TT MATCH PREVIEW
Steve Harris – @SteveHarris84
Match details: Altrincham versus Torquay United
Venue: Moss Lane, Altrincham
Date: Saturday 29th May 2021
Kick-off: 12.30pm
Current form (all competitions):
Altrincham: L, D, L, L, W, D
Torquay United: W, W, W, D, D, D
Top scorers:
Altrincham: Josh Hancock 12
Torquay: Asa Hall 13
Head to Head:
Altrincham: 3
Draw: 3
Torquay: 3
Last time the two teams met: Torquay United 1 – 2 Altrincham, Tuesday February 2, 2021
Torquay United had a rare, but real, off-night as in-form Altrincham came from behind to beat Gary Johnson’s leaders in a scrappy match at wet and windy Plainmoor – despite going down to ten men late on.
Kyle Cameron’s opportunist effort gave Torquay the lead midway through the first half. However, the game was soon turned on its head following a Josh Hancock penalty and a Ryan Colclough strike just before the break. Both goals ultimately proved to be decisive – despite Alty skipper Jake Moult being dismissed for a second yellow card with four minutes to go – as Alty extended their unbeaten run to five matches.
Manager: Phil Parkinson
Since he was appointed as Altrincham boss on April 28, 2017, Phil Parkinson has overseen two promotions in the space of three seasons, which has seen Alty return to the National League for the first time since 2016. In the 2017-18 season, Altrincham won the Northern Premier League title and they followed up this achievement by winning promotion from the National League North through the play-offs in the 2019-20 campaign. They have since consolidated their place in the National League during the 2020-21 season.
After starting out as a player with Crewe Alexandra and Reading, Parkinson spent a year with Port Vale before making his name at Nantwich Town, who he captained to FA Vase glory in 2006, which was followed by promotions from the North West Counties League and the Unibond Northern League Division One.
He later took over as manager of Nantwich in 2015 and led them to the semi-finals of the FA Trophy in the 2015-16 season. He led them to the Northern Premier League play-offs in the 2016-17 campaign, where they were beaten by Spennymoor United.
One to watch: Matty Kosylo
Position: Left Winger.
Date of Birth: Aug 17, 1992 – 28 Years Old
Height: 1.73.
Former Clubs: Stockport, Salford, Ashton United, Vauxhall Motors, Hyde FC, Droylsden, Nantwich Town, Halifax Town, Fylde, Altrincham.
International: English.
National League Stats 20-21: Played 30, Goals 3.
Attacking midfielder Matty Kosylo started his career with Stockport County before enjoying spells with Salford City, Hyde United, Ashton United and Vauxhall Motors before making his name at Nantwich Town under current Altrincham boss Phil Parkinson. After being named as the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League young player of the year for 2016, he earned a move to FC Halifax Town and helped the Shaymen to win promotion from National League North in his first season. After making 79 league appearances and scoring 24 goals, Kosylo left the Shay in 2019 to sign for AFC Fylde. After being released by the Coasters following their relegation from the National League in 2020, he joined Altrincham at the start of the 2020-21 season.
View from the Sofa by Sam Jones:
All eyes on the playoffs now. After 3 consecutive draws, United blew their title chances and Sutton took full advantage. All credit where it’s due, they kept it up all season, when most people thought they’d fall off. Back to Torquay, and this game is all about damage limitation. Try and win, don’t get any injuries and focus on the big one next week. We’re the best team in the League, and we’d have won the title in February if it wasn’t for injuries, but we need to make sure we show that we are.
Probable line-ups:
Altrincham (4-2-3-1):
Tony Thompson
Jake Moult – Joel Senior – Reagan Ogle – Toby Mullarkey
Alistair Smith – Connor Kirby
Dan Mooney – Matty Kosylo – Ryan Colclough
Josh Hancock
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Torquay (4-4-1-1):
Lucas Covolan
Ben Wynter – Sam Sherring – Joe Lewis – Dean Moxey
Adam Randell – Asa Hall – Armani Little – Jake Andrews
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans
Scott Boden
TORQUAYTALK 