PREVIEW

Steve Harris

@steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Torquay United versus Farnborough FC – NLS

Venue: Plainmoor

Date: Tuesday 5th September 2023

Kick-off: 7.45pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 0

Draw: 1

Farnborough: 1

FORM GUIDE

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

Farnborough: D, W, D, W, L, W

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Brad Ash (3)

Farnborough: Alfie Pavey (4)

FARNBOROUGH FACTFILE

Year founded: 1927

Nickname: Boro, The Yellows

Last season’s league finish: 12th in the National League South

Farnborough notable honours:

Isthmian League Premier Division:

Champions: 2000-01

MANAGER – SPENCER DAY

Formerly known as Spencer Trethewy, Spencer Day was previously a director of Aldershot and saved the Shots from going bust in 1989.

After changing his name to Spencer Day in 1998, he spent four years owner/manager of Chertsey Town and has managed Farnborough since 2011.

DAY STATS

Date of Birth: 14/04/71 (52)

Appointed: 15th Nov 2011

Other Clubs Managed: Chertsey Town

PLAYER TO WATCH – JOE PARTINGTON

Experienced central defender Joe Partington joined the Yellows in the summer following spells in the National League with Eastleigh, Bromley and Aldershot Town.

He started his career with AFC Bournemouth in 2007. He became the youngest player ever to score for the Cherries when he found the target in a 2-1 win over Swansea City on April 5th, 2008.

Partington actually started his career as a central midfielder before being converted into a centre half by former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe. However, an injury sustained during a loan spell with Aldershot Town curtailed his progress and he was loaned to Eastleigh towards the end of the 2014-15 season; a move that was later made permanent in the summer of 2015.

His displays for the Spitfires helped to earn him a move back to the Football League with Bristol Rovers in 2017, which was a record fee received by Eastleigh. Partington later returned to the Silverlake Stadium in 2019.

He also represented Wales at Under-21 level eight times between 2009 and 2012.

PARTINGTON STATS

Position: Centre Back

Date of Birth: 01/04/90 (33)

Birthplace: Portsmouth

Height: 1.88m

Former Clubs: Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Eastbourne, Aldershot, Eastleigh, Bristol Rovers, Bromley

NLS Stats 23/24: Appearances 7, Goals 0, Yellow/Red Cards 2/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay United: None

Farnborough: None

LAST MEETING

Tuesday 17th December 1991 – Farnborough Town 4 Torquay United 3 FA Cup 2nd round replay

After drawing the original fixture 1-1 at Plainmoor, with Mark Loram netting a late equaliser, the Gulls bowed out of the FA Cup with a 4-3 defeat against Farnborough.

The hosts raced into a four goal lead before goals from Mickey Holmes, Loram (again) and Scott Colcombe put United on the verge of an unlikely comeback, as they fell narrowly short.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (4-4-2)

Mark Halstead

Finley Craske, Ross Marshall, Ollie Tomlinson, Dan Martin

Jack Stobbs, Shaun Donnellan, Tom Lapslie, Dillon De Silva

Aaron Jarvis, Bradley Ash

Farnborough (4-3-3)

Jack Turner

Joe Partington, Sid Nelson, Ollie Robinson, Jordan Norville-Williams

Ryan Upward, Jayden Davis, Ricky Holmes

Connor Cullen, Alfie Pavey, Selim Saied