TT MATCH PREVIEW
Steve Harris – @SteveHarris84
Match details: Maidenhead United versus Torquay United
Venue: York Road, Maidenhead
Date: Tuesday 8th December 2020
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Current form (all competitions):
Maidenhead: D, D, L, D, L, W
Torquay United: D, L, W, L, L, D
Top scorers:
Maidenhead: Sam Barratt/ Danilo Orsi-Dadomo 9 each
Torquay: Asa Hall 10
Head to Head:
Torquay: 3
Draw: 0
Maidenhead: 1
Last time the two teams met: Torquay United 2 – 1 Maidenhead United, 8th December 2020
The Gulls extended their lead at the top of the National League to five points with victory over fourth-placed Maidenhead.
United made a strong start and enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, with Ben Whitfield and Kyle Cameron both being denied by visiting goalkeeper Taye Ashby-Hammond while Danny Wright fired wide. On the stroke of half-time, the Gulls finally made their dominance count when an exquisite pass from Asa Hall found Whitfield who opened the scoring to set United on their way.
In the second half, Torquay continued to look threatening as an outstanding double save from Ashby-Hammond denied Connor Lemonheigh-Evans from close range. The hosts doubled their advantage just before the hour mark when Wright headed in a cross from Adam Randell’s to score his seventh goal of the season. Maidenhead set up a nervy final seven minutes as Shaun Donnellan headed home Josh Smile’s corner – but Torquay held on to claim a fourth consecutive win which extended their unbeaten run to 10 league games.
Manager: Alan Devonshire
As a player, Alan Devonshire made his name with West Ham United who he joined from non-league side Southall in 1976 when the Hammers paid £5,000 for his services. While at the Boleyn Ground, he helped the Hammers win promotion back to the top-flight and reach the 1981 League Cup final in the 1980-81 season. Devonshire was also part of the West Ham side that finished third in the ‘old’ First Division in the 1985-86 campaign.
Devonshire is currently in his second spell in charge of Maidenhead, he previously managed them between 1996 and 2003, after returning to York Road in 2015. He led them to the National League South title in the 2016-17 season. In between his two spells in charge of the Magpies he managed Hampton and Richmond (2003-2011) and Braintree Town (2011-2015).
One to watch: Nathan Blissett
A player who will be fondly remembered for the part he played in the Gulls’ ‘great escape’ of the 2015-16 campaign, Nathan Blissett scored eight goals in 17 appearances to help United spectacularly avoid relegation under Kevin Nicholson – following his arrival at Plainmoor in January 2016 after his release by Bristol Rovers.
His form for United would earn him a £30,000 move to Plymouth Argyle in January 2017, where he helped the Pilgrims win promotion to League One in the 2016-17 season. He then went onto appear for Macclesfield Town, where he won a National League title winner’s medal in 2017-18 and Solihull Moors before signing for Maidenhead in the summer of 2020.
Probable line-ups:
Maidenhead (4-4-2):
Taye Ashby-Hammond
Remy Clerima – Manny Parry – Alan Massey – George Wells
James Comley – Rohan Ince – Ryan Upward – Dan Sparkes
Josh Coley – Nathan Blissett
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Torquay (3-5-2):
Shaun MacDonald
Ben Wynter – Joe Lewis – Sam Sherring
Adam Randell – Armani Little – Asa Hall – Connor Lemonheigh-Evans – Ben Whitfield
Billy Waters – Scott Boden
