TT PREVIEW
Steve Harris – @steveharris84
Match details: Torquay United versus Wealdstone
Venue: Plainmoor, Torquay
Date: Saturday 1st October 2021
Kick-off: 3pm
Wealdstone fact file:
Year founded: 1899
Nickname: The Stones
Last season’s league finish: 19th in National League
Notable honours:
Alliance Premier League/Conference/National League:
Winners: 1984-85
National League South:
Winners: 2019-20
Isthmian League Premier Division:
Winners: 2013-14
Head-to-Head:
Torquay: 3 Draw: 1 Wealdstone: 0
Current Form (last six):
Torquay: 17th – L, W, L, L, W, D Wealdstone: 14 – D, D, W, L, D, W
Top scorer:
Torquay: Armani Little (4) Wealdstone: Josh Umerah (5)
Manager: Stuart Maynard
Stuart Maynard is currently in his first full campaign in charge of Wealdstone after he replaced Dean Brennan, after he was initially appointed as caretaker manager midway through the 2020-21 season. He had previously worked alongside Brennan at Hemel Hempstead Town, Billericay Town and Kingstonian. Maynard also had a playing spell with the Stones in the 1999-00 season, following his release by Watford, and spent the bulk of his time as a player in the South East non-league scene.
Player to watch: Josh Umerah
Position: Striker
Height: 1.85m
Date of Birth: 8th Mar, 1997 – 24 Years Old
Birthplace: London
Former Clubs: Charlton, Kilmarnock, Wycombe, Boreham Wood, Charlton, Ebbsfleet, Torquay
International: N/A
National League Stats 21-22: Played 8, Goals 5, Yellow/Red Cards 2/0
A familiar face to Gulls fans from his spell at Plainmoor last season, Josh Umerah joined United in the summer of 2020 from Ebbsfleet United. He had previously started out with Charlton Athletic and had loan spells with Kilmarnock, Wycombe Wanderers and Boreham Wood.
During his season at Plainmoor, Umerah scored four goals in 29 appearances in all competitions – including one in United’s 6-5 defeat in the FA Cup first round tie against Crawley Town.
Old boys:
Torquay: None
Wealdstone: Matt Buse, Josh Umerah
Last meeting: Torquay United 1 – 1 Wealdstone – 9th February 2021
GOALS: TUFC – Waters (90+1); WFC – Mendy (36)
TEAMS:
Torquay (4-4-2): MacDonald; Randell, Sherring, Lewis, Cameron; Whitfield, Sheaf (Koszela 33), Hall, Andrews (Street 76); Waters, Umerah
Wealdstone (4-5-1): Isted; Charles, Langston, Okimo, Cawley; Mendy, Smith, Olowu, Wishart (Lench 72), Dyer; Lewis (Emmanuel 85);
Billy Waters’ stoppage-time equaliser saved injury-hit Torquay United from a second successive home defeat against managerless Wealdstone on a perishingly cold night at Plainmoor.
Striker Waters was in the right place at the right time to drive in what could be one of the Gulls’ most important goals of the season after a second half of relentless wind-blown pressure, as he cancelled out Jacob Mendy’s 36th minute opener.
Probable line-ups:
Torquay United (3-5-2):
Shaun MacDonald
Ben Wynter – Joe Lewis – Dean Moxey
Chiori Johnson – Armani Little – Asa Hall – Gabby Rogers – Keelan O’Connell
Klaidi Lolos – Danny Wright
Wealdstone (3-5-2):
George Wickens
Jack Cook – Charlie Barker – Tavares
Dan Wishart – Andrew Eleftheriou – Ashley Charles – Medy Elito – Charlie Cooper
Josh Umerah – Rhys Browne
TT Pre-Match talking points:
-
Will we have a pre-match #incoming to celebrate?
-
Can United keep the form up by remaining unbeaten for the third game in a row?
-
Will Addai get his first start of the season?