PREVIEW

Steve Harris

@steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Weymouth FC vs Torquay United

Venue: Bob Lucas Stadium

Date: Saturday 2nd March 2024

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 9

Draw: 1

Weymouth FC: 1

FORM GUIDE

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

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

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Brad Ash/Aaron Jarvis (10 each)

Weymouth: Brandon Goodship (10)

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

Appointed: 15th Sep 2022

Date of Birth: 22/08/1980 (43)

Other Clubs Managed: Bracknell, Wealdstone, Hungerford

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)

Birthplace: Poole

Height: 1.90m

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

OLD BOYS

Torquay United: Brad Ash

Weymouth: Keelan O’Connell

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United:

Mark Halstead

Austen Booth – Ross Marshall – Dean Moxey

Arkell Jude-Boyd – Will Jenkins Davies – Brett McGavin – Kevin Dawson – Dan Martin

Brad Ash – Aaron Jarvis

Weymouth FC:

Gerard Benfield

Teddy Howe – Charlie Rowan – Corey Panter – Leo Hamblin

Harry Parsons – Nazir Bakrin – Tom Bearwish – Elliott Bolton

Brandon Goodship – Malachi Linton

LAST MEETING

Last meeting: Tuesday 5th December 2023, Torquay United 3-1 Weymouth FC

Torquay United climbed to fourth in the National League South with a feisty 3-1 win over Weymouth at Plainmoor.

An early goal from Brett McGavin gave United the perfect platform and Brad Ash took that to a new level of comfort with a second on the half-hour.

Weymouth, however, fought back with a goal from Elliot Bolton on the stroke of half-time and the Gulls were only able to relax when Lewis Collins sealed the points on 76 minutes, with Calvin Brooks then dismissed for the visitors for a second bookable offence.