TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

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

Venue: Optima Stadium, Weston Super Mare

Date: Tuesday 25th February 2025

Kick-off: 7.45pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 1

Draw: 2

Weston SM: 2

RECENT FORM (LAST 6)

Torquay – W1 – D2 – L3

D 2-2 Slough Town A

L 0-1 Hampton H

L 0-1 Maidstone A

W 2-0 Eastbourne H

D 2-2 Worthing A

L 2-3 Chelmsford A

Weston SM – W4 – D1 – L1

W 3-1 Slough Town A

D 1-1 Hemel Hempstead Town H

W 1-0 Boreham Wood A

L 1-2 Salisbury FC A

W 2-1 Aveley A

W 2-0 Hampton & Richmond Borough H

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Cody Cooke (13)

Weston SM: Luke Coulson (18)

WESTON SM 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: 2022-23

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, in 2013 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 and Bromley prior to signing for the Dartford in 2022. Luke signed for the Seagulls in the summer of 2024 following the expiration of his contract with Dartford.

COULSON STATS – Position: Winger – Date of Birth: 06/03/94 – Height: 1.79m – Previous Clubs: Man City, Cardiff, Oxford City, Eastleigh, Barnet, Ebbsfleet, Bromley, Dartford – 24/25 NLS Stats: Appearances 31, Goals 12, Yellow/Red Cards 5/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: Dylan Morgan

Weston SM: Reuben Reid

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (3-4-1-2): James Hamon; Finley Craske, Ed Palmer, Sam Dreyer; Jordan Thomas, Dan Hayfield, Lirak Hasani, Matt Carson; Jordan Young; Matt Jay, Cody Cooke

Weston Super Mare (4-2-3-1): Max Harris; Oli Jenkins, Sam Avery, Emlyn Harris, Jason Pope; Dylan Kadji, James Dodd; Pedro Borges, Sam Pearson, Luke Coulson; Reuben Reid

LAST MEETING

Last meeting: Tuesday 26th November 2024, Torquay United 4 Weston-super-Mare 2

Not for the first time this season, bouncebackability was the name of the game for Torquay United as they came from behind to beat National League South leaders Weston Super Mare.

Luke Coulson gave the Seagulls the lead in the 17th minute before United replied with a stunning 20 yard strike from Lirak Hasani, which was the former Gateshead midfielder’s third of the campaign. Five minutes later, Plymouth Argyle loanee Will Jenkins-Davies capitalised on a sloppy back pass from former Pilgrims striker Reuben Reid and raced towards goal before firing into the bottom corner.

Three minutes before the break, Sam Avery bundled home a corner from Coulson to level matters, but the Gulls were then handed the chance to restore their lead from the penalty spot after Hasani was upended in the area. United’s leading scorer Cody Cooke stepped up to take it, only to be denied by a save from Weston keeper Max Harris.

Early in the second half, the Gulls were reduced to ten men when Hasani was dismissed following a challenge on Reid. However, manager Paul Wotton shuffled his pack and introduced club captain Oscar Threlkeld from the bench in place of Omar Mussa.

Instead of clinging onto their share of the spoils, United edged ahead in the 69th minute when Jenkins-Davies burst down the right and found Cooke who backheeled home the Gulls’ third of the evening. Then on 78 minutes, Dan Hayfield intercepted the ball inside his own half and made a lung busting run before teeing up Cooke for his brace, and his eighth of the campaign.