TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Welling United vs Torquay United – National League South

Venue: Park View Road

Date: Saturday 7th September 2024

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

TORQUAY – 4

DRAWS – 2

WELLING – 2

LAST RESULTS

Torquay

L 0-1 Farnborough A

W 2-1 Bath City A

W 1-0 Dorking H

W 3-2 Chesham United A

D 1-1 Aveley H

W 3-0 Chippenham (h)

Welling

W 1-0 Aveley H

L 1-0 Bath City A

W 4-1 Farnborough H

D 0-0 Hornchurch A

L 1-3 Chesham United H

L 2-4 Hemel Hempstead Town A

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Cody Cooke/Brad Ash/Ed Palmer/Matt Carson/Lirak Hasani/Dan Hayfield (2)

Welling: Anointed Chukwu (2)

WELLING FACT FILE

Year founded: 1963

Nickname: The Wings

Last season’s league finish: 17th in National League South

Notable Honours:

National League South:

Winners: 2012-13

Southern League:

Winners 1985-86

THE MANAGER – ROD STRINGER

With a wealth of experience in non-league football behind him, Rod Stringer took charge of the Wings in late January 2024.

His first experience in the dugout saw him lead Aveley to the Isthmian Division One North title in 2009, before moving on to Braintree Town where he achieved a second promotion, taking the Iron to the National League by being crowned National League South champions in 2011.

Stringer then moved on to Bishop’s Stortford, steadying the ship at Woodside Park over a five-year period.

In 2016, he made the move to Chelmsford City where he led the Clarets to three National League South play-off campaigns prior to his departure in 2020.

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, Stringer was named Brentwood Town boss in October 2021, leading them to the Isthmian Division One North play-off final before departing in February 2023.

PLAYER TO WATCH – ANTHONY GRANT

At the age of 37, Anthony Grant has a wealth of experience having spent his career plying his trade in the EFL after coming through the ranks at Chelsea as a youngster.

Having made one Premier League appearance for the Blues, he embarked on loans with Oldham Athletic, Wycombe Wanderers, Luton Town and Southend United, before joining the Shrimpers permanently in 2008.

He spent four seasons at Roots Hall, racking up 149 league appearances before making the move to Stevenage in 2012. He then became a mainstay in the midfields of Crewe Alexandra, Port Vale, Peterborough United and Shrewsbury Town over the following seven seasons before arriving at Swindon Town in 2019. In his debut season for the Robins, he helped his side win the League Two title in the 2019-20 season, which was decided by PPG (points per game following the league’s Covid-19 enforced suspension).A loan spell with Scunthorpe United in 2022 was followed by a move to Crawley Town in March 2023.

A Jamaica international, Grant made his debut for the ‘Reggae Boyz’ in 2021 and has six caps under his belt.

GRANT STATS – Position: Midfield – Date of Birth: 04/06/87 – Height: 1.78m – Previous Clubs: Chelsea, Oldham, Wycombe, Luton, Southend, Stevenage, Crewe, Port Vale, Peterboro, Shrewsbury, Swindon, Scunthorpe, Crawley – 24/25 NLS Stats: Appearances 6, Goals 0, Yellow/Red Cards 2/0

OLD BOYS

TORQUAY: None

WELLING: Chiori Johnson, Rhys Lovett, Dan Martin, Jacob Mensah

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (3-5-2): James Hamon; Ed Palmer, Sam Dreyer, Dean Moxey; Finn Tonks, Dan Hayfield, Oscar Threlkeld, Lirak Hasani, Matt Carson; Ben Seymour, Cody Cooke

Welling United (3-5-2): Rhys Lovett; Jack Burchell, Dave Winfield, Ben Wells; Teddy Perkins, Anthony Grant, Gene Kennedy, Elliot Long, Charlie Pegrum; TJ Bramble, Anointed Chukwu

LAST MEETING – 06.04.24, Welling United 1-0 Torquay United, National League South

Ten-man United suffered defeat on the road on Saturday, as Welling ran out single-goal winners at Park View Road, leaving the Gulls with work to do to avoid the drop from National League South.

United were looking comfortable when Ross Marshall was dismissed midway through the first half and Welling, who were painfully lacklustre, then got the winning goal through Jason Adigun.

After the break, ten-man United were unable to find a leveller and results elsewhere left the Gulls two points above the relegation zone with four games remaining.