TT MATCH PREVIEW
Steve Harris – @steveharris84
Match details: Wealdstone FC V Torquay United – National League
Venue: Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip
Date: Tuesday 1st December 2020
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Current Form (last six – all competitions):
Wealdstone: W, W, W, L, D, L
Torquay United: W, W, W, L, D, W
Leading goal-scorers:
Wealdstone: Moses Emmanuel/ Danny Parish – 4
Torquay: Danny Wright – 6
Head to Head:
Wealdstone: 0 Draw: 0 Torquay: 2
Last time the two teams met: Saturday 30th March 2019, Torquay United 3 Wealdstone 2 – National League South
Torquay United remain top of National League South after inflicting Wealdstone’s first defeat on their travels since November 17th 2018 to open up a four-point gap over second placed Woking.
The Gulls took the lead on 29 minutes when skipper Asa Hall picked out Ruairi Keating, whose cross found Kalvin Kalala who volleyed home a powerful strike that Stones’ keeper Jonathan North was unable to keep out despite getting a hand to it.
United doubled their lead in the 37th minute when Jamie Reid raced onto a ball over the top from Keating and broke free of the Wealdstone backline before slotting home.
Four minutes before the interval, the Stones pulled one back through Jeffrey Monakana after the Gulls defence failed to clear a corner from Daniel Green.
In the 70th minute, United restored their two-goal cushion when substitute Jean Yves Koue Niate headed home a corner from Connor Lemonheigh-Evans. Three minutes later, the Gulls were denied a fourth from the penalty spot after Reid saw his spot kick saved by North after he was upended by Rhys Tyler.
Wealdstone once again reduced their arrears to a single goal on 75 minutes when skipper Jerome Okimo turned home a Green corner.
United nearly added a fourth in injury time when Lemonheigh-Evans hit the post as they clinched a valuable three points.
Manager: Dean Brennan
A familiar opponent of United’s from the 2018-19 National League South title winning season, Dean Brennan crossed paths with the Gulls twice during their National League South title winning season. Firstly as manager of Hemel Hempstead and later on when he was in charge of Billericay Town.
Dublin-born Brennan first came to England with Sheffield Wednesday in 1999, where he impressed at youth and reserve team level but failed to break into the first team with the Owls. He then went on to make a handful of appearances for Luton Town before dropping down into the non-league scene. He had spells with a number of clubs including Stevenage, Grays Athletic, Lewes, AFC Wimbledon, Cambridge City, Chesham United and Hemel Hempstead. While at Grays, he helped them to win the FA Trophy in 2005.
As a manager, Brennan took charge of Hemel Hempstead in 2012 – he had a brief caretaker spell in charge of the Tudors in 2010 – and led them to the Southern League title in the 2013-14 campaign.
After establishing Hemel Hempstead in National League South, Brennan was appointed as manager of Billericay Town by their then owner Glenn Tamplin in September 2018. He was later sacked after four months in charge. A brief stint as manager of Kingstonian followed before he took charge of the Stones, who he led to the National League South title in the 2019-20 season.
One to watch: Moses Emmanuel
It was with Bromley where Moses Emmanuel first made his name at National League level in the 2015-16 season. Many Gulls’ fans will no doubt remember when he famously found the back in the net four times for Bromley in their 7-3 win over United at Plainmoor in the wake of Paul Cox’s departure. Since then Emmanuel remained a regular fixture at National League level with Dover Athletic, Sutton United and Maidenhead United (loan) before dropping back down to National League South with Billericay (where he played under Brennan) and Welling United. He was reunited with Brennan at Wealdstone in the 2019-20 campaign and he helped them to win National League South.
TORQUAYTALK 