TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Torquay United vs Truro City – National League South

Venue: Plainmoor

Date: Wednesday 1st January 2025

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 4

Draw: 0

Truro: 1

RECENT FORM (LAST 6)

Torquay – W5 – D1 – L0

W 4-2 Weston-super-Mare H

W 4-1 Enfield A

W 2-0 Horsham (FA Trophy) H

W 2-0 Farnborough H

W 1-0 Hemel H

D 2-2 Weymouth A

Truro – W3 – D2 – L1

W 2-1 Chesham United H

W 4-1 Weymouth A

D 0-0 Dorking Wanderers A

L 0-2 Maidstone United H

W 2-1 St Albans City A

D 1-1 Weston Super Mare H

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Cody Cooke (10)

Truro: Tyler Harvey (16 each)

TRURO FACT FILE

Year founded: 1889

Nickname: The Tinners

Last season’s league finish: 16th in National League South

Notable honours:

FA Vase winners: 2006-07

Southern League Premier Champions: 2010-11

Southern League Division South and West Champions: 2008-09

THE MANAGER – JOHN ASKEY

One of the most experienced managers in non-league football, having won the National League title with Macclesfield Town in the 2017-18 campaign and guided York City to promotion from the National League North in the 2021-22 season.

As a player, Askey made a record 679 appearances for Macclesfield and scored 155 goals and was part of the Silkmen side that won promotion to the Football League under Sammy McIlroy in the 1996-97 campaign. He later had two spells as manager at Moss Rose, between 2003 and 2004 and 2013 and 2018. His second stint in charge saw him emulate McIlroy by winning the National League title with the Silkmen in 2017-18.

Askey led York City to a return to the National League following a victory over a Boston United side managed by former Gulls boss Paul Cox in the National League North play-off final in 2021-22.

Askey, who has also had spells in charge of Shrewsbury Town, Port Vale and Hartlepool United, moved to the South West to take charge of Truro following the departure of Paul Wotton to Plainmoor.

PLAYER TO WATCH – TYLER HARVEY

Former Plymouth Argyle starlet Tyler Harvey is currently in his second spell with the Tinners after re-joining the club from Bath City in 2019. Harvey broke into the Argyle side as a 17-year-old and scored his first goal for the Pilgrims against the Gulls in a 1-1 draw on Boxing Day 2012.

Harvey left Home Park in 2016 to sign for Wrexham– but would return to the South West midway through the 2016-17 season when he was loaned to Bath City. His next move would see him sign for Truro City, where he stayed until 2019 when he signed for Bath on a permanent basis. He soon re-joined the White Tigers and has been the club’s top scorer in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.

HARVEY STATS – Position: Striker – Date of Birth: 29/07/95 – Height: 1.85m – Previous Clubs: Plymouth, Salisbury, Bath, Wrexham – 24/25 NLS Stats: Appearances 23, Goals 15, Yellow/Red Cards 4/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: James Hamon, Ed Palmer, Finley Craske, Finn Tonks, Cody Cooke

Truro: Dan Lavercombe, Billy Palfrey, Ryan Law

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

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

Truro City (3-5-2): Dan Lavercombe; Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tom Harrison, Sam Sanders; Levi Andoh, Dan Rooney, Will Dean, Billy Palfrey, Connor Riley-Lowe; Tyler Harvey, Jaze Kabia

LAST MEETING

Last meeting: Saturday 16th November 2024, Torquay United 1 Truro City 0

Torquay United booked their place in the third round of the FA Trophy with a narrow victory over manager Paul Wotton’s former club Truro City. The first chance of the game fell to Truro in the ninth minute when Will Dean blasted a free-kick from 20 yards over the bar.

Two minutes later, Dom Johnson-Fisher fired straight at Torquay’s ex Truro keeper James Hamon. On 19 minutes, Dean went close again as he drilled a low strike wide after being teed up by Yassine En-Neyah. United finally managed to carve out an opportunity in the 28th minute, when Stoke City loanee Keke Jeffers saw a shot blocked. Moments later, Jordan Young had a long range effort blocked before Cody Cooke saw a header deflected behind for a corner.

A minute before the break, Connor Riley-Lowe appeared to have given Truro the lead following a goalmouth scramble, but it was disallowed after the linesman on the far side adjudged that Hamon had been obstructed.

Eight minutes after the re-start, the Gulls edged ahead when Dan Hayfield curled home a free-kick which was awarded after sub Will Jenkins-Davies was upended by Dean. Truro threatened an equaliser in the 59th minute when Johnson-Fisher had a shot parried behind by Hamon.

With five minutes to go, a cross from debutant loan signing Jordan Thomas found sub Omar Mussa, who saw his low drive turned away for a throw in, as the Gulls claimed the win.