PREVIEW

Steve Harris

@steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Torquay United vs Dartford FC

Venue: Plainmoor

Date: Saturday 9th March 2024

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 2

Draw: 2

Dartford FC: 1

FORM GUIDE

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

Dartford FC: L, L, W, L, D, L

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Brad Ash/Aaron Jarvis (10 each)

Dartford: Luke Coulson (10)

DARTFORD FACTFILE

Year founded: 1888

Nickname: The Darts

Last season’s league finish: 2nd in National League South

Dartford notable honours:

Isthmian League:

Premier Division Champions: 2009-10

MANAGER – ADY PENNOCK

After a spell managing Brunei DPMM, Ady Pennock was named as Dartford manager on March 1, 2024.

As a manager, he has crossed the Gulls’ path during his spells in charge of Forest Green Rovers in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons and Barrow in the 2017-18 campaign.

During his playing career, he made his name with AFC Bournemouth and Gillingham and served under Tony Pulis at both clubs before later working as a coach under Pulis at Stoke City.

PENNOCK STATS

Appointed: 1st Mar 2024

Date of Birth: 27/03/1971 (52)

Other Clubs Managed: Welling, Stoke U18, Forest Green, Gillingham, Barrow, DPMM FC

PLAYER TO WATCH – LUKE COULSON

A former Manchester City academy product, Luke Coulson spent some time in college football in the USA at the University of Michigan, which he combined with playing for the Michigan Wolverines.

He returned to the UK to join Cardiff City before dropping into non-league football with Oxford City in 2015 and later moved onto Eastleigh, Barnet, Ebbsfleet United, Bromley prior to signing for the Darts in 2022.

COULSON STATS

Position: Winger

Date of Birth: 06/03/94 (30)

Birthplace: St Helens

Height: 1.79m

Former Clubs: Man City, Cardiff, Oxford City, Eastleigh, Barnet, Ebbsfleet, Bromley

OLD BOYS

Torquay United: Duane Ofori-Acheampong

Dartford: Paul Rooney, Elliot Romain

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United:

Mark Halstead

Austen Booth – Ollie Tomlinson – Dean Moxey

Jack Stobbs – Will Jenkins Davies – Brett McGavin – Kevin Dawson – Arkell Jude-Boyd

Brad Ash – Aaron Jarvis

Dartford FC:

Billy Terrell

Tommy Block – Joash Nembhard – Manny Adebowale – Tom Clifford

Fumnaya Shomotun – Tyrell Miller-Rodney – Jordan Wynter – Luke Coulson

Alex Wall – Ibby Akanbi

LAST MEETING

Last meeting: Saturday 25th November 2023, Dartford FC 3-0 Torquay United

Torquay United were unceremoniously swept aside by Dartford, slipping further down the National League South table, on a depressing afternoon for Gulls fans at chilly Princes Park.

All the damage was done in a 15-minute spell before half-time when Dartford, who had lost their previous three home games, scored through debutants Richard Chin and George Alexander, and then veteran defender Moussa Diarra.