TT PREVIEW
Steve Harris – @steveharris84
Match details: Torquay United versus Barnet
Venue: Plainmoor, Torquay
Date: Saturday 19th February 2022
Kick-off: 3pm
Current Form (last six):
Torquay: W, D, W, L, W, W
Barnet: L, L, L, W, L, L
Top scorer:
Torquay: Armani Little (10)
Barnet: Adam Marriott (6)
Head-to-Head:
Torquay: 12
Draw: 11
Barnet: 13
Barnet fact file:
Year founded: 1888
Nickname: The Bees
Last season’s league finish: 22nd in National League
Notable honours:
Football Conference/Blue Square Premier/National League:
Winners: 1990-91, 2004-05, 2014-15
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 while he managed 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.
After leaving Wealdstone midway through the 2020-21 season, Brennan joined Barnet as Head of Football in the summer of 2021 and took over the managerial reins following the departure of Harry Kewell as manager.
Player to watch: Adam Marriott
One of the most experienced strikers in non-league football, Adam Marriott joined Barnet in the summer after leaving Eastleigh at the end of the 2020-21 season.
After starting out with Cambridge United, Marriott re-ignited his career with their city neighbours Cambridge City, where he scored 45 times in 42 appearances in all competitions in the 2013-14 season. His exploits earned him a move into the Football League with Stevenage in 2014, where he stayed for two years before joining Lincoln City in 2016.
Spells with Royston Town and Boston United followed before he signed for King’s Lynn Town, who he helped to win two successive promotions from the Southern League Premier Central to the National League.
He left the Linnets to join Eastleigh, after cost-cutting measures during the coronavirus pandemic saw him furloughed by the Norfolk side.
Marriott is currently the Bees’ top scorer with six goals to his name.
MARRIOTT STATS:
Position: Centre-Forward
Date of Birth: 14th April 1991 – 30 Years Old
Birthplace: Brandon
Former Clubs: Cambridge United, Cambridge City, Bishop Stotford, Stevenage, Lincoln, Royston Town, King’s Lynn, Eastleigh
National League Stats 21-22: Played 20, 6 Goals, Yellow/Red Cards 1,0
Old boys:
Torquay: None
Barnet: None
Last meeting: Barnet 2-1 Torquay United, Saturday 20th November 2021
Armani Little’s eighth goal of the season – a sumptuous free-kick equaliser on the hour – was not enough to save Torquay United from a narrow defeat by mid-table rivals Barnet at The Hive.
Gary Johnson’s Gulls, who had trailed to Adam Marriott’s set-piece header just before half-time, were galvanised by two half-time changes and captain Little’s ‘special’.
United, again cheered on by vociferous away support, were just looking as if they might go on to win when Barnet caught them on the counter and sub Ali Omar’s foul handed the hosts a penalty which Ephron Mason-Clark converted.
GOALS:
BFC: Marriott (49′); Mason-Clark (65p’)
TUFC: Little (59′)
TEAMS:
Barnet (4-4-2): Oxborough; Taylor, Greenidge, Turley, Beard; Woods (Bloomfield 60), Brundle, Flanagan (Thomas 27), Fonguck (Hall 82); Mason-Clark, Marriott;
Torquay United (4-4-2): MacDonald; Wynter, Perritt (Omar 46), Lewis, Moxey; O’Connell (Holman 46), Little, Lapslie, Moore (Andrews 73); Armstrong, Lolos
Probable line-ups:
Torquay United (4-2-3-1):
Shaun MacDonald
Ben Wynter – Joe Lewis – Dean Moxey – Dan Martin
Asa Hall – Tom Lapslie
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans – Armani Little – Stephen Wearne
Dan Holman
Barnet (3-5-2):
Aston Oxborough
Harry Taylor – Ben Richards-Everton – Reiss Greenidge
Jordan Thomas – Robert Hall – Sam Woods – Wes Fongunck – Teddy Howe
Daniel Powell – Adam Marriott
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