GATESHEAD (H) PREVIEW by Steve Harris

TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

Steve Harris previews the game at Plainmoor

TORQUAY UNITED V GATESHEAD FC – NATIONAL LEAGUE

Match details: Torquay United versus Gateshead

Venue: Plainmoor, Torquay

Date: Saturday 26th November 2022

Kick Off: 3pm

CURRENT FORM

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

Gateshead: D, L, L, L, L, W

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Will Goodwin/Aaron Jarvis (5 each)

Gateshead: Adam Campbell (6)

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 4

Draw: 3

Gateshead: 5

GATESHEAD FC FACTFILE

Year founded: 1977

Nickname: The Heed

Last season’s league finish: 1st in National League North

Notable honours:

National League North:

Champions: 2021-22

MANAGER: MIKE WILLIAMSON

A familiar figure to Torquay United fans, Mike Williamson started his career with the Gulls in the 2001-02 season after being handed his debut by Roy McFarland before joining Southampton for £100,000. He would later return to Plainmoor on loan under Leroy Rosenior in 2003-04.

Williamson then re-ignited his career with a move to Wycombe Wanderers, who he joined permanently in 2005, after spending the 2004-05 campaign on loan at Adams Park.

His form for the Chairboys earned him a move to the Championship with Watford in 2009, which was swiftly followed by a move to Portsmouth, who were then in the Premier League.

Due to Pompey’s financial issues, Williamson was soon on the move again. This time to Newcastle United, who he won promotion from the Championship with in the 2009-10 season.

He remained with the Magpies until 2016, when he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers following a loan spell. After a year at Molineux, Williamson dropped down to League One to sign for Oxford United before he was released by Karl Robinson in the summer of 2018.

He then joined Gateshead as a player before becoming player-coach and then manager in June 2019.

PLAYER TO WATCH: JAMES MONTGOMERY

A cousin of the legendary former Sunderland goalkeeper Jim Montgomery, James Montgomery is currently in his third spell with the Heed.

After starting his career as a youth team player with Middlesbrough, spells with Guiseley and AFC Telford United before joining Gateshead for the first time in 2017.

He remained at the International Stadium for a year before moving into the Football League with Forest Green Rovers. A spell with AFC Fylde followed prior to his return to the Heed in October 2020 for his second spell.

An emergency loan stint with Southend United followed after National League North was declared null and void in the 2020-21 season. He also appeared for Chesterfield in their 2020-21 National League play-off campaign before returning to Gateshead for a third time.

MONTGOMERY STATS:

Position: Goalkeeper

Date of Birth: 20th April 1994 – 25 Years Old

Birthplace: Sunderland

Height: 1.88m

Former Clubs: Middlesborough, Guiseley, Nike Academy, Telford United, Gateshead, Forest Green, Fylde, Southend United, Chesterfield

NL Stats 22-23: Played 8, Goals Conceded 15, Yellow/Red 0/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: None

Gateshead: Mike Williamson

LAST MEETING

Torquay United 1 – 1 Gateshead

Tuesday 12^th December 2017

Sean McGinty scored a 90th-minute equaliser to secure struggling Torquay a point at home to Gateshead.

Torquay went close in the first half, but Alex Davey’s header hit the bar, before Gateshead went ahead as Jordan Preston finished off following a counter attacking move.

The Heed came close to a second before the break, but Danny Johnson was denied by Vincent Dorel when clean through.

Torquay secured a vital point when McGinty fired past Dan Hanford after the ball fell loose from a corner.

The hosts remained in the National League relegation zone but are now five points from safety.