PREVIEW

Steve Harris

@steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Torquay United versus Weymouth FC – National League South

Venue: Plainmoor

Date: Tuesday 5th December 2023

Kick-off: 7.45pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 8

Draw: 1

Weymouth: 1

FORM GUIDE

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

Weymouth: W, L, D, D, W, D

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Aaron Jarvis (9)

Weymouth: Dan Roberts/Ezio Touray (4 each)

WEYMOUTH FACTFILE

Year founded: 1890

Nickname: The Terras

Last season’s league finish: 19th in National League

Weymouth notable honours:

Conference South/National League South:

Winners: 2005-06

Play-off winners: 2019-20

Southern League (level 5):

Champions: 1964-65, 1965-66,

Southern League Premier Division South

Champions: 2018-19

Southern League Southern Division

Champions: 1997-98

MANAGER – BOBBY WILKINSON

Bobby Wilkinson was appointed as Weymouth manager in September 2022 and helped the Terras to avoid relegation from the National League South in the 2022-23 campaign.

After seeing his playing career cut short following spells with Reading and Fulham, Wilkinson started coaching with the Royals and worked under Brendan Rodgers and Brian McDermott before entering management with Hungerford Town.

He led the Crusaders into National League South before moving on to Wealdstone and Bracknell Town – winning the Isthmian League South Central Division title in the 2021-22 season.

WILKINSON STATS

Date of Birth: 22/08/80 (43)

Appointed: 15th Sep 2022

Other Clubs Managed: Hungerford, Wealdstone, Bracknell

PLAYER TO WATCH – BRANDON GOODSHIP

Brandon Goodship first signed for the Terras at the start of the 2017-18 season having previously been at AFC Bournemouth and Yeovil Town. Brandon was at the Cherries since the age of 12 but, after having had his contract cancelled by mutual consent at AFC Bournemouth he joined the Glovers on a permanent basis in January 2017, after having a spell on loan at Huish Park in the 2015-16 season.

Brandon hit the ground running for Weymouth and scored his first hat-trick at home to Merthyr Town in October 2017. Brandon scored 38 league goals in his first season at the club and picked up the 2017-18 Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Golden Boot.

Goodship won his first England C cap in March 2019 when he came on as a sub against Wales. His goals were an important part of Weymouth winning the 2018-19 Southern League Premier title; he scored 39 goals in his second season with Weymouth and won the 2018-19 Southern League Premier Golden Boot again.

In June 2019, Goodship returned to the EFL to sign for League One side Southend United, following Mark Moseley’s appointment as Shrimpers.

In June 2021, he returned to the Terras after he was released by Southend. Goodship then spent a season at Salisbury before returning for a third spell with the Terras during the summer of 2023.

GOODSHIP STATS

Position: Striker

Date of Birth: 22/09/94 (29)

Place of Birth: Poole

Height: 1.90m

Former Clubs: Bournemouth, Dorchester, Hayes, Yeovil, Braintree, Southend, Salisbury

OLD BOYS

Torquay: Bradley Ash

Weymouth: Keelan O’Connell

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (4-4-2)

Mark Halstead

Ross Marshall – Ollie Tomlinson – Dean Moxey – Archie Harris

Jack Stobbs – Tom Lapslie – Brett McGavin – Lewis Collins

Bradley Ash – Theo Williams

Weymouth (4-3-3)

Gerard Benfield

Teddy Howe – Anthony Cheshire – Leo Hamblin – Calvin Brooks

Olumide Durojaiye – Tom Bearwish – Joel Rollinson

Brandon Goodship – Ezio Touray – Dan Roberts

LAST MEETING

Saturday 26^th March 2022, Torquay United 3 Weymouth FC 0, National League

After paying tribute to the memory of former manager Frank O’Farrell on Tuesday night against Aldershot Town, Torquay United came out on top in the battle between the Irishman’s former clubs against Weymouth.

Sunderland loanee Stephen Wearne’s second goal in as many games and a penalty from skipper Armani Little provided the Gulls with a two-goal cushion in the first half. Danny Wright’s early second half header then ended the match as a contest.

The Gulls broke the deadlock in the 12th minute when Stephen Duke-McKenna sent Wearne away down the left hand side before he cut inside and calmly slotted home.

Seven minutes later, United doubled their lead when Little converted from the penalty spot, after he had been felled by Weymouth’s Ben Morgan, to score his 11th goal of the campaign – despite Terras keeper Ross Fitzsimons getting a hand to it.

The Terras went close on 23 minutes when a Sean Shields cross picked out Bradley Ash, who saw his header saved by Gulls keeper Shaun MacDonald.

In the 32nd minute, MacDonald was called into action again as he palmed an effort from Ben Thomson behind for a corner.

Four minutes later, Cameron Murray was denied by the reflexes of MacDonald as the Terras continued to carve out chances.

United came close to adding a third on 37 minutes when Connor Lemonheigh-Evans teed up Danny Wright for a close range opportunity which Wright chested against the post.

Three minutes before the break, Thomson had a volley palmed behind by MacDonald, and on the stroke of half time, Ash tested MacDonald with a shot from outside the penalty area – which the United keeper tipped behind.

Within a minute of the re-start, the Gulls added a third when Wright nodded home at the far post after Lemonheigh-Evans flicked a cross from Tom Lapslie into his path.

Weymouth came close to reducing their arrears in the 62nd minute, when sub Max Carlyle connected with a corner from Ben Greenwood and drew a save from MacDonald.