PREVIEW

Steve Harris

@steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Braintree Town versus Torquay United

Venue: Cressing Road, Braintree

Date: Saturday 17th February 2024

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Braintree: 3

Draw: 2

Torquay: 3

FORM GUIDE

Braintree: L, W, D, W, W, W

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

TOP SCORERS

Braintree: Aaron Blair (8)

Torquay: Aaron Jarvis/Brad Ash (9)

BRAINTREE FACTFILE

Year founded: 1898.

Nickname: The Iron

Last season’s league finish: 7^th in National League South

Braintree Town notable honours:

National League South:

Champions: 2010-11

Play-off winners: 2017-18

MANAGER – ANGELO HARROP

The son of former Gulls youth coach and Chief Executive Geoff Harrop, Angelo Harrop took charge of the Iron in May 2022 and led them to the National League South play-offs in his first season at the helm. A former Colchester United youth team player, Harrop junior had previously managed Stanway Rovers, Brightlingsea Regent and AFC Sudbury

HARROP STATS

Appointed: 22nd May 2022

Date of Birth: 07/07/1988 (35)

Other Clubs Managed: Stanway Rovers, Brightlingsea Regent and AFC Sudbury.

PLAYER TO WATCH – SHAQUILLE COULTHIRST

Many Gulls fans will remember Shaquille Coulthirst during his loan spell with the Gulls in the 2013-14 season from Tottenham Hotspur, where he scored twice in six appearances.

He then remained with Spurs for another two years when he joined Peterborough United in 2016.

A year later, he dropped into non-league football with Barnet and subsequently has stints with Boreham Wood, Billericay Town and Ebbsfleet United before joining the Iron on loan earlier this season.

COULTHIRST STATS

Position: Centre-Forward

Date of Birth: 02/11/94 (29)

International: England U19 (2 Caps/1 Goal)

Birthplace: London

Height: 1.80m

Former Clubs: Tottenham, Leyton Orient, Torquay United, Southend, York City, Wigan, Peterborough, Mansfield, Barnet, Boreham Wood, Billericay, Ebbsfleet.

OLD BOYS

Braintree Town: Shaquille Coulthirst

Torquay United: None

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Braintree Town (5-3-2):

Jack Sims

Leon Davies – Baris Altintop – Joe Grimwood – Ben Tompkins – Tom Blackwell

Alfie Payne – Reggie Lambe – Alfie Pavey

Shaquille Coulthirst – Aaron Blair

Torquay United (3-5-2):

Mark Halstead

Austen Booth – Ronny Nelson – Dean Moxey

Arkell Jude-Boyd – Brett McGavin – Tom Lapslie – Will Jenkins-Davies – Dan Martin

Duane Ofori-Acheampong – Aaron Jarvis

LAST MEETING

Last meeting: Monday August 28, 2023 Torquay United 2 – 1 Braintree Town

An Aaron Jarvis penalty in the 93rd minute secured a fourth win on the trot for the Gulls – but it was a Bank Holiday of hard work for the Gulls as they beat Braintree Town 2-1.

Braintree were ahead from the sixth minute through Will Davies, but it took a second-half free kick by Jack Stobbs to level matters. Just when it looked like they might have to settle for a point Jarvis was brought down in the box by Iron keeper in injury time and he then stepped up and scored the subsequent spot-kick to seal victory for Torquay.