PREVIEW

Steve Harris

@steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Torquay United versus Chippenham Town

Venue: Plainmoor, Torquay

Date: Tuesday 15th August 2023

Kick-off: 7.45pm

HEAD TO HEAD/FORM GUIDE

Torquay: 1

Draw: 0

Chippenham: 2

Last result: W 4-2 vs Havant & Waterlooville (A)

CHIPPENHAM TOWN FACTFILE

Year founded: 1873

Nickname: The Bluebirds

Last season’s league finish: 13^th in National League South

Chippenham Town notable honours:

Southern League Premier Champions: 2016-17

OPPOSITION Q&A – Chippenham Town by Lee Kington

MANAGER – GARY HORGAN

Gary joined Chippenham Town for a second spell as a player from Hungerford Town in September 2016 and joined the coaching staff for the 2017-18 season.

He was invited to take up the manager’s position towards the end of the 2021-22 season following the departure of the previous management team and has remained in charge ever since.

HORGAN STATS

Appointed: 13th April 2022

Date of Birth: 19/04/1977 (46)

Other Clubs Managed: N/A

PLAYER TO WATCH – LUKE SPOKES

Central midfielder Luke Spokes joined the Bluebirds in the summer from Bath City. The Bristolian had previously started out in non-league football with spells at Mangotsfield Town and Yate Town before moving onto Taunton Town. He earned a move to the professional ranks with Grimsby Town in the 2020-21 season where he remained until he was released in the summer of 2022 and returned to the South West to join the Romans. During his time with the Mariners, he also had loan stints with Boston United and Spennymoor Town.

SPOKES STATS

Position: Midfielder

Date of Birth: 06/08/00 (23)

Birthplace: Unknown

Height: 1.85m

Former Clubs: Mangotsfield, Yate Town, Grimsby Town, Boston United, Spennymoor Town, Bath City

OLD BOYS

Torquay United: Ollie Tomlinson, Brad Ash

Chippenham Town: None

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (3-5-2)

Mark Halstead

Shaun Donnellan, Ollie Tomlinson, Finley Craske

Jack Stobbs, Will Jenkins Davies, Brett McGavin, Asa Hall, Lewis Collins

Aaron Jarvis, Brad Ash

Chippenham Town (4-3-3)

Will Henry

Will King – Nathaniel Williams – Aaron Amadi-Holloway – Eddie Jones

Jake Evans – Caine Bradbury – Luke Spokes

Craig Fasanmude – Matt McClure – Tyreke Johnson

LAST MEETING

Tuesday December 20, 2022

Torquay United 3 – 2 Chippenham Town, FA Trophy third round

Torquay United came from two goals behind to win a remarkable game against National League South side Chippenham Town in the Isuzu FA Trophy.

But it all started badly for the Gulls as they went behind early in the game to a cool finish by Jordan Young, who rounded keeper Mark Halstead after being gifted the ball by some sloppy defending. And things went from bad to worse midway through the first half when Alex Bray hammered in a second for the visitors.

But Torquay hit back on the half-hour when Corie Andrews crossed for Will Goodwin to finish. United brought on Dillon De Silva at half time and immediately looked sharper. It was no surprise when Stephen Wearne levelled the scores, and the same player was on hand to put Torquay in front moments later.

Torquay had looked down and out as the visitors moved into their two-goal lead, but it was the arrival of substitute Dillon De Silva – plus whatever was said in the dressing room at half-time – that turned the game around, that and the cool finishing of Wearne.