TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

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

Venue: Plainmoor

Date: Tuesday 11th March 2025

Kick-off: 7.45pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 2

Draw: 2

Salisbury: 1

RECENT FORM (LAST 6)

Torquay – W3 – D2 – L1

W 2-1 Hornchurch H

L 2-3 Chelmsford A

D 1-1 Weston SM A

D 2-2 Boreham H

W 3-1 Chippenham A

W 1-0 Tonbridge A

Salisbury – W0 – D2 – L4

D 2-2 Chesham United H

L 2-3 Worthing A

L 1-2 Bath City H

L 2-3 Maidstone United A

D 2-2 Aveley A

L 1-2 Enfield Town H

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Cody Cooke (13)

Salisbury: Josh Hedges (9)

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 – JOSH HEDGES

Josh joined the Lilywhites from Didcot Town in the summer of 2023 after helping Diddy achieve promotion from the Southern League Division One Central. He has been one of Salisbury’s standout performers this season, and is currently top scorer with nine goals in all competitions.

HEDGES STATS – Position: Midfield – Date of Birth: 14/10/03 – Height: Unknown – Former Clubs: Didcot – 24/25 NLS Stats: Appearances 21, Goals 8, Yellow/Red Cards 2/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: Jordan Thomas

Salisbury: Finn Tonks

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (4-2-3-1): James Hamon; Matt Carson, Jordan Dyer, Sam Dreyer, Jordan Thomas; Will Jenkins Davies, Dan Hayfield; Lirak Hasani, Jordan Young, Matt Jay; Offrande Zanzala

Salisbury (4-3-3); Rhys Byrne; Sam German, Owen Dore, Josh Sommerton, Jordan Ragguette; Aiden Elliott-Wheeler, Tom Leggett, Jaden Perez; Ronan Silva, Josh Hedges, Craig Fasanmade

LAST MEETING

Last meeting: Tuesday 5th November 2024, Salisbury FC 0 Torquay United 1

Fireworks were few and far between on the pitch at Salisbury this evening, but Torquay United held on for a single goal win which take them up to fourth in the National League South table. It wasn’t pretty but it was good enough for United, with the goal coming in the 85th minute when Cody Cooke converted from the penalty spot after Finley Craske was brought down in the area.