TT PREVIEW
Steve Harris – @steveharris84
Steve Harris previews the game at Grosvenor Vale
TORQUAY UNITED VS WEALDSTONE FC
Venue: Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip
Date: 17th September 2022
Kick-off: 3pm
CURRENT FORM
Torquay: L, L, L, L, W, L
Wealdstone: W, W, W, D, D, D
HEAD TO HEAD
Torquay: 4
Draw: 2
Wealdstone: 0
TOP SCORERS
Torquay: Will Goodwin (2)
Wealdstone: Rhys Browne (4)
WEALDSTONE FACTFILE
Year founded: 1899
Nickname: The Stones
Last season’s league finish: 16th 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
MANAGER: STUART MAYNARD
Stuart Maynard is currently in his second full campaign in charge of Wealdstone after he replaced Dean Brennan 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: MAX KRETZSCHMAR
A former Southampton youth team player, Max Kretzschmar joined Wealdstone in the close season from Woking. Having started his professional career with Wycombe Wanderers, for who he served between 2012 and 2016, Kretzschmar first joined the Cards in 2016, when he signed a one-year contract.
A year later, he left Woking and dropped down into National League South with Hampton and Richmond, where he first appeared under Alan Dowson, and he helped the Beavers reach the National League South play-offs in the 2017-18 campaign. Following Dowson’s appointment as Cards’ manager, he returned to the Kingfield Stadium and played a key role in helping Woking win promotion from National League South at the first attempt in the 2018-19 season.
Kretzschmar then played a key role in helping to re-establish the Cards at National League level and he finished the 2020-21 season as the Cards’ top scorer with nine goals in all competitions.
KRETZSCHMAR STATS:
Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: 12th October 1993 – 28 Years Old
Birthplace: London
Height: 1.74m
Former Clubs: Wycombe, Hampton & Richmond, Woking FC
NL Stats 22-23: Played 8, Goals Scored 1, Yellow/Red 1/0
OLD BOYS
Torquay: None
Wealdstone: None
PREVIOUS HEAD TO HEAD
WEALDSTONE FC 1-1 TORQUAY UNITED
26th February 2022
A late equaliser from Ben Wynter secured a third successive draw for Torquay United against Wealdstone.
In a match played behind closed doors for safety reasons, Torquay enjoyed the better start with Stephen Duke-McKenna, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Danny Wright going close.
Wealdstone came close to snatching a half-time lead when Aaron Henry’s free-kick was deflected goalward and forced a superb goal-line save from Torquay goalkeeper Shaun MacDonald.
And it was the 18th-placed Stones who took the lead when substitute Jaydn Mundle-Smith slotted home in the 72nd minute.
But Torquay rallied and Ben Wynter’s leveller from Armani Little’s free kick earned them a point.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Torquay United (4-4-2)
Rhys Lovett
Dylan Crowe – Ross Marshall – Ali Omar – Ben Wyatt
Kieron Evans – Brett McGavin – Ryan Hanson – Dan Martin
Corie Andrews – Will Goodwin
Wealdstone (4-3-3)
Sam Howes
David Sesay – Jack Cook – Deji Elerewe – Sam Habergham
Nathan Ferguson – Ashley Charles – Max Kretzschmar
Olufela Olomola – Rhys Browne – Jaydn Mundle-Smith
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