – Mark Ricketts – Corey Whitely – Sorba Thomas
Matt Rhead – Kabongo Tshimanga
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