TT MATCH PREVIEW – WEALDSTONE (H) by Steve Harris

TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

Steve Harris previews the game at Plainmoor

TORQUAY UNITED VS WEALDSTONE

Venue: Plainmoor, Torquay

Date: Saturday 11^th March 2023

Kick-off: 3pm

CURRENT FORM

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

Wealdstone: W, D, D, L, W, W

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Aaron Jarvis (13)

Wealdstone: Rhys Browne (now Woking) (7)

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 4

Draw: 3

Wealdstone: 0

WEALDSTONE FACTFILE

Year founded: 1899

Nickname: The Stones

Last season’s league finish: 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: Central-Midfield

Date of Birth: 12th October 1993 (29 years old)

Place of Birth: London

Height: 1.74m

Former Clubs: Wycombe, Woking, Hampton and Richmond

NL Stats 22-23: Played 25, Goals 5, Yellows 3, Red 1

OLD BOYS

Torquay: None

Wealdstone: Corie Andrews

LAST MEETING

Wealdstone 1-1 Torquay United

Saturday 17th September, 2022

Rhys Browne’s second-half equaliser ensured Wealdstone registered their fourth straight draw after being held at home by Torquay.

Browne struck his fifth goal in nine league games this season to cancel out Ali Omar’s early opener for the visitors.

Torquay made a flying start as Omar pounced on a dangerous cross into the box to get the final touch and give them a second-minute lead.

Wealdstone stepped up their chase for an equaliser after the break but were thwarted on several occasions by Torquay goalkeeper Rhys Lovett.

Lovett, who had denied Jaydn Mundle-Smith in the first half, produced another brilliant save to keep out Dom Hutchinson’s fierce effort.

But Lovett was beaten in the 67th minute by Browne, a second-half substitute for Alex Dyer, with the midfielder lashing home an unstoppable strike after the ball had dropped kindly for him.

Lovett saved well again to thwart Tarryn Allarakhia, who later hit a post, while another Browne effort was cleared off the line as Torquay held on for a point.