PREVIEW

Steve Harris

@steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Torquay United versus Dover Athletic – National League South

Venue: Plainmoor

Date: Saturday 20th January 2024

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 7*

Draw: 2

Dover: 4

*Includes the result of one meeting between the two sides in 2020-21 which was expunged.

FORM GUIDE

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

Dover: D, D, W, L, L, D

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Aaron Jarvis/Brad Ash (9 each)

Dover: Zidane Sutherland (5)

DOVER ATHLETIC FACTFILE

Year founded: 1983

Nickname: The Lilywhites

Last season’s league finish: 20th in National League South

Notable honours:

Conference South:

Play-off winners 2013-14

Isthmian League:

Premier League winners: 2008-09

Southern League:

Premier Division: 1989-90 & 1992-93

MANAGER – JAKE LEBERL

Now in his fifth spell with his hometown club as both a player and as a coach, Jake Leberl became manager of the Lilywhites in December 2023 following the departure of Mitch Brundle.

He had previously had two playing spells with Dover, in a career that also included stints with Crewe Alexandra, Margate, Dagenham & Redbridge and AFC Wimbledon. Leberl later returned to the Crabble as assistant to Chris Kinnear and he had previously served as Brundle’s number two prior to his appointment as first team boss.

LEBERL STATS

Date of Birth: 02/04/77 (46)

Appointed: 5th December 2023

Other Clubs Managed: None

PLAYER TO WATCH – IFFY ALLEN

A member of the Gulls’ squad who completed the ‘great escape’ of the 2015-16 season, Iffy Allen has experienced a nomadic career since leaving Plainmoor in the summer of 2016.

He has had spells with a number of National League level clubs, including Aldershot, Wrexham and Bromley, and in National League South with Dulwich Hamlet, Braintree Town, Maidstone United and Hampton and Richmond Borough amongst others.

Allen arrived at the Crabble in the summer after a spell with Carshalton Athletic.

ALLEN STATS

Position: Winger/Midfielder

Date of Birth: 15/03/94 (29)

Birthplace: London

Height: 1.75m

Former Clubs: Barnet, Kingstonian, Yeovil, Torquay, Aldershot, Wrexham, Bromley, Wealdstone, Dulwich, Braintree, Maidstone, Ebbsfleet, Lewes, Hampton, Carshalton

OLD BOYS

Torquay: Ryan Hanson, Duane Ofori Acheampong

Dover: Iffy Allen, Luke Pearce, Jacob Mensah

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay

Mark Halstead

Ross Marshall – Ollie Tomlinson – Dean Moxey – Archie Harris

Ethon Archer – Brett McGavin – Will Jenkins Davies

Dillon De Silva – Osman Foyo – Lewis Collins

Dover

Daniel Jinadu

Jacob Mensah – Scott Holding – Charlie Naylor

John Oyenuga – James Dunne – Iffy Allen – George Wilkinson – Bailey Akehurst

George Nikaj – Nick Dembel

LAST MEETING

Saturday 5th August, 2023, Dover Athletic 2 Torquay United 2, NLS

Two goals up in less than 20 minutes and seemingly well in charge, Torquay United allowed underdogs Dover Athletic back for a 2-2 draw on the opening day of the National League South season at the Crabble.

Gary Johnson’s Gulls enjoyed a dream start when home defender Chevron McLean ‘scored’ an own-goal from Lewis Collins’ cross in the fourth minute.

When skipper Asa Hall finished off a quality move after 19 minutes, the travelling Torquay fans could have been forgiven for looking forward to a comfortable first victory of the season.

A George Nikaj goal just before half-time and an equaliser through Roman Charles-Cook midway through the second half earned them a share of the spoils.