chriswoods51
- Feb 25, 2022
- 3 min read

PREVIEW | Torquay United (H) - BEHIND CLOSED DOORS FIXTURE

THE DETAILS

Wealdstone v Torquay United

Vanarama National League

Grosvenor Vale

Saturday 26th February, 5:15pm kick-off

TICKETS

This game has been designated a behind closed doors fixture whilst the club carries out necessary improvement works to the Grosvenor Vale stadium pitch barrier fence.

This fixture will be live streamed for free and you can access the stream shortly before kick off on our YouTube channel HERE.

THE CONTEXT

Grosvenor Vale with have an eerie feel to it as Saturday's fixture must be completed behind closed doors whilst the club carry out improvement works to the pitch barrier fences. It's no doubt a sad turn of events in the club's return to the top step of the non-league and the club will be working through the clock to ensure that this is the only fixture affected. In football context the Stones come into this off of the back of two defeats which the team came so close to taking six points. Torquay arrive at The Vale in good form having recovered from an early season slump, with that 5-0 win over the Stones at Plainmoor back in October providing a catalyst for last season's play-off finalists.

TEAM NEWS

Jack Cook returns to the side after completing his one-match ban. Ira Jackson also returned to the squad on Tuesday following a short injury. Nikola Tavares and Andrew Eleftheriou were the only two that missed Tuesday night's game with injury, although Tavares is nearing a return already.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Matt Saunders: "It will affect us as fans create a tempo and a real buzz around the place but as footballers you just have to block that out. In times and moments in games fans can really help you and push you on but as a whole if we don't win the game it's not going to be down to the fact we didn't have the fans there. We'd love to have the fans there and it's devastating but I don't think that will be a defining factor in the game, if we lose the game it's not going to be down to the fact the fans weren't there and the same goes for Torquay, hopefully it will be them losing because of our good play and what we've done."

FORM GUIDE

Stones:

Solihull Moors (A) 2-1 L (Okimo) Wrexham (H) 1-2 L (Browne)

Barnet (A) 1-3 W (Ferguson, Umerah, Mundle-Smith)

Yeovil Town (H) 2-1 W (Umerah, Tavares)

Grimsby Town (A) 2-1 L (Mascoll)

Torquay United:

Boreham Wood (H) 0-0 D Barnet (H) 2-2 D (Lemonheigh-Evans 2)

Dover Athletic (A) 1-3 W (Hall, Lewis, Duke-McKenna) Wrexham (H) 1-0 W (Hall) Solihull Moors (H) 0-2 L

WHO TO WATCH FOR?

Asa Hall: Hall has been a mainstay in Gary Johnson's midfield since moving to the club following their relegation to the National League South, helping them secure an instant return to the National League and then making the play-off final last season. The 35-year old is enjoying a swan song with the Gulls of late, notable grabbing the winner against big-spending Wrexham this month.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Played - 6

Won - 1

Drawn - 1

Lost - 4

LAST FIVE MEETINGS

Oct 2021 - Torquay United 5-0 Stones

Feb 2021 - Torquay United 1-1 Stones (Mendy)

Dec 2020 - Stones 1-2 Torquay United (Parish)

Mar 2019 - Torquay United 3-2 Stones (Monakana, Okimo)

Oct 2018 - Stones 0-3 Torquay United