MAIDENHEAD UNITED (H) PREVIEW by Steve Harris

TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

Steve Harris previews the game at Plainmoor

TORQUAY UNITED VS MAIDENHEAD UNITED

Venue: Plainmoor

Date: 4th October 2022

Kick-off: 7.45pm

CURRENT FORM

Torquay: L, W, L, D, L, D

Maidenhead: L, D, L, W, L, W

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 4

Draw: 1

Maidenhead: 2

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Will Goodwin (2)

Maidenhead: Emile Acquah (2)

MAIDENHEAD FACTFILE

Year founded: 1870

Nickname: The Magpies

Last season’s league finish: 17th – National League

Notable honours:

National League South champions: 2016-17

Isthmian League Full Members Cup winners: 1996-97

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 the club 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).

He is also the longest serving manager in the National League.

PLAYER TO WATCH: KOBY ARTHUR

A midfielder who can also play as a forward, Koby Arthur made his professional ebut in the Championship with Birmingham City in April 2013. He spent time on loan at Lincoln City and also had two spells with League Two club Cheltenham Town, for whom he scored his first senior goal. After his release from Birmingham in 2017, Arthur joined Macclesfield Town, and was part of the squad that won the 2017–18 National League title and promotion back to the Football League. After time out of the game through injury, Arthur had a truncated season with Kidderminster Harriers of the National League North and spent the 2021–22 season with Dover Athletic before joining another National League club, Maidenhead United, in 2022.

ARTHUR STATS:

Position: Midfielder

Date of Birth: 31st January 1996 – 26 Years Old

Birthplace: Kumasi (Ghana)

Height: 1.68m

Former Clubs: Birmingham, Lincoln, Cheltenham, Macclesfield, Kidderminster, Dover

NL Stats 22-23: Played 10, Goals Scored 1, Yellow/Red 0/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: Shaun Donnellan, Rhys Lovett

Maidenhead: Dan Sparkes, Ashley Nathaniel-George

PREVIOUS HEAD TO HEAD

TORQUAY UNITED 1-1 MAIDENHEAD UNITED

30th April 2022

Torquay’s hopes of reaching the National League play-offs took another blow despite Joe Lewis’ stoppage-time equaliser in a 1-1 home draw with Maidenhead.

A third winless game on the trot left the Gulls 12 points off seventh place with only four games remaining.

Maidenhead, who made sure of their survival last week, took the lead in the 55th minute when Sam Barratt beat his marker and fired home his first goal since October.

Visiting goalkeeper Daniel Gyollai tipped over Danny Wright’s header but he was beaten in added time when Lewis slid the ball home following some heavy Torquay pressure.

Wright was denied again in the last minute of added time as the hosts missed out on all three points.