TT MATCH PREVIEW
Steve Harris – @Steveharris84
Match details: Sutton Utd V Torquay United
Venue: Plainmoor
Date: Tuesday 26th January 2021
Kick-off: 7pm
Current form (last six all competitions):
Torquay United: W, W, W, L, W, D
Sutton United: W, L, W, D, W, W
Top scorers:
Torquay: Danny Wright – 8
Sutton: Isaac Oleofe – 7
Head to Head:
Torquay: 2 Draw: 1 Sutton: 6
Last time the two teams met: Saturday 7th March, 2020, Sutton United 2 Torquay United 0 – National League
Sutton overtook Torquay in the National League table after maintaining a first half advantage to secure victory at Gander Green Lane.
Robert Milson took the initiative after 19 minutes, when he connected with a Harry Beautyman ball to slot home a low shot past Torquay keeper Shaun MacDonald. Will Randall then doubled the U’s lead in the 37th minute with a free-kick.
Sutton continued to be the dominant side throughout the second half and were kept at bay by a handful of neat saves from MacDonald.
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.
Following a 15th place finish in the first season in charge, the U’s are currently second in the Vanarama National League table for the 2020-21 campaign.
One to watch: Harry Beautyman
Currently in his second spell with the U’s, Harry Beautyman’s goal-scoring threat from midfield has played a major role in establishing Sutton as a force to be reckoned with in the National League.
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. He has found the back of the net 28 times from the middle of the park over the past three seasons.
Possible line-ups:
Torquay (4-4-1-1)
Shaun MacDonald
Sam Sherring – Gary Warren – Kyle Cameron – Dean Moxey
Aaron Nemane – Adam Randell – Asa Hall – Ben Whitfield
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans
Rob Street
—————————————————————————————————
Sutton (4-4-2)
Dean Bouzanis
Jonathan Barden – Ben Goodliffe – Louis John – Rob Milsom
David Ajiboye – Craig Eastmond – Harry Beautyman – Will Randall
Omar Bugiel – Isaac Olaofe
