TT PREVIEW
Steve Harris – @steveharris84
Steve Harris previews the game at Plainmoor
TORQUAY UNITED VS BROMLEY
Venue: Hayes Lane, Bromley
Date: Tuesday 28th February 2023
Kick-off: 7.45pm
CURRENT FORM
Torquay: D, L, L, W, L, L
Bromley: D, D, W, W, L, D
TOP SCORERS
Torquay: Aaron Jarvis (12)
Bromley: Michael Cheek (9)
HEAD TO HEAD
Torquay: 3
Draw: 3
Bromley: 7
SOUTHEND FACTFILE
Year founded: 1892
Nickname: The Ravens
Last season’s league finish: 10th in National League
Notable Honours:
National League South:
Winners: 2014-15
Isthmian League:
Winners: 1908-09, 1909-10, 1953-54, 1960-61
MANAGER: ADAM WOODMAN
One of the few goalkeepers to have turned his hand to management, Andy Woodman appeared for a host of clubs throughout his career including Crystal Palace, Exeter City, Northampton Town, Brentford and Oxford United before taking up coaching.
Woodman had previously worked as goalkeeping coach at Premier League giants Arsenal and has also managed Whitehawk in National League South and succeeded Neil Smith as Ravens’ manager in March 2021. He was able to make a positive impact on his appointment as Ravens boss, as they reached the National League Play-offs with a seventh-place finish in the league. They were then eliminated by Hartlepool United at the first eliminator stage.
Woodman is regarded as one of the brightest managerial prospects outside the EFL and he was the subject of an approach from the Ravens’ Kent neighbours Gillingham in the 2021-22 season.
PLAYER TO WATCH: MICHAEL CHEEK
A seasoned performer at National League level, Michael Cheek was the National League’s top scorer in the 2020-21 campaign. Since making the step up to the National League in 2015 with Braintree under Danny Cowley, Cheek, 29, has found the back of the net on a regular basis for Braintree, Dagenham & Redbridge and Ebbsfleet United before signing for the Ravens at the start of the current campaign. Cheek also topped Bromley’s goal scoring charts in the 2021-22 season with 17 goals.
CHEEK STATS:
Position: Centre-Forward
Date of Birth: 23rd August 1991 (31 years old)
Former Clubs: Stanway Rovers, Heybridge Swift, Chelmsford, Braintree, Dagenham and Redbridge, Ebbsfleet
NL Stats 22-23: Played 32, Goals 9, Yellows 2, Red 0
OLD BOYS
LAST MEETING
Bromley 1 – 0 Torquay
Tuesday 16th August, 2022
Bromley earned their first National League win of the season after beating 10-man Torquay 1-0.
The Gulls suffered a double blow when Ross Marshall was sent off just past the hour before Louis Dennis scored the only goal.
Torquay goalkeeper Mark Halstead was called into action early on, saving Corey Whitely’s free-kick before denying two efforts from Billy Bingham.
Will Goodwin had a chance to grab the opener ten minutes into the second half, but Reice Charles-Cook made a solid save, tipping his shot over the bar.
Torquay were then reduced to ten men in the 62nd minute when Marshall was shown a straight red card.
Bromley took advantage of the extra player when Dennis fired in the winner ten minutes later.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Torquay United (4-4-2):
Mark Halstead
Shaun Donnellan – Ross Marshall – Nico Lawrence – Dean Moxey
Dillon De Silva – Tom Lapslie – Brett McGavin – Kieron Evans
Aaron Jarvis – Tope Fadahunsi
Bromley (4-3-3):
Reice Charles-Cook
Kellen Fisher – Omar Sowunmi – Byron Webster – Besart Toppaloj
Ryan Stirk – Corey Whitely – Jude Arthurs
Louis Dennis – Michael Cheek – Charley Kendall
OPPOSITION Q&A
Alex discusses his team ahead of the NL game
SEASON SO FAR
Bromley have had a season of mixed results so far. We have had great performances at times which unfortunately did not result in wins.
RECENT FORM
Bromley have had a season of mixed results so far. We have had great performances at times which unfortunately did not result in wins.
HIGHLIGHTS
Bromley have had a few notable results this season, including a great home win against Yeovil and solid away victories against Southend and Boreham Wood.
KEY PLAYERS
Corey Whitely is one of the standout players of the team. He is very versatile and has great pace. Louis Dennis has been terrific this season for us and has experience of playing in the Football League. Another upcoming talent is Kellen Fisher who has produced some brilliant displays this season.
THE MANAGER
Andy Woodman is our manager. Tactically, he relies a lot on his wingbacks to support the attackers and forms his team on having a resilient defence usually.
THE LINE-UP
Charles-Cook, Webster, Sowunmi, Cheek, Dennis, Kendall, Stirk, Whitely, Arthurs, Topalloj, Fisher.
BEST OPPOSITION
Macaulay Longstaff has impressed me the most alongside Paul Mullin. In terms of teams, Notts County and Woking.
STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES
Bromley’s team has an incredible mentality, the club has made huge progress over the last couple of years on the pitch and continues to develop.
AWAY SUPPORT
Bromley should bring many fans to the game.
PREDICTION
I think Bromley will win 1-2!
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