TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Torquay United vs Weston-super-Mare AFC – National League South

Venue: Plainmoor

Date: Tuesday 26th November 2024

Kick-off: 7:45pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 0

Draw: 2

Weston-super-Mare: 2

RECENT FORM (LAST 6)

Torquay – W2 – D4 – L0

D 2-2 Chelmsford H

W 1-0 Salisbury A

D 0-0 Tonbridge H

D 1-1 Maidstone H

W 1-0 Truro City (FA Trophy) H

D 0-0 Boreham Wood A

Weston-super-Mare – W3 – D1 – L2

L 3-1 Bristol Rovers (FA Cup) A – AET

D 1-1 Weymouth H

W 2-0 Bath City A

W 1-0 Hemel Hempstead Town A

L 2-3 Weymouth (FA Trophy) H

W 4-3 Farnborough Town H

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Cody Cooke (6)

Weston-super-Mare: Luke Coulson (13)

WESTON-SUPER-MARE AFC FACT FILE

Year founded: 1887

Nickname: The Seagulls

Last season’s league finish: 13th in National League South

Notable Honours:

Southern League Premier Division South:

Champions: 2022-2023

THE MANAGER – SCOTT BARTLETT

After a playing career which included spells with Cirencester Town, Salisbury City, Weston Super Mare, Bath City and Forest Green Rovers, Scott Bartlett moved into coaching following his retirement due to a knee injury and took charge of Forest Green’s academy.
He would also have two caretaker spells in charge at the New Lawn, in2013 and 2016. His second spell also included taking Forest Green to the 2016 National League Play-off final following the dismissal of Ady Pennock towards the end of the 2015-16 campaign.
Bartlett is currently in his second spell with the Seagulls, and he led them to the Southern Premier Division title in the 2022-23 season.

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 Dartford in 2022.
Luke signed for the Seagulls in the summer of 2024 following the expiration of his contract with Dartford.

COULSON STATS – Position: Midfielder – Date of Birth: 06/04/94 – Height: 1.79m – Previous Clubs: Man City, Michigan Wolverines, Cardiff City, Oxford City, Eastleigh, Barnet, Ebbsfleet United, Bromley, Dartford – 24/25 NLS Stats: Appearances 16, Goals 9, Yellow/Red Cards 4/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: Brad Ash

Weston-super-Mare: Reuben Reid

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (4-3-3): James Hamon; Jordan Thomas, Jordan Dyer, Sam Dreyer, Jay Foulston , Dan Hayfield, Oscar Threlkeld, Will Jenkins-Davies; Jordan Young, Omar Mussa; Cody Cooke

Weston-super-Mare AFC (4-5-1): Max Harris; Kieran Thomas, Jason Pope, Sam Avery, Billy Kirkman; Jacob Jagger-Cane, Dodd, Sam Pearson, Ollie Chamberlain, Luke Coulson; Reuben Reid

LAST MEETING

Monday 1st April 2024, Torquay United 3 – 3 Weston-super-Mare AFC

The Gulls and the Seagulls couldn’t be separated on Bank Holiday Monday, as they played out a thrilling draw at Plainmoor.
Early goals from Jack Stobbs and Arkell Jude-Boyd set the stage for an entertaining afternoon, before Jordan Bastin’s strike midway through the first half brought Weston back into the match. When Weston levelled in the opening minutes of the second half through Bailey Kempster, the result was well and truly in the balance, prior to both sides netting again in the dying stages through Jude-Boyd again, and Reuben Reid for Weston, to see the final score pegged at 3-3.