TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Salisbury FC vs Torquay United – National League South

Venue: The Ray McEnhill Stadium, Salisbury

Date: Tuesday 5th November 2024

Kick-off: 7.45pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 1

Draw: 2

Salisbury: 1

RECENT FORM (LAST 6)

Torquay – W2 – D3 – L1

D 1-1 St Albans City H

W 1-0 Hampton A

D 1-1 Eastbourne A

W 2-1 Worthing H

L 1-2 Hornchurch A

D 2-2 Chelmsford H

Salisbury – W1 – D2 – L3

L 1-2 Bath City H (FA Cup)

W 4-3 St Albans City A

D 2-2 Hornchurch H

D 3-3 Dorking Wanderers A

L 0-2 Weston Super Mare H

L 1-2 Chelmsford City A

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Cody Cooke (5)

Salisbury: Josh Hedges (8)

SALISBURY FACT FILE

Year founded: 1947 (reformed as Salisbury FC in 2015)

Nickname: The Whites

Last season’s league finish: 3rd in the Southern League Premier South

(promoted through the play-offs)

Salisbury notable honours (as Salisbury FC:

Southern League Premier South:

Play-off winners: 2023-24

As Salisbury City

National League South:

Play-off winners: 2006-07, 2012-13

Southern League: Champions: 2005-06

THE MANAGER – BRIAN DUTTON

Brian Dutton was appointed as Salisbury FC manager in October 2022, following the departure of Steve Claridge. He then went on to lead the club to promotion from the Southern League Premier through the play-offs against AFC Totton in his first full season in charge, the 2023-24 campaign.

As a player, he had a brief spell in the Football League with Cambridge United in the 2003-04 season before dropping into non-league football, where he had stints with a number of clubs, including both Salisbury City and Salisbury FC.

As a coach, Dutton has held a number of different coaching roles at Bristol Rovers across two different spells at the Memorial Stadium and he briefly managed Walsall.

PLAYER TO WATCH – LUKE WILKINSON

Experienced central defender Luke Wilkinson joined the Whites in the close season after making 29 appearances in the National League last season for Woking. Wilkinson began his youth career with Bristol City, before moving to then Premier League Portsmouth. During his spell at Portsmouth, he had loan spells at Northampton Town and Eastleigh before making over 230 appearances in the EFL for Dagenham and Redbridge, Luton Town and Stevenage. After leaving Stevenage, he moved to Yeovil Town before spending two seasons at Woking.

WILKINSON STATS – Position: Centre Back – Date of Birth: 29/09/90 – Height: 1.88m – Previous Clubs: Bristol City, Portsmouth, Northampton, Eastleigh, Dagenham, Boreham Wood, Dartford, Luton, Stevenage, Yeovil, Woking – 24/25 NLS Stats: Appearances 12, Goals 0, Yellow/Red Cards 6/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: None

Salisbury: None

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (3-4-2-1): James Hamon; Jordan Dyer, Sam Dreyer, Jay Foulston; Finley Craske, Dan Hayfield, Oscar Threlkeld, Matt Carson; Jordan Young, Omar Mussa; Cody Cooke

Salisbury (5-2-3): Dan Lincoln; Jordan Thomas, Canice Carroll, Luke Wilkinson, Josh Sommerton, Jordan Ragguette; Tom Leggett, Jaden Perez; Josh Hedges, Ronan Silva, Noah Coppin

LAST MEETING

Monday 13th April 2009 – Salisbury City 2 Torquay United 2

Ten-man Torquay needed Nicky Wroe’s last-gasp goal to earn a point at Salisbury after missing two penalties. The Gulls failed with their first spot-kick when Tim Sills hit the bar. Wayne Carlisle did put Torquay ahead from the spot after Elliot Benyon was fouled by Daniel Webb but a low Charlie Griffin shot brought Salisbury level. James Bittner saved Carlisle’s second penalty before Charles Ademeno put the home side 2-1 up and Michael Brough was sent off before Wroe’s late equaliser.